Ayahs of the Day:
So be patient; though your patience is only through God. And do not grieve over them, and do not be depressed by whatever they connive; for God is with those who are conscientious and those who do good. [16: 127,128]
Hadith of the Day:
Verily, even a little ostentation is shirk. [Ibn Majah]
Wise Quote of the Day:
This world is an abode of tests. The object of life is not to avoid or deny its tests and trials, rather to successfully pass them. [Imam Zaid Shakir]
Guidance of the Day:
Ostentation: Ostentation (riya) is the intention to enhance one's dignity in the eyes of people by means of acts of obedience to Allah Most High. This attitude totally defeats the purpose of worship. The purpose of worship is to gain the pleasure of Allah Most High. Since show or display of worship involves division of purpose, ostentation is termed the lesser shirk. By means of ostentation one splits the purpose of worship by endeavoring to attain both public acclaim as well as the pleasure of Allah Most High. A deed contaminated by even an atom of ostentation is unacceptable to Allah Most High. Heed this and reflect!
In the view of the above, never intend to display any act nor conceal it. Concern yourself with the act itself, intending thereby only the pleasure of Allah Most High. Ignore all diversionary stray thoughts and whisperings of the lower self and the devil that enter your mind. You may at times be assaulted by the thought that your act is to obtain the acclaim of the people. Ignore this whispering, which in fact is a ploy of the devil or the lower self engineered to sidetrack you from performing the righteous act. Prior to performing a good deed, reflect and ascertain you motive. What is your intention for doing the act? Is it to seek the pleasure of Allah Most High or the pleasures of others? If you discern any of the contamination in your intention, then purify your intention. Rid it of contamination and firmly resolve to perform the deed for the pleasure of Allah Most High.
The Remedy: The cure for ostentation is to rid the heart of the desire for fame and name. Ostentation in fact is a branch of hubb al jah (love of fame and glory). Perform your acts of worship in solitude. This worship in solitude refers to worship that does not have to be performed in group (jamm'a). However,regarding congregation prayer, the elimination of love of fame is enough to combat ostentation. Another efficacious remedy against ostentation developing is an act of worship is to perform that specific act of worship in abundance. Within a short while the ostentation will be dispelled, and by force of habit the worship will become sincere. [The Path of Perfection]
Food for Thought:
The only thing we gain by putting others down is an extra enemy. Therefore be just in recognizing the efforts of others, and compliment them for their virtues.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 537
Ayah of the Day:
And if you inflict punishment, then inflict punishment equivalent to the vengeance wrought on you: but if you are patient, that is certainly best for those who are patient. [16: 126]
Hadith of the Day:
The miser is far from Allah, far from Paradise, far from people, and close to the Fire. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Your knowledge must improve your heart and purge your ego. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Miserliness (bukhl): Miserliness is to withhold spending when such spending is necessary according to the Shari'a and in order to be generous. Miserliness has two stages: what is contrary to the command of the Shari'a--this stage is sinful; and what is contrary to kindness--this degree of miserliness, although not sinful, is not good. Elimination of even this degree of miserliness is commendable and meritorious.
Miserliness is a severe malady. It is not, therefore, befitting for a Muslim to be miserly. In being miserly one is paving the path to Hellfire. Miserliness is in reality is the effect of love for wealth, which directs man's attention to the world. The consequence of this is the weakening of the bond of love with Allah Most High. At the time of death the miser looks on his wealth with regret and sorrow. He has to embark on his journey into the Hereafter reluctantly and forcibly because, in him, there is no desire to meet Allah Most High.
The Remedy: Constant remembrance of death expels the love of wealth from the heart.
Food for Thought:
The test of generosity is not how much you give, but how much you have left.
And if you inflict punishment, then inflict punishment equivalent to the vengeance wrought on you: but if you are patient, that is certainly best for those who are patient. [16: 126]
Hadith of the Day:
The miser is far from Allah, far from Paradise, far from people, and close to the Fire. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Your knowledge must improve your heart and purge your ego. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Miserliness (bukhl): Miserliness is to withhold spending when such spending is necessary according to the Shari'a and in order to be generous. Miserliness has two stages: what is contrary to the command of the Shari'a--this stage is sinful; and what is contrary to kindness--this degree of miserliness, although not sinful, is not good. Elimination of even this degree of miserliness is commendable and meritorious.
Miserliness is a severe malady. It is not, therefore, befitting for a Muslim to be miserly. In being miserly one is paving the path to Hellfire. Miserliness is in reality is the effect of love for wealth, which directs man's attention to the world. The consequence of this is the weakening of the bond of love with Allah Most High. At the time of death the miser looks on his wealth with regret and sorrow. He has to embark on his journey into the Hereafter reluctantly and forcibly because, in him, there is no desire to meet Allah Most High.
The Remedy: Constant remembrance of death expels the love of wealth from the heart.
Food for Thought:
The test of generosity is not how much you give, but how much you have left.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 536
Ayah of the Day:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice, and debate with others in the most dignified manner. For your Lord knows best who is astray from the way of God, and knows best who are the ones who are guided. [16: 125]
Hadith of the Day:
Since the successful are always envied, use discretion in fulfilling your needs. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Associate with people in such a manner that they weep for you when you die and long for you if you live. [Ali radi allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Envy: To be displeased with another's good position and to wish for its elimination is envy (hasad). Envy has three stages: the natural human quality--in this degree of envy, man is excused and is not at fault; acting according to the demands of envy--in this degree, man is a sinner; opposing the demands of envy--in this degree, man is laudable and will be rewarded.
Generally, the basis of envy is pride (takabbur) and deceit (ghurur). Without any valid reason man seeks to withhold the bounties of Allah Most High. He desires (at times consciously and at times subconsciously) that just as he withholds from giving to others, Allah should also withhold His bounties from others. Envy is a disease of the heart. It is harmful to both one's spiritual life and worldly life. The harm to mans religion (spiritual life) consists in the eradication of his good deeds, and he becomes the victim of Allah's wrath.
The harm to his worldly life consists in frustration and worry, which perpetually afflicts the envious person. He is consumed by frustration caused by envy for another whose disgrace and fall he always anticipates. In this way the envious destroys his Hereafter in addition to destroying his worldly comfort and peace.
The Remedy: Envy is remedied by praising much the person against whom envy is directed. Praise him no matter how difficult this may seem. Honor him and meet him with respect and humility. [The Path to Perfection]
Food for Thought:
Proud people end in shame, but the meek become wise. Be humble, take advice, and become wise.
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice, and debate with others in the most dignified manner. For your Lord knows best who is astray from the way of God, and knows best who are the ones who are guided. [16: 125]
Hadith of the Day:
Since the successful are always envied, use discretion in fulfilling your needs. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Associate with people in such a manner that they weep for you when you die and long for you if you live. [Ali radi allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Envy: To be displeased with another's good position and to wish for its elimination is envy (hasad). Envy has three stages: the natural human quality--in this degree of envy, man is excused and is not at fault; acting according to the demands of envy--in this degree, man is a sinner; opposing the demands of envy--in this degree, man is laudable and will be rewarded.
Generally, the basis of envy is pride (takabbur) and deceit (ghurur). Without any valid reason man seeks to withhold the bounties of Allah Most High. He desires (at times consciously and at times subconsciously) that just as he withholds from giving to others, Allah should also withhold His bounties from others. Envy is a disease of the heart. It is harmful to both one's spiritual life and worldly life. The harm to mans religion (spiritual life) consists in the eradication of his good deeds, and he becomes the victim of Allah's wrath.
The harm to his worldly life consists in frustration and worry, which perpetually afflicts the envious person. He is consumed by frustration caused by envy for another whose disgrace and fall he always anticipates. In this way the envious destroys his Hereafter in addition to destroying his worldly comfort and peace.
The Remedy: Envy is remedied by praising much the person against whom envy is directed. Praise him no matter how difficult this may seem. Honor him and meet him with respect and humility. [The Path to Perfection]
Food for Thought:
Proud people end in shame, but the meek become wise. Be humble, take advice, and become wise.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 535
Ayah of the Day:
So We inspired you to follow the way of Abraham devotedly; he was not one of the idolaters [16: 123]
Hadith of the Day:
A strong man is not one who defeats (another) in physical combat. Verily, a strong man is he who controls his self at the time of anger. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If one is not satisfied with what suffices him, no abundance will ever enrich him. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Anger: It is essential to keep anger under control. One should never act spontaneously in accordance with the dictates of anger. On the contrary, anger should be made subservient to the commands of the Shari'a. It is natural to be aroused in the state of anger. Such natural propensity is not blameworthy (in itself). But Allah Most High has endowed man with will power. Anger has therefore to be controlled since it is within the scope of man's willpower to do so. Failure to exercise this volitional power is contrary to human nature.
Anger in itself arises involuntarily. It is automatically activated. But acting in accordance with its demands is voluntary; hence, refraining from it is likewise voluntary. The remedy for a non-volitional act (the way of curbing it) is nothing other than the exercise of one's willpower in order to bring about restraint and control. This is within one's ability even if one experiences a degree of difficulty in exercising willpower. Repeated exercise of the will weakens the demands of the anger. In consequence refraining from anger becomes a relatively simple task.
In cases of injustice carried out in the state of anger, it is essential that the aggressor, after his anger has subsided, publicly apologize and humble himself in the presence of the one whom he has wronged. The aggressor should personally apologize in profusion and seek the pardon of the one he wronged. This measure will restore the anger of the aggressor to equilibrium. He will thus be prevented from the perpetration of injustice at the behest of anger. At all times, avoid haste. Strive seriously to oppose the dictates of anger. Whenever you succumb, resort to asking for forgiveness and obtain the pardon of the one whose rights have been violated. Recite: A'udhu bi 'Llahi mina'sh-Shaytani'r-rajim.
Remember that Allah Most High has greater power and authority over you and that you are disobedient to Him. If He adopts the attitude of wrath toward you, where will you be then? Also reflect that nothing can happen without the will of Allah. Ponder then, of what worth then am I? I am an absolute non-entity. How can I then act in conflict with Allah Most High? [The Path of Perfection]
Food for Thought:
Those who change in accordance with the deeper design of life will reap benefits for themselves and those around them.
So We inspired you to follow the way of Abraham devotedly; he was not one of the idolaters [16: 123]
Hadith of the Day:
A strong man is not one who defeats (another) in physical combat. Verily, a strong man is he who controls his self at the time of anger. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If one is not satisfied with what suffices him, no abundance will ever enrich him. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Anger: It is essential to keep anger under control. One should never act spontaneously in accordance with the dictates of anger. On the contrary, anger should be made subservient to the commands of the Shari'a. It is natural to be aroused in the state of anger. Such natural propensity is not blameworthy (in itself). But Allah Most High has endowed man with will power. Anger has therefore to be controlled since it is within the scope of man's willpower to do so. Failure to exercise this volitional power is contrary to human nature.
Anger in itself arises involuntarily. It is automatically activated. But acting in accordance with its demands is voluntary; hence, refraining from it is likewise voluntary. The remedy for a non-volitional act (the way of curbing it) is nothing other than the exercise of one's willpower in order to bring about restraint and control. This is within one's ability even if one experiences a degree of difficulty in exercising willpower. Repeated exercise of the will weakens the demands of the anger. In consequence refraining from anger becomes a relatively simple task.
In cases of injustice carried out in the state of anger, it is essential that the aggressor, after his anger has subsided, publicly apologize and humble himself in the presence of the one whom he has wronged. The aggressor should personally apologize in profusion and seek the pardon of the one he wronged. This measure will restore the anger of the aggressor to equilibrium. He will thus be prevented from the perpetration of injustice at the behest of anger. At all times, avoid haste. Strive seriously to oppose the dictates of anger. Whenever you succumb, resort to asking for forgiveness and obtain the pardon of the one whose rights have been violated. Recite: A'udhu bi 'Llahi mina'sh-Shaytani'r-rajim.
Remember that Allah Most High has greater power and authority over you and that you are disobedient to Him. If He adopts the attitude of wrath toward you, where will you be then? Also reflect that nothing can happen without the will of Allah. Ponder then, of what worth then am I? I am an absolute non-entity. How can I then act in conflict with Allah Most High? [The Path of Perfection]
Food for Thought:
Those who change in accordance with the deeper design of life will reap benefits for themselves and those around them.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 534
Ayahs of the Day:
Ibrahim was a model, obedient to God, devoted, and not an idolater. Grateful for the favors of God, who selected him and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in the world: and in the hereafter he is to be one of the worthy. [16: 120 to 122]
Hadith of the Day:
Weakling who follows his desire and then has hopes (of compensation from) Allah. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
All paths besides the strict following of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) are closed to mankind. [Junayd al-Baghdadi]
Guidance of the Day:
Covetousness: Covetousness (tama') means a preference for things that conflict with the Shari'a. The highest degree of such desire is unbelief and associating others with Allah. The lowest degree is distraction from perfect obedience. Straying from Straight Path is common to all forms of covetousness.
The Remedy: The remedy for covetousness is spiritual struggle--to accustom oneself to oppose the desires of the lower self so that the carnal and material cravings of the lower self are subordinated to the pleasure of Allah. Spiritual struggle is to restrain the demands of the lower self, whether such restraint is simple or difficult. [The Path of Perfection by Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]
Food for Thought:
The measure of your life won't be in what you accumulate, it will be in what you gave.
Ibrahim was a model, obedient to God, devoted, and not an idolater. Grateful for the favors of God, who selected him and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in the world: and in the hereafter he is to be one of the worthy. [16: 120 to 122]
Hadith of the Day:
Weakling who follows his desire and then has hopes (of compensation from) Allah. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
All paths besides the strict following of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) are closed to mankind. [Junayd al-Baghdadi]
Guidance of the Day:
Covetousness: Covetousness (tama') means a preference for things that conflict with the Shari'a. The highest degree of such desire is unbelief and associating others with Allah. The lowest degree is distraction from perfect obedience. Straying from Straight Path is common to all forms of covetousness.
The Remedy: The remedy for covetousness is spiritual struggle--to accustom oneself to oppose the desires of the lower self so that the carnal and material cravings of the lower self are subordinated to the pleasure of Allah. Spiritual struggle is to restrain the demands of the lower self, whether such restraint is simple or difficult. [The Path of Perfection by Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]
Food for Thought:
The measure of your life won't be in what you accumulate, it will be in what you gave.
Monday, April 24, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 533
Ayah of the Day:
But then your Lord, to those who have done wrong in ignorance then repented and made amends thereafter--your Lord is Most Forgiving after that, Most Merciful. [16: 119]
Hadith of the Day:
The son of Adam ages, while two things in him grow younger: greed for (more) wealth and greed for (more) life. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A dead heart is the one that does not recognize and like the good and that does not reject and repel the evil. [Ibn Mas'ud radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Greed: The heart's obsession with wealth is greed. Greed is the root of all spiritual ailments. It is, therefore, proper to describe it as the mother of all maladies. All mischief and strife are the consequences of this base attribute. It is because of greed that people plunder and usurp the rights of others. The basis of immorality is the lust for bestial pleasure. The root of all blameworthy character traits is this very greed. The foundation of blameworthy character traits is arrogance (kibr), and arrogance is like the craving for fame. Thus, the basis of arrogance too is greed.
If man possesses two valleys filled with gold and silver, he will desire a third. The more the demands of greed are satisfied, the greater will its demands be. The greedy person is like one afflicted by a rash. The more he scratches, the worse the rash becomes. It is not possible for man to fulfill all his desires. It is for this reason that the greedy have no peace of mind. Nothing besides soil (that is, the grave) can satiate his greed. Before a wish is fulfilled, another develops. When one is not contented with destiny, one is smitten by a multitude of desires and hopes whose fulfillment is most difficult. The result of non-fulfillment of desire is frustration and worry. The greedy, inspite of perhaps possessing abundant wealth and enjoying luxury, are perpetually afflicted with frustration.
The Remedy: Reduce expenditure. This will lessen concern with and desire for more earnings. Forget about the future and bear in mind that the greedy are ever loathsome. [The Path to Perfection by Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]
Food for Thought:
Hardship before comfort is analogous to hunger before food: food comes at a time when it has greater effect on the taste buds. Hardship is as beneficial to the soul as it is unwelcome in one's life.
But then your Lord, to those who have done wrong in ignorance then repented and made amends thereafter--your Lord is Most Forgiving after that, Most Merciful. [16: 119]
Hadith of the Day:
The son of Adam ages, while two things in him grow younger: greed for (more) wealth and greed for (more) life. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A dead heart is the one that does not recognize and like the good and that does not reject and repel the evil. [Ibn Mas'ud radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Greed: The heart's obsession with wealth is greed. Greed is the root of all spiritual ailments. It is, therefore, proper to describe it as the mother of all maladies. All mischief and strife are the consequences of this base attribute. It is because of greed that people plunder and usurp the rights of others. The basis of immorality is the lust for bestial pleasure. The root of all blameworthy character traits is this very greed. The foundation of blameworthy character traits is arrogance (kibr), and arrogance is like the craving for fame. Thus, the basis of arrogance too is greed.
If man possesses two valleys filled with gold and silver, he will desire a third. The more the demands of greed are satisfied, the greater will its demands be. The greedy person is like one afflicted by a rash. The more he scratches, the worse the rash becomes. It is not possible for man to fulfill all his desires. It is for this reason that the greedy have no peace of mind. Nothing besides soil (that is, the grave) can satiate his greed. Before a wish is fulfilled, another develops. When one is not contented with destiny, one is smitten by a multitude of desires and hopes whose fulfillment is most difficult. The result of non-fulfillment of desire is frustration and worry. The greedy, inspite of perhaps possessing abundant wealth and enjoying luxury, are perpetually afflicted with frustration.
The Remedy: Reduce expenditure. This will lessen concern with and desire for more earnings. Forget about the future and bear in mind that the greedy are ever loathsome. [The Path to Perfection by Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]
Food for Thought:
Hardship before comfort is analogous to hunger before food: food comes at a time when it has greater effect on the taste buds. Hardship is as beneficial to the soul as it is unwelcome in one's life.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 532
Ayahs of the Day:
But do not say of falsehood asserted by your tongues, "This is permissible, and this is forbidden," to fabricate a lie against God; for those who fabricate falsehood against God will not thrive. It is a minor convenience, but there is a painful penalty in store for them. [16: 116,117]
Hadith of the Day:
Abandon desire for this world, and God will love you. Abandon desire for others' goods, and people will love you. [Ibn Majah]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sincerity is purifying the mind from paying attention to one's fellow creatures. [Abul Qasim Qushayri]
Guidance of the Day:
Your best companion is a book. An activity that brings about joy is for you to read a book and develop your mind through the acquisition of knowledge. Al-Jaahiz, an Arab writer from centuries ago, advised one to repel anxiety through the reading of books:
"The book is a companion that does not praise you and does not entice you to evil. It is a friend that does not bore you, and it is a neighbor that causes you no harm. It is an acquaintance that desires not to extract from you favors through flattery, and it does not deceive you through duplicity and lies. When you are poring through the pages of a book, your senses are stimulated and your intellect sharpens...Through reading the biographies of others, you gain an appreciation of common people while learning the ways of kings. It can even be said that you sometimes learn from the pages of a book in a month, that which you do not learn from the tongues of men in a century. All this benefit, yet no loss in wealth and no need to stand at the door of the teacher. The book obeys you by night as it does by day, both when you are traveling and when you are at home.
A book is not impaired by sleep nor does it tire in the late hours of the night. It is a teacher who is there for you whenever you are in need of it, and it is the teacher who, if you refuse to give to it, does not refuse to give to you. If you abandon it, it does not decrease in obedience. And when all turn against you, showing you enmity, it remains by your side. As long as you are remotely attached to a book, it suffices you from having to keep company with those that are idle. It prevents you from sitting on your door step and watching those who pass by. It saves you from mixing with those that are frivolous in their character, foul in their speech, and woeful in their ignorance. If the only benefit of the book was that it keeps you from foolish daydreaming and prevents you from frivolity, it would certainly be considered a true friend who has given you a great favor." [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
You may not be able to prevent people from attacking your honor, but you are able to do well, and ultimately, to ignore and turn away from their criticism and scorn.
But do not say of falsehood asserted by your tongues, "This is permissible, and this is forbidden," to fabricate a lie against God; for those who fabricate falsehood against God will not thrive. It is a minor convenience, but there is a painful penalty in store for them. [16: 116,117]
Hadith of the Day:
Abandon desire for this world, and God will love you. Abandon desire for others' goods, and people will love you. [Ibn Majah]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sincerity is purifying the mind from paying attention to one's fellow creatures. [Abul Qasim Qushayri]
Guidance of the Day:
Your best companion is a book. An activity that brings about joy is for you to read a book and develop your mind through the acquisition of knowledge. Al-Jaahiz, an Arab writer from centuries ago, advised one to repel anxiety through the reading of books:
"The book is a companion that does not praise you and does not entice you to evil. It is a friend that does not bore you, and it is a neighbor that causes you no harm. It is an acquaintance that desires not to extract from you favors through flattery, and it does not deceive you through duplicity and lies. When you are poring through the pages of a book, your senses are stimulated and your intellect sharpens...Through reading the biographies of others, you gain an appreciation of common people while learning the ways of kings. It can even be said that you sometimes learn from the pages of a book in a month, that which you do not learn from the tongues of men in a century. All this benefit, yet no loss in wealth and no need to stand at the door of the teacher. The book obeys you by night as it does by day, both when you are traveling and when you are at home.
A book is not impaired by sleep nor does it tire in the late hours of the night. It is a teacher who is there for you whenever you are in need of it, and it is the teacher who, if you refuse to give to it, does not refuse to give to you. If you abandon it, it does not decrease in obedience. And when all turn against you, showing you enmity, it remains by your side. As long as you are remotely attached to a book, it suffices you from having to keep company with those that are idle. It prevents you from sitting on your door step and watching those who pass by. It saves you from mixing with those that are frivolous in their character, foul in their speech, and woeful in their ignorance. If the only benefit of the book was that it keeps you from foolish daydreaming and prevents you from frivolity, it would certainly be considered a true friend who has given you a great favor." [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
You may not be able to prevent people from attacking your honor, but you are able to do well, and ultimately, to ignore and turn away from their criticism and scorn.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 531
Ayah of the Day:
God has forbidden you only carrion and blood, and the flesh of the swine, and anything offered up to other than God. But if anyone is compelled by necessity, without wanting to or being excessive, then God is very forgiving, very merciful. [16: 115]
Hadith of the Day:
Should one of you yawn, let him place his hand over his mouth and avoid a yawner's howl. Even Satan derides the howling yawner. [Ibn Majah]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The human heart comes into the world overflowing with light (nur). But be warned that as dunya encroaches upon it, this slowly fades away and darknesses take root therein. [Ammar Mansur]
Guidance of the Day:
Repel anxiety. Idleness is destructive, and most people who suffer from worries and anxieties are the same people who are idle and inactive. Rumors and gossip are the only dividends for those that are bankrupt of meaningful and fruitful work. Apply yourself to something and work hard at it. Read, recite, and glorify your Lord with praises. Benefit from your time. In short , do not give a single minute away to idleness. The day that you do will be the day that anxieties and worries will find their way into your life. Superstition and whispers will enter your mind, allowing you to become a playground for the games of the devil.
Do not grieve over the person who forgets or denies the favors you once gave to him, for your desire should be solely for the reward of Allah. Perform righteous deed purely and regularly for the pleasure of Allah, and do not expect either congratulations or gratitude from any person. Do not take it to heart if you confer a favor upon someone and he then turns out to be ungrateful. Seek your reward from Allah. Since Allah knows your deeds, knows of the good you do and the help you give to others, remain carefree and untroubled about what people think. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
The true span of life is measured by the number of days in which you are content. Do not then spend your days in grief, do not waste your nights in sorrow, and do not be extravagant in squandering your time.
God has forbidden you only carrion and blood, and the flesh of the swine, and anything offered up to other than God. But if anyone is compelled by necessity, without wanting to or being excessive, then God is very forgiving, very merciful. [16: 115]
Hadith of the Day:
Should one of you yawn, let him place his hand over his mouth and avoid a yawner's howl. Even Satan derides the howling yawner. [Ibn Majah]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The human heart comes into the world overflowing with light (nur). But be warned that as dunya encroaches upon it, this slowly fades away and darknesses take root therein. [Ammar Mansur]
Guidance of the Day:
Repel anxiety. Idleness is destructive, and most people who suffer from worries and anxieties are the same people who are idle and inactive. Rumors and gossip are the only dividends for those that are bankrupt of meaningful and fruitful work. Apply yourself to something and work hard at it. Read, recite, and glorify your Lord with praises. Benefit from your time. In short , do not give a single minute away to idleness. The day that you do will be the day that anxieties and worries will find their way into your life. Superstition and whispers will enter your mind, allowing you to become a playground for the games of the devil.
Do not grieve over the person who forgets or denies the favors you once gave to him, for your desire should be solely for the reward of Allah. Perform righteous deed purely and regularly for the pleasure of Allah, and do not expect either congratulations or gratitude from any person. Do not take it to heart if you confer a favor upon someone and he then turns out to be ungrateful. Seek your reward from Allah. Since Allah knows your deeds, knows of the good you do and the help you give to others, remain carefree and untroubled about what people think. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
The true span of life is measured by the number of days in which you are content. Do not then spend your days in grief, do not waste your nights in sorrow, and do not be extravagant in squandering your time.
Friday, April 21, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 530
Ayah of the Day:
So partake of what God has provided you as lawful and wholesome; and give thanks for the favor of God if it is God that you serve. [16: 114]
Hadith of the Day:
When a person dies, his deeds die with him, except for three: charitable endowments, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who supplicate on his behalf. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn al Arabi]
Guidance of the Day:
The art of happiness. Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck by some unexpected misfortune.
Happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one's own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all these things until happiness becomes second nature. The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is life was created as a test. But you should as much as possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief. As for being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter.
So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. It is worthy of the intelligent person not to help in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping.
So partake of what God has provided you as lawful and wholesome; and give thanks for the favor of God if it is God that you serve. [16: 114]
Hadith of the Day:
When a person dies, his deeds die with him, except for three: charitable endowments, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who supplicate on his behalf. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn al Arabi]
Guidance of the Day:
The art of happiness. Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck by some unexpected misfortune.
Happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one's own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all these things until happiness becomes second nature. The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is life was created as a test. But you should as much as possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief. As for being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter.
So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. It is worthy of the intelligent person not to help in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping.
LESSON OF THE DAY 530
Ayah of the Day:
So partake of what God has provided you as lawful and wholesome; and give thanks for the favor of God if it is God that you serve. [16: 114]
Hadith of the Day:
When a person dies, his deeds die with him, except for three: charitable endowments, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who supplicate on his behalf. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn al Arabi]
Guidance of the Day:
The art of happiness. Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck by some unexpected misfortune.
Happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one's own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all these things until happiness becomes second nature. The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is life was created as a test. But you should as much as possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief. As for being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter.
So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. It is worthy of the intelligent person not to help in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping.
So partake of what God has provided you as lawful and wholesome; and give thanks for the favor of God if it is God that you serve. [16: 114]
Hadith of the Day:
When a person dies, his deeds die with him, except for three: charitable endowments, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who supplicate on his behalf. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn al Arabi]
Guidance of the Day:
The art of happiness. Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck by some unexpected misfortune.
Happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one's own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all these things until happiness becomes second nature. The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is life was created as a test. But you should as much as possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief. As for being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter.
So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. It is worthy of the intelligent person not to help in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 529
Ayahs of the Day:
God has made an example of a city that was secure and peaceful, its provision coming to it abundantly from all quarters; yet it was ungrateful for the favors of God, so God enveloped them in hunger and fear because of what they were doing. A messenger from among them did come to them, but they called him a liar, so the penalty afflicted them as they were being oppressive.[16: 112,113]
Hadith of the Day:
Should any of you burp or sneeze, let him suppress the sound. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Put your hope in no one except your Lord. Have fear of nothing other than your sins. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
The art of happiness. Among the greatest of blessings is to have a calm, stable, and happy heart. For in happiness the mind is clear, enabling one to be a productive person. It has been said that happiness is an art that needs to be learned. And if you learn it you will be blessed in this life. A basic principle of achieving happiness is having an ability to endure and to cope with any situation. Therefore you should neither be swayed nor governed by difficult circumstances, nor should you be annoyed by insignificant trifles. Based on the purity of the heart and its ability to endure, a person will shine. When you train yourself to be patient and forbearing, then hardship and calamity will be easy for you to bear.
The opposite of being content is being short sighted, being concerned for no one but one's own self and forgetting about the world and all that is in it. it is as if such people see themselves as being the whole universe, or atleast the center of it. They think not of others, nor do they live for anyone but themselves. It is incumbent upon you and I to take time out to be preoccupied with more than just us, and to sometimes distance ourselves from our own problems in order to forget our wounds and hurts. By doing this we gain two things: we make ourselves happy, and we bring joy to others.
Basic to the art of happiness is to bridle our thoughts and to restrain them, not allowing them to wander, stray, escape, or go wild. For if you were to leave your thoughts to wander as they wish, then they will run wild and control you. They will open the catalogue of your past woes. They will remind you of the history of your misfortunes. If your thoughts are left to roam, then they will bring to you images of a future that is frightening. These thoughts will shake your very being and will cause your feelings to flare. Therefore bridle them, and restrain them by directing them to the concentrated application of the kind of serious thought that begets fruitful and beneficial work. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Each experience in your life was absolutely necessary in order to have gotten you to the next place, and the next, up until this moment.
God has made an example of a city that was secure and peaceful, its provision coming to it abundantly from all quarters; yet it was ungrateful for the favors of God, so God enveloped them in hunger and fear because of what they were doing. A messenger from among them did come to them, but they called him a liar, so the penalty afflicted them as they were being oppressive.[16: 112,113]
Hadith of the Day:
Should any of you burp or sneeze, let him suppress the sound. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Put your hope in no one except your Lord. Have fear of nothing other than your sins. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
The art of happiness. Among the greatest of blessings is to have a calm, stable, and happy heart. For in happiness the mind is clear, enabling one to be a productive person. It has been said that happiness is an art that needs to be learned. And if you learn it you will be blessed in this life. A basic principle of achieving happiness is having an ability to endure and to cope with any situation. Therefore you should neither be swayed nor governed by difficult circumstances, nor should you be annoyed by insignificant trifles. Based on the purity of the heart and its ability to endure, a person will shine. When you train yourself to be patient and forbearing, then hardship and calamity will be easy for you to bear.
The opposite of being content is being short sighted, being concerned for no one but one's own self and forgetting about the world and all that is in it. it is as if such people see themselves as being the whole universe, or atleast the center of it. They think not of others, nor do they live for anyone but themselves. It is incumbent upon you and I to take time out to be preoccupied with more than just us, and to sometimes distance ourselves from our own problems in order to forget our wounds and hurts. By doing this we gain two things: we make ourselves happy, and we bring joy to others.
Basic to the art of happiness is to bridle our thoughts and to restrain them, not allowing them to wander, stray, escape, or go wild. For if you were to leave your thoughts to wander as they wish, then they will run wild and control you. They will open the catalogue of your past woes. They will remind you of the history of your misfortunes. If your thoughts are left to roam, then they will bring to you images of a future that is frightening. These thoughts will shake your very being and will cause your feelings to flare. Therefore bridle them, and restrain them by directing them to the concentrated application of the kind of serious thought that begets fruitful and beneficial work. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Each experience in your life was absolutely necessary in order to have gotten you to the next place, and the next, up until this moment.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 528
Ayah of the Day:
One day every soul will come and debate about itself, and each soul will be paid in full for what it did; and they will not be wronged. [16: 111]
Hadith of the Day:
Should you wish to act, ponder well the consequences. If good carry on; if not desist. [Ibn al-Mubarak]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Those who rely and trust in Allah are given increase in their provision and the goodness of their nature. [Shaqeeq al Balkhi]
Guidance of the Day:
The blessing of Knowledge. Ignorance kill's one's conscience and soul. Knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. It is life for one's soul and fuel for one's character. Happiness and high spiritedness come with enlightenment, because through knowledge, one may fulfill his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind.
Ignorance is boredom and grief, because the ignorant person leads a life that never offers anything new or mind provoking. Yesterday is like today, which in turn is like tomorrow. If you desire happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find that anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you. If someone is ignorant, let him not be proud of either his wealth or his status in society: his life is lacking in meaning and his achievements are woefully incomplete.
How noble is enlightenment! And through it, how happy is the soul! [Don't be Sad]
Du'a of the Week:
Allahumma Musarrifa 'l-qulub, sarrif qulubana 'ala ta'atik (O Allah, Turner of hearts, turn our hearts toward Your obedience).
Food for Thought:
Having an impact on another person, shaping his or her life in some small vital way, is one of the most enduring satisfactions we will know. We teach because we need to share.
One day every soul will come and debate about itself, and each soul will be paid in full for what it did; and they will not be wronged. [16: 111]
Hadith of the Day:
Should you wish to act, ponder well the consequences. If good carry on; if not desist. [Ibn al-Mubarak]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Those who rely and trust in Allah are given increase in their provision and the goodness of their nature. [Shaqeeq al Balkhi]
Guidance of the Day:
The blessing of Knowledge. Ignorance kill's one's conscience and soul. Knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. It is life for one's soul and fuel for one's character. Happiness and high spiritedness come with enlightenment, because through knowledge, one may fulfill his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind.
Ignorance is boredom and grief, because the ignorant person leads a life that never offers anything new or mind provoking. Yesterday is like today, which in turn is like tomorrow. If you desire happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find that anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you. If someone is ignorant, let him not be proud of either his wealth or his status in society: his life is lacking in meaning and his achievements are woefully incomplete.
How noble is enlightenment! And through it, how happy is the soul! [Don't be Sad]
Du'a of the Week:
Allahumma Musarrifa 'l-qulub, sarrif qulubana 'ala ta'atik (O Allah, Turner of hearts, turn our hearts toward Your obedience).
Food for Thought:
Having an impact on another person, shaping his or her life in some small vital way, is one of the most enduring satisfactions we will know. We teach because we need to share.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 527
Ayah of the Day:
But then your Lord, to those who go into exile after being persecuted, then struggle and persevere, your Lord is thereafter surely most forgiving, most merciful. [16: 110]
Hadith of the Day:
Should you become eager to mention another's faults, recall your own. [Ar-Rafi'i]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who reckons his words as part of his actions speaks very little--only about those things that are of concern to him. [Omar ibn Abdul Azeez]
Guidance of the Day:
Find consolation by remembering the afflicted. Look around you, to the right and to the left. Do you not see the afflicted and the unfortunate? In every house there is mourning and upon every cheek run tears. How many tribulations and how many people persevere with patience. You are not alone in your troubles, which are few compared to those of others. How many sick people remain bedridden for years while suffering from unspeakable pain! How many have not seen the light of the sun for years due to their imprisonment, having knowledge of nothing but the four corners of their cell! How many men and women have lost their children in the prime of their youth! How many people are troubled or tormented!
Find consolation with those that are worse off than you; know that this life is like a prison for the believer, an abode of grief and sadness. You must adapt like the experienced camel, which manages, when necessary, to kneel upon a rock. You must also compare your difficulties of those around you, and with those that have come before you; you should realize that you are in good shape relative to them, and that you have merely been pricked by tiny difficulties. So praise Allah for His kindness, be thankful for what He has left for you, seek recompense from Him for what He has taken and seek consolation with those that are afflicted. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
But then your Lord, to those who go into exile after being persecuted, then struggle and persevere, your Lord is thereafter surely most forgiving, most merciful. [16: 110]
Hadith of the Day:
Should you become eager to mention another's faults, recall your own. [Ar-Rafi'i]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who reckons his words as part of his actions speaks very little--only about those things that are of concern to him. [Omar ibn Abdul Azeez]
Guidance of the Day:
Find consolation by remembering the afflicted. Look around you, to the right and to the left. Do you not see the afflicted and the unfortunate? In every house there is mourning and upon every cheek run tears. How many tribulations and how many people persevere with patience. You are not alone in your troubles, which are few compared to those of others. How many sick people remain bedridden for years while suffering from unspeakable pain! How many have not seen the light of the sun for years due to their imprisonment, having knowledge of nothing but the four corners of their cell! How many men and women have lost their children in the prime of their youth! How many people are troubled or tormented!
Find consolation with those that are worse off than you; know that this life is like a prison for the believer, an abode of grief and sadness. You must adapt like the experienced camel, which manages, when necessary, to kneel upon a rock. You must also compare your difficulties of those around you, and with those that have come before you; you should realize that you are in good shape relative to them, and that you have merely been pricked by tiny difficulties. So praise Allah for His kindness, be thankful for what He has left for you, seek recompense from Him for what He has taken and seek consolation with those that are afflicted. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Monday, April 17, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 526
Ayahs of the Day:
They are those whose hearts God has sealed, and their ears and their eyes; and they are the heedless. there is no doubt that they will be the lost in the Hereafter. [16: 108,109]
Hadith of the Day:
After obligatory rites, the action most beloved to God is delighting other Muslims. [Tabarani]
Wise of the Day:
Even after burying your own parents you take no lesson; knowing with certainty that death is inevitable, you chose to remain heedless of it, and knowing full well that you have many faults, you actively seek out the faults of others. [Ibrahim bin Adham]
Guidance of the Day:
Or do they envy men for what Allah has given them of His bounty. Jealousy is a disease that wreaks havoc not only on the mind, but also on the body. It is said that there is no repose for the jealous one and that he is an enemy wearing the garb of a friend. In doing justice to the decease of jealousy, one can say that it is a fair one, for it begins with its bearer, killing him first.
I forbid both you and myself from jealousy, because before we can show mercy to others we must first show it to ourselves. By being jealous of others, we are feeding misery with our flesh and blood and we are giving our sound sleep to others. The jealous person lights a fire and then jumps into it. Jealousy begets grief, pain, and suffering, thus destroying what was once a calm and virtuous life. The curse of the jealous one is that he contests fate and contends that his Creator is unjust.
How like a disease is jealousy, yet unlike other diseases--the one afflicted by it receives no reward in the Hereafter. The jealous person shall remain in fury until the day he dies, or until the good fortune of others departs from them. Everyone can be reconciled except the jealous one, because reconciliation with him requires that the blessings of Allah are removed from you or that you give up your talents and good qualities. If you were to do this, then perhaps he would become happy despite himself. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the jealous one, a person who becomes like a black poisonous snake, finding no repose until it releases its venom into an innocent body.
So stay away from jealousy and seek refuge in Allah from the jealous person, because he is constantly watching you. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
I finally realized that other people are simply going to be exactly the way they are, independent of my opinion about them.
They are those whose hearts God has sealed, and their ears and their eyes; and they are the heedless. there is no doubt that they will be the lost in the Hereafter. [16: 108,109]
Hadith of the Day:
After obligatory rites, the action most beloved to God is delighting other Muslims. [Tabarani]
Wise of the Day:
Even after burying your own parents you take no lesson; knowing with certainty that death is inevitable, you chose to remain heedless of it, and knowing full well that you have many faults, you actively seek out the faults of others. [Ibrahim bin Adham]
Guidance of the Day:
Or do they envy men for what Allah has given them of His bounty. Jealousy is a disease that wreaks havoc not only on the mind, but also on the body. It is said that there is no repose for the jealous one and that he is an enemy wearing the garb of a friend. In doing justice to the decease of jealousy, one can say that it is a fair one, for it begins with its bearer, killing him first.
I forbid both you and myself from jealousy, because before we can show mercy to others we must first show it to ourselves. By being jealous of others, we are feeding misery with our flesh and blood and we are giving our sound sleep to others. The jealous person lights a fire and then jumps into it. Jealousy begets grief, pain, and suffering, thus destroying what was once a calm and virtuous life. The curse of the jealous one is that he contests fate and contends that his Creator is unjust.
How like a disease is jealousy, yet unlike other diseases--the one afflicted by it receives no reward in the Hereafter. The jealous person shall remain in fury until the day he dies, or until the good fortune of others departs from them. Everyone can be reconciled except the jealous one, because reconciliation with him requires that the blessings of Allah are removed from you or that you give up your talents and good qualities. If you were to do this, then perhaps he would become happy despite himself. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the jealous one, a person who becomes like a black poisonous snake, finding no repose until it releases its venom into an innocent body.
So stay away from jealousy and seek refuge in Allah from the jealous person, because he is constantly watching you. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
I finally realized that other people are simply going to be exactly the way they are, independent of my opinion about them.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 525
Ayah of the Day:
That is because they preferred the life of the world to the Hereafter; and because God does not guide the people who refuse. [16: 107]
Hadith of the Day:
Love for humanity what you love for yourself. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There are four characteristics that if one possesses them, Allah protects him from Satan: the one who controls himself in a state of craving, fearing, desiring, and being angry. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. Truthfulness is beloved by Allah and is purifying soap for the heart. And there is no deed that gives such pleasure to the heart, or has greater reward, than the remembrance of Allah. Remembrance of Allah is His Paradise on earth, and whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter. Remembrance is not only a safe haven from the problems and worries of this world, but it is also the short and easy path to achieving ultimate success. When you remember Allah, clouds of worry and fear are driven away, and the mountains that make up your problems are blown away.
We should not be surprised when we hear that people who remember Allah are at peace. What is truly surprising is how the negligent and unmindful survive without remembering Him. To the degree that you remember Allah, your heart will be calm and cheerful. His remembrance carries with it the meaning of total dependence upon Him, of turning to Him for aid, of having good thoughts about him, and of waiting for victory from Him. Truly, He is near when supplicated: He hears when He is called and He answers when He is invoked, so humble yourself before Him and ask of Him sincerely. Repeat His beautiful blessed name, supplicate to Him, and ask forgiveness from Him: you will then find--by the will of Allah--happiness, peace, and illuminations. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
It's Allah's word's, not music, that bring peace to a person. Music is a cheap and forbidden substitute.
That is because they preferred the life of the world to the Hereafter; and because God does not guide the people who refuse. [16: 107]
Hadith of the Day:
Love for humanity what you love for yourself. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There are four characteristics that if one possesses them, Allah protects him from Satan: the one who controls himself in a state of craving, fearing, desiring, and being angry. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. Truthfulness is beloved by Allah and is purifying soap for the heart. And there is no deed that gives such pleasure to the heart, or has greater reward, than the remembrance of Allah. Remembrance of Allah is His Paradise on earth, and whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter. Remembrance is not only a safe haven from the problems and worries of this world, but it is also the short and easy path to achieving ultimate success. When you remember Allah, clouds of worry and fear are driven away, and the mountains that make up your problems are blown away.
We should not be surprised when we hear that people who remember Allah are at peace. What is truly surprising is how the negligent and unmindful survive without remembering Him. To the degree that you remember Allah, your heart will be calm and cheerful. His remembrance carries with it the meaning of total dependence upon Him, of turning to Him for aid, of having good thoughts about him, and of waiting for victory from Him. Truly, He is near when supplicated: He hears when He is called and He answers when He is invoked, so humble yourself before Him and ask of Him sincerely. Repeat His beautiful blessed name, supplicate to Him, and ask forgiveness from Him: you will then find--by the will of Allah--happiness, peace, and illuminations. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
It's Allah's word's, not music, that bring peace to a person. Music is a cheap and forbidden substitute.
Friday, April 14, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 524
Ayah of the Day:
Those who repudiate God after having had faith--except one who is compelled, while his heart rests securely in faith--that is whoever opens his chest to atheism, wrath from God is upon them, and there is tremendous torment for them. [16: 106]
Hadith of the Day:
Among those not graced with God's glance on the Day of Judgment are a severer of bonds of kin and obnoxious neighbor. [Daylami]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Even if God did not threaten the disobedient, one would be obliged not to disobey God out of gratitude for the blessings of God. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Extract the honey but do not break the hive. Everything that has gentleness in it is beautified, and whatever lacks it is spoiled. When you meet someone, giving him a bright smile and a kind word, you are displaying a characteristic of the truly successful man, a characteristic that even a bee exhibits. When a bee lands on a flower (doing so for a practical purpose) it does not destroy it, because Allah rewards gentleness with that which He does not give for harshness. There are certain people whose personalities are like magnets, attracting everyone who is nearby, simply because they are loved for their gentle talk, their good manners, and their noble deeds.
Winning the friendship of others is an art that is mastered by those that are noble and pious; a circle of people constantly surrounds them. There mere presence in a gathering is a blessing, and when they are absent they are missed and asked about. These blessed people have a code of conduct: They suck out malice from others with their sincerity, forgiveness, and gentleness. They forget evil that was enacted upon them and preserve the memory of kindnesses received. Biting, harsh words may be aimed at them, but such words pass by their ears without entering and continue on their path without ever returning. They are in a state of calmness. People in general, and Muslims in particular are safe from suffering any harm at their hands.
Give to such people glad tidings of an imminent reward in this world, in terms of peace and tranquility. Also give glad tidings to them of a great reward in the Hereafter, of Paradise, wherein they will be in close proximity to their forgiving Lord. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
The wise one is too judicious to waste his time in nonsense and to spend his money in something that will not bring him return.
Those who repudiate God after having had faith--except one who is compelled, while his heart rests securely in faith--that is whoever opens his chest to atheism, wrath from God is upon them, and there is tremendous torment for them. [16: 106]
Hadith of the Day:
Among those not graced with God's glance on the Day of Judgment are a severer of bonds of kin and obnoxious neighbor. [Daylami]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Even if God did not threaten the disobedient, one would be obliged not to disobey God out of gratitude for the blessings of God. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Extract the honey but do not break the hive. Everything that has gentleness in it is beautified, and whatever lacks it is spoiled. When you meet someone, giving him a bright smile and a kind word, you are displaying a characteristic of the truly successful man, a characteristic that even a bee exhibits. When a bee lands on a flower (doing so for a practical purpose) it does not destroy it, because Allah rewards gentleness with that which He does not give for harshness. There are certain people whose personalities are like magnets, attracting everyone who is nearby, simply because they are loved for their gentle talk, their good manners, and their noble deeds.
Winning the friendship of others is an art that is mastered by those that are noble and pious; a circle of people constantly surrounds them. There mere presence in a gathering is a blessing, and when they are absent they are missed and asked about. These blessed people have a code of conduct: They suck out malice from others with their sincerity, forgiveness, and gentleness. They forget evil that was enacted upon them and preserve the memory of kindnesses received. Biting, harsh words may be aimed at them, but such words pass by their ears without entering and continue on their path without ever returning. They are in a state of calmness. People in general, and Muslims in particular are safe from suffering any harm at their hands.
Give to such people glad tidings of an imminent reward in this world, in terms of peace and tranquility. Also give glad tidings to them of a great reward in the Hereafter, of Paradise, wherein they will be in close proximity to their forgiving Lord. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
The wise one is too judicious to waste his time in nonsense and to spend his money in something that will not bring him return.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 523
Ayah of the Day:
The ones who forge falsehood are those who do not believe in the signs of God; they are the ones who are liars. [16: 105]
Hadith of the Day:
Keep God in mind wherever you are; follow a wrong with a right that offsets it; and treat people courteously. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who has not observed the rights of people cannot possibly observe the rights of God. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Your recompense is with Allah. When Allah, the Exalted, takes something away from you, He compensates you with something better, but only if you are patient and seek your reward from Him. So do not feel excessive sorrow over some misfortune, because the One Who decreed it has with Him Paradise: recompense and a great reward. Those that are afflicted in this world and are close to Allah will be praised in the highest part of heaven. We must contemplate the reward one receives for forbearing hardship.
Truly, the life of this world is short and its treasures are few. The Hereafter is better and everlasting, and whosoever is afflicted here shall find his reward there. And whosoever works hard here shall find ease there. As for those who cling to this world, who are attached to it, and who are in love with it, the hardest thing for them to bear would be to lose the world's comforts and riches; they desire to enjoy this life alone. What they perceive around them is this life alone: they are blind to its impermanence and insignificance.
If you are patient you lose nothing; and though you may not perceive it, you are profiting. The person who is afflicted with hardship should reflect upon the outcome in the Hereafter, the outcome for those who are patient. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
If you wonder about the difference between attachment and enjoyment, ask yourself how you would react if suddenly an object you valued was gone.
The ones who forge falsehood are those who do not believe in the signs of God; they are the ones who are liars. [16: 105]
Hadith of the Day:
Keep God in mind wherever you are; follow a wrong with a right that offsets it; and treat people courteously. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who has not observed the rights of people cannot possibly observe the rights of God. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Your recompense is with Allah. When Allah, the Exalted, takes something away from you, He compensates you with something better, but only if you are patient and seek your reward from Him. So do not feel excessive sorrow over some misfortune, because the One Who decreed it has with Him Paradise: recompense and a great reward. Those that are afflicted in this world and are close to Allah will be praised in the highest part of heaven. We must contemplate the reward one receives for forbearing hardship.
Truly, the life of this world is short and its treasures are few. The Hereafter is better and everlasting, and whosoever is afflicted here shall find his reward there. And whosoever works hard here shall find ease there. As for those who cling to this world, who are attached to it, and who are in love with it, the hardest thing for them to bear would be to lose the world's comforts and riches; they desire to enjoy this life alone. What they perceive around them is this life alone: they are blind to its impermanence and insignificance.
If you are patient you lose nothing; and though you may not perceive it, you are profiting. The person who is afflicted with hardship should reflect upon the outcome in the Hereafter, the outcome for those who are patient. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
If you wonder about the difference between attachment and enjoyment, ask yourself how you would react if suddenly an object you valued was gone.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 522
Ayah of the Day:
Those who do not believe in the signs of God, God does not guide; and their is a pAinful torment for them. [16: 104]
Hadith of the Day:
Consideration is from God, and haste is from the devil. [Al-Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Long for death and life will be granted. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Accept life as it is. The pleasures of life are short lived, and more often than not, they are followed by sorrow. Life means responsibility, a journey wherein change is constant and difficulties are relentless in their onslaught. You will not find a father, a wife, or a friend who is free from problems. Allah has willed for this world to be filled with two opposites: good and evil, righteousness and corruption, happiness and misery. Thus goodness, uprightness, and happiness are for Paradise; evil, corruption, and misery are for the Fire.
So live according to your reality without always envisioning the ideal life, one that is free from worry and toil. Accept life as it is and adapt accordingly to all circumstances. You will not find in this world such things as the flawless companion or the perfect situation, because flawlessness and perfection are qualities that are foreign to this life. It is necessary for us to make amends; to take what is easy and leave what is difficult (within the limits of Shari'a); and very frequently, to overlook the faults and mistakes of others. [Don't be Sad]
Du'a of the Week:
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'l-huda wa'ttuqa wa'l-afafa wa'l-ghina. [O Allah, I ask of You guidance, piety, chastity, and independence (from your creation)]
Food for Thought:
The process of giving unconditional love nurtures us and fulfills our purpose in life. Whenever you are able to give of yourself without expecting anything in return, you become a bigger person.
Those who do not believe in the signs of God, God does not guide; and their is a pAinful torment for them. [16: 104]
Hadith of the Day:
Consideration is from God, and haste is from the devil. [Al-Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Long for death and life will be granted. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Accept life as it is. The pleasures of life are short lived, and more often than not, they are followed by sorrow. Life means responsibility, a journey wherein change is constant and difficulties are relentless in their onslaught. You will not find a father, a wife, or a friend who is free from problems. Allah has willed for this world to be filled with two opposites: good and evil, righteousness and corruption, happiness and misery. Thus goodness, uprightness, and happiness are for Paradise; evil, corruption, and misery are for the Fire.
So live according to your reality without always envisioning the ideal life, one that is free from worry and toil. Accept life as it is and adapt accordingly to all circumstances. You will not find in this world such things as the flawless companion or the perfect situation, because flawlessness and perfection are qualities that are foreign to this life. It is necessary for us to make amends; to take what is easy and leave what is difficult (within the limits of Shari'a); and very frequently, to overlook the faults and mistakes of others. [Don't be Sad]
Du'a of the Week:
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'l-huda wa'ttuqa wa'l-afafa wa'l-ghina. [O Allah, I ask of You guidance, piety, chastity, and independence (from your creation)]
Food for Thought:
The process of giving unconditional love nurtures us and fulfills our purpose in life. Whenever you are able to give of yourself without expecting anything in return, you become a bigger person.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 521
Ayahs of the Day:
So when you read the Recital, take refuge in God from Satan the accursed: For he has no power over those who believe and trust in their Lord. His only power is over those who take to him, and those who are idolaters. [16: 98,99,100]
Hadith of the Day:
Islam is clean, so cleanse yourselves, for only the cleansed shall enter Paradise. [Al-Tabrani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Erase old sins with new virtues. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Enough for you is your home. The words 'isolation' and 'seclusion' have a special meaning in our religion: to stay away from evil and its perpetrators, and to keep those who are foolish at a distance. When you seclude yourself from evil in this manner, you will have an opportunity to reflect, to think, to graze in the meadows of enlightenment. When you isolate yourself from things that divert you from Allah's obedience, you are giving yourself a dose of medicine, one that doctor's of the heart have found to be a most potent cure. When you seclude yourself from idleness, your brain is stimulated into action. The results are increases in faith, repentance, and remembrance of Allah, the Merciful.
However, some gatherings are not only recommended, but necessary: the congregational prayer, circles of learning, and all gatherings of righteousness. As for gatherings wherein frivolity and shallowness prevail, be wary of them. Take flight from such gatherings, weep over your wrong doing, hold your tongue, and be content within the boundaries of your home. By mixing with others with foolish motives, you endanger the stability and soundness of your mind, for the people you indiscriminately mix with are likely to be experts at wasting time, masters at spreading lies, and skilled in spreading both trouble and mischief.
I advise you to fortify yourself to your purpose. When you apply this advice, you will find that your heart has returned to you. So use your time well and save your life from being wasted. Hold your tongue from backbiting, free your heart from anxiety, and preserve your ears from profanity. [Don't be Sad]
Food for thought:
You leave old habits behind by starting out with the thought, "I release the need for this in my life."
So when you read the Recital, take refuge in God from Satan the accursed: For he has no power over those who believe and trust in their Lord. His only power is over those who take to him, and those who are idolaters. [16: 98,99,100]
Hadith of the Day:
Islam is clean, so cleanse yourselves, for only the cleansed shall enter Paradise. [Al-Tabrani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Erase old sins with new virtues. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Enough for you is your home. The words 'isolation' and 'seclusion' have a special meaning in our religion: to stay away from evil and its perpetrators, and to keep those who are foolish at a distance. When you seclude yourself from evil in this manner, you will have an opportunity to reflect, to think, to graze in the meadows of enlightenment. When you isolate yourself from things that divert you from Allah's obedience, you are giving yourself a dose of medicine, one that doctor's of the heart have found to be a most potent cure. When you seclude yourself from idleness, your brain is stimulated into action. The results are increases in faith, repentance, and remembrance of Allah, the Merciful.
However, some gatherings are not only recommended, but necessary: the congregational prayer, circles of learning, and all gatherings of righteousness. As for gatherings wherein frivolity and shallowness prevail, be wary of them. Take flight from such gatherings, weep over your wrong doing, hold your tongue, and be content within the boundaries of your home. By mixing with others with foolish motives, you endanger the stability and soundness of your mind, for the people you indiscriminately mix with are likely to be experts at wasting time, masters at spreading lies, and skilled in spreading both trouble and mischief.
I advise you to fortify yourself to your purpose. When you apply this advice, you will find that your heart has returned to you. So use your time well and save your life from being wasted. Hold your tongue from backbiting, free your heart from anxiety, and preserve your ears from profanity. [Don't be Sad]
Food for thought:
You leave old habits behind by starting out with the thought, "I release the need for this in my life."
Monday, April 10, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 520
Ayah of the Day:
Whoever does right, male or female, and is a believer, We will revivify with a good life; and We will pay them their due according to the best of what they have done. [16: 97]
Hadith of the Day:
Make the use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age. [Abu Dawood]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom, decrease in one's food brings health, decrease in one's sleep brings worship, and decrease in one's meeting with common folk brings safety. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily, with hardship, their is relief. Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night. Inform the night of a coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.
If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap. Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is overthrown by serenity. Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only at the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before him.
Therefore do not be in despair: It is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with hardship there is relief. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Every day is my best day; this is my life; I am not going to have this moment again. If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.
Whoever does right, male or female, and is a believer, We will revivify with a good life; and We will pay them their due according to the best of what they have done. [16: 97]
Hadith of the Day:
Make the use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age. [Abu Dawood]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom, decrease in one's food brings health, decrease in one's sleep brings worship, and decrease in one's meeting with common folk brings safety. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily, with hardship, their is relief. Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night. Inform the night of a coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.
If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap. Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is overthrown by serenity. Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only at the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before him.
Therefore do not be in despair: It is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with hardship there is relief. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Every day is my best day; this is my life; I am not going to have this moment again. If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.
LESSON OF THE DAY 520
Ayah of the Day:
Whoever does right, male or female, and is a believer, We will revivify with a good life; and We will pay them their due according to the best of what they have done. [16: 97]
Hadith of the Day:
Make the use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age. [Abu Dawood]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom, decrease in one's food brings health, decrease in one's sleep brings worship, and decrease in one's meeting with common folk brings safety. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily, with hardship, their is relief. Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night. Inform the night of a coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.
If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap. Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is overthrown by serenity. Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only at the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before him.
Therefore do not be in despair: It is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with hardship there is relief. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Every day is my best day; this is my life; I am not going to have this moment again. If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.
Whoever does right, male or female, and is a believer, We will revivify with a good life; and We will pay them their due according to the best of what they have done. [16: 97]
Hadith of the Day:
Make the use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age. [Abu Dawood]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom, decrease in one's food brings health, decrease in one's sleep brings worship, and decrease in one's meeting with common folk brings safety. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily, with hardship, their is relief. Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night. Inform the night of a coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.
If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap. Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is overthrown by serenity. Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only at the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before him.
Therefore do not be in despair: It is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with hardship there is relief. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Every day is my best day; this is my life; I am not going to have this moment again. If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.
LESSON OF THE DAY 520
Ayah of the Day:
Whoever does right, male or female, and is a believer, We will revivify with a good life; and We will pay them their due according to the best of what they have done. [16: 97]
Hadith of the Day:
Make the use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age. [Abu Dawood]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom, decrease in one's food brings health, decrease in one's sleep brings worship, and decrease in one's meeting with common folk brings safety. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily, with hardship, their is relief. Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night. Inform the night of a coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.
If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap. Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is overthrown by serenity. Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only at the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before him.
Therefore do not be in despair: It is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with hardship there is relief. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Every day is my best day; this is my life; I am not going to have this moment again. If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.
Whoever does right, male or female, and is a believer, We will revivify with a good life; and We will pay them their due according to the best of what they have done. [16: 97]
Hadith of the Day:
Make the use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age. [Abu Dawood]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom, decrease in one's food brings health, decrease in one's sleep brings worship, and decrease in one's meeting with common folk brings safety. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Verily, with hardship, their is relief. Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night. Inform the night of a coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.
If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap. Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is overthrown by serenity. Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only at the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before him.
Therefore do not be in despair: It is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with hardship there is relief. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Every day is my best day; this is my life; I am not going to have this moment again. If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 519
Ayah of the Day:
What you have comes to an end, but what is with God is everlasting. And We will definitely pay those who were constant their reward for the best of what they did. [16: 96]
Hadith of the Day:
The marriage which is most blessed is the one which is lightest in burden and expense. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The surest way of achieving heaven on earth is contentment with His decree. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Pre-ordainment. The pen has dried, the pages have been lifted: all the events that shall come to pass have already been written. Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: If this belief were to be firmly ingrained in your heart, then all hardship and difficulty would become ease and comfort. Do not feel overly troubled if you are afflicted with sickness, the death of a son, or a loss in wealth. Allah has decreed these matters to occur and the decisions are His, and His alone. When we truly have this faith, we shall be rewarded well and our sins shall be atoned for.
For those that are afflicted with disaster, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with your Lord. You will never completely feel ease until you firmly believe that Allah has already pre-ordained all matters. The pen has dried and with it has been written everything that will happen to you. Therefore do not feel remorse over that which is not in your hands. Do not think that you could have prevented the fence from falling, the water from flowing, the wind from blowing, or the glass from breaking. You could not have prevented these things, whether you wanted to or not. All that has been pre-ordained shall come to pass.
Surrender yourself: believe in pre-ordainment, before pangs of anger and regret overwhelm you. If you have done all that was in your power, and afterwards what you had been striving against still takes place, have firm faith that it was meant to be. Do not say, 'Had I done such-and-such, such-and-such would have happened'; rather say, 'This is the decree of Allah, and what He wishes He does.' [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Be gentle with yourself and love yourself unconditionally, regardless of what comes your way. You cannot always control what goes on outside, but you can always control what goes on inside.
What you have comes to an end, but what is with God is everlasting. And We will definitely pay those who were constant their reward for the best of what they did. [16: 96]
Hadith of the Day:
The marriage which is most blessed is the one which is lightest in burden and expense. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The surest way of achieving heaven on earth is contentment with His decree. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Pre-ordainment. The pen has dried, the pages have been lifted: all the events that shall come to pass have already been written. Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: If this belief were to be firmly ingrained in your heart, then all hardship and difficulty would become ease and comfort. Do not feel overly troubled if you are afflicted with sickness, the death of a son, or a loss in wealth. Allah has decreed these matters to occur and the decisions are His, and His alone. When we truly have this faith, we shall be rewarded well and our sins shall be atoned for.
For those that are afflicted with disaster, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with your Lord. You will never completely feel ease until you firmly believe that Allah has already pre-ordained all matters. The pen has dried and with it has been written everything that will happen to you. Therefore do not feel remorse over that which is not in your hands. Do not think that you could have prevented the fence from falling, the water from flowing, the wind from blowing, or the glass from breaking. You could not have prevented these things, whether you wanted to or not. All that has been pre-ordained shall come to pass.
Surrender yourself: believe in pre-ordainment, before pangs of anger and regret overwhelm you. If you have done all that was in your power, and afterwards what you had been striving against still takes place, have firm faith that it was meant to be. Do not say, 'Had I done such-and-such, such-and-such would have happened'; rather say, 'This is the decree of Allah, and what He wishes He does.' [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Be gentle with yourself and love yourself unconditionally, regardless of what comes your way. You cannot always control what goes on outside, but you can always control what goes on inside.
Friday, April 07, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 518
Ayah of the Day:
And do not exchange the covenant of God for a small price: with God is what is best for you , if you knew. [16: 95]
Hadith of the Day:
The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the prophets leave (no monetary inheritance), only knowledge, and he who takes it, takes an abundant portion. [Abu Dawud]
Wise quote of the Day:
The best of the youths among you are those who imitate those of mature age, while the worst of your elderly are those who imitate the young. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Repel boredom with work. Those who have nothing to do with their lives are the same people who spend most of their time spreading rumors and falsehood, mainly because their minds are devoid of beneficial thoughts. When you find yourself to be idle, prepare for depression and despair, because idleness allows your mind to wander in the past, the present, and the future, with all their difficulties. Therefore, my sincere advice to you is to perform fruitful acts instead of being idle, for idleness is a slow and veiled form of suicide.
Being inactive means being negligent of one's duties. Idleness is an expert thief and your mind is its victim. Therefore get up now and say a prayer or read a book; praise your Lord, study, write, organize your library, fix something in your house, or benefit others so that you can put an end to your inactivity. I say this because I sincerely wish for your betterment. Destroy boredom by working. When you apply this simple precept alone, you will have traveled atleast fifty percent of the way towards happiness. [Don't be Sad]
Du'a of the Week:
When one becomes angry: A-udhu bi 'Llahi mina 'sh-shaytani 'r-rajim. (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the occursed.
Food for Thought:
If people would only hold their tongues on unpleasant topics, how the things themselves would improve. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
And do not exchange the covenant of God for a small price: with God is what is best for you , if you knew. [16: 95]
Hadith of the Day:
The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the prophets leave (no monetary inheritance), only knowledge, and he who takes it, takes an abundant portion. [Abu Dawud]
Wise quote of the Day:
The best of the youths among you are those who imitate those of mature age, while the worst of your elderly are those who imitate the young. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Repel boredom with work. Those who have nothing to do with their lives are the same people who spend most of their time spreading rumors and falsehood, mainly because their minds are devoid of beneficial thoughts. When you find yourself to be idle, prepare for depression and despair, because idleness allows your mind to wander in the past, the present, and the future, with all their difficulties. Therefore, my sincere advice to you is to perform fruitful acts instead of being idle, for idleness is a slow and veiled form of suicide.
Being inactive means being negligent of one's duties. Idleness is an expert thief and your mind is its victim. Therefore get up now and say a prayer or read a book; praise your Lord, study, write, organize your library, fix something in your house, or benefit others so that you can put an end to your inactivity. I say this because I sincerely wish for your betterment. Destroy boredom by working. When you apply this simple precept alone, you will have traveled atleast fifty percent of the way towards happiness. [Don't be Sad]
Du'a of the Week:
When one becomes angry: A-udhu bi 'Llahi mina 'sh-shaytani 'r-rajim. (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the occursed.
Food for Thought:
If people would only hold their tongues on unpleasant topics, how the things themselves would improve. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 517
Ayah of the Day:
So do not pledge your trust falsely among you, such that the foot may slip after it is planted, and you taste misery for having hindered the cause of God, as you will have tremendous agony. [16: 94]
Hadith of the Day:
A nation that discards jihad, general calamities and hardships befall them. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The key to every good is desire of the Hereafter. The key to every evil is love of this world. [Imam al Mannawi]
Guidance of the Day:
Doing good to others gives comfort to the heart. The first person who benefits from the act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person. If you find yourself to be in difficulty or distress, show kindness to others, and you will be the first to find solace and comfort. Give to the needy, defend the oppressed, help those in distress, and visit the sick: you will find that happiness surrounds you from all directions.
An act of charity is like perfume--it benefits the user, the seller, and the buyer. Further more, the psychological benefits that one receives from helping others are indeed great. If you suffer from depression,an act of charity will have a more potent effect on your sickness than will the best available medicine. Even when you smile upon meeting others, you are giving charity. On the other hand, when you frown upon meeting others, you are displaying a sign of enmity, an act that is so detrimental to brotherhood that only Allah knows the full extent of its evil effects.
O' you, who are threatened by misery, fear and grief, occupy yourself in the betterment of others. Help others in different ways--through charity, hospitality, sympathy, and support. And in doing so, you will find all of the happiness that your desire. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
We must, like a painter, take time to stand back from our work, to be still, and thus see what's what...True repose is standing back to survey the activities that fill our days.
So do not pledge your trust falsely among you, such that the foot may slip after it is planted, and you taste misery for having hindered the cause of God, as you will have tremendous agony. [16: 94]
Hadith of the Day:
A nation that discards jihad, general calamities and hardships befall them. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The key to every good is desire of the Hereafter. The key to every evil is love of this world. [Imam al Mannawi]
Guidance of the Day:
Doing good to others gives comfort to the heart. The first person who benefits from the act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person. If you find yourself to be in difficulty or distress, show kindness to others, and you will be the first to find solace and comfort. Give to the needy, defend the oppressed, help those in distress, and visit the sick: you will find that happiness surrounds you from all directions.
An act of charity is like perfume--it benefits the user, the seller, and the buyer. Further more, the psychological benefits that one receives from helping others are indeed great. If you suffer from depression,an act of charity will have a more potent effect on your sickness than will the best available medicine. Even when you smile upon meeting others, you are giving charity. On the other hand, when you frown upon meeting others, you are displaying a sign of enmity, an act that is so detrimental to brotherhood that only Allah knows the full extent of its evil effects.
O' you, who are threatened by misery, fear and grief, occupy yourself in the betterment of others. Help others in different ways--through charity, hospitality, sympathy, and support. And in doing so, you will find all of the happiness that your desire. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
We must, like a painter, take time to stand back from our work, to be still, and thus see what's what...True repose is standing back to survey the activities that fill our days.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 516
Ayah of the Day:
And had God willed, God would have made you one people: but God leaves astray whom God will. And you will surely be questioned about what you have been doing. [16: 93]
Hadith of the Day:
A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the Prophets, the upright, and the martyrs. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Ingratitude: Spending of Allah's bounty in ways which are inappropriate and unbefitting. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Do not expect gratitude from anyone. Allah, the Almighty, created His slaves so that they may worship and remember Him, and He provided sustenance for them so that they may be grateful to Him. Nevertheless, many have worshipped other than Him and the masses are thankful not to Him, but to others, because the characteristic of ingratitude is widespread among human beings. So do not be dismayed when you find that others forget your favors or disregard your kind acts. Some people might even despise you and make you an enemy for no other reason than that you have shown them kindness.
From among the ever-repeating pages of history is a story of a father and his son: the former raised him, fed him, clothed him and taught him; he would stay up nights so that his son could sleep, stay hungry so that his son could eat, and he would toil so that his son could feel comfort. And when the son became older and stronger, he rewarded his father with disobedience, disrespect, and contempt.
So be at peace if you are requited with ungratefulness for the good you have done. Rejoice in your knowledge that you will be rewarded from the One Who has unlimited treasures at His disposal. This is not to say that you should refrain from performing acts of kindness to others: the point is that you should be mentally prepared for ingratitude. Perform acts of charity seeking Allah's pleasure, because with this attitude you will assuredly be successful. The ungrateful person cannot really harm you. Also, remember that the hand that gives is better than the hand that receives.
Hence do not be in a state of agitation if you give someone a pen as a gift and he uses it to satirize you, or if you give someone a walking stick to lean upon and he strikes you with it. As I pointed out earlier, most human beings are ungrateful to their Lord, so what treatment should you and I expect? [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
A purpose is not something that you're going to find. It's something that will find you. And it will find you only when you are ready and not before.
And had God willed, God would have made you one people: but God leaves astray whom God will. And you will surely be questioned about what you have been doing. [16: 93]
Hadith of the Day:
A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the Prophets, the upright, and the martyrs. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Ingratitude: Spending of Allah's bounty in ways which are inappropriate and unbefitting. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Do not expect gratitude from anyone. Allah, the Almighty, created His slaves so that they may worship and remember Him, and He provided sustenance for them so that they may be grateful to Him. Nevertheless, many have worshipped other than Him and the masses are thankful not to Him, but to others, because the characteristic of ingratitude is widespread among human beings. So do not be dismayed when you find that others forget your favors or disregard your kind acts. Some people might even despise you and make you an enemy for no other reason than that you have shown them kindness.
From among the ever-repeating pages of history is a story of a father and his son: the former raised him, fed him, clothed him and taught him; he would stay up nights so that his son could sleep, stay hungry so that his son could eat, and he would toil so that his son could feel comfort. And when the son became older and stronger, he rewarded his father with disobedience, disrespect, and contempt.
So be at peace if you are requited with ungratefulness for the good you have done. Rejoice in your knowledge that you will be rewarded from the One Who has unlimited treasures at His disposal. This is not to say that you should refrain from performing acts of kindness to others: the point is that you should be mentally prepared for ingratitude. Perform acts of charity seeking Allah's pleasure, because with this attitude you will assuredly be successful. The ungrateful person cannot really harm you. Also, remember that the hand that gives is better than the hand that receives.
Hence do not be in a state of agitation if you give someone a pen as a gift and he uses it to satirize you, or if you give someone a walking stick to lean upon and he strikes you with it. As I pointed out earlier, most human beings are ungrateful to their Lord, so what treatment should you and I expect? [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
A purpose is not something that you're going to find. It's something that will find you. And it will find you only when you are ready and not before.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 515
Ayah of the Day:
Do not be like she who breaks what she has spun, after it is strong, into untwisted strands. You exploit your trust to defraud each other, lest one people become more numerous than another. God is only testing you thereby, and will clarify for you on the day of resurrection what you differed about. [16: 92]
Hadith of the Day:
The (significance of) this world (in comparison) to the Hereafter is similar to one of you dipping his finger in the ocean and then seeing (the amount of water that) has stuck to it. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A Muslims humiliation comes from his heedlessness of his religion, not in his lack of wealth or stature. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
How to deal with criticism. You will always have to face criticism, which in its onslaught is like an interminable war: It shows no sign of ending. As long as you shine, give, produce, and have an effect upon others, then disapproval and condemnation will be your lot in life. Until you escape from people by finding a tunnel in the ground or a ladder leading to the sky, they will not desist from censuring you, from finding fault in your character. For that reason, as long as you are from the denizens of earth, expect to be hurt, to be insulted, to be criticized.
And here is something you should contemplate: a person who is sitting on the ground does not fall, and people do not kick a dead dog. Therefore their anger toward you can be attributed to you surpassing them in righteousness, knowledge, manners, or wealth. In their eyes you are a transgressor whose wrongs cannot be atoned for--unless you abandon your talents and strip yourself of all praiseworthy qualities, so that you become stupid, worthless, and to them, innocuous. This result is exactly they want for you.
So remain firm and patient when facing their insults and criticism. If you are wounded by their words and let them have an influence over you, you will have realized their hopes for them. Instead, forgive them by showing them the most beautiful of manners. Turn away from them and do not feel distressed by their schemes. Their disapproval of you only increases you in worth and merit. You will not be able to silence them, but you will be able to bury their criticism by turning away from them and dismissing what they have to say. In fact, you will be able to increase in their rage by increasing your merits and developing your talents. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Everything in life is a paradox. The more you want approval, the more you become a person that other people don't want to approve of, the less you care about whether you get approval, the more you get.
Do not be like she who breaks what she has spun, after it is strong, into untwisted strands. You exploit your trust to defraud each other, lest one people become more numerous than another. God is only testing you thereby, and will clarify for you on the day of resurrection what you differed about. [16: 92]
Hadith of the Day:
The (significance of) this world (in comparison) to the Hereafter is similar to one of you dipping his finger in the ocean and then seeing (the amount of water that) has stuck to it. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A Muslims humiliation comes from his heedlessness of his religion, not in his lack of wealth or stature. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
How to deal with criticism. You will always have to face criticism, which in its onslaught is like an interminable war: It shows no sign of ending. As long as you shine, give, produce, and have an effect upon others, then disapproval and condemnation will be your lot in life. Until you escape from people by finding a tunnel in the ground or a ladder leading to the sky, they will not desist from censuring you, from finding fault in your character. For that reason, as long as you are from the denizens of earth, expect to be hurt, to be insulted, to be criticized.
And here is something you should contemplate: a person who is sitting on the ground does not fall, and people do not kick a dead dog. Therefore their anger toward you can be attributed to you surpassing them in righteousness, knowledge, manners, or wealth. In their eyes you are a transgressor whose wrongs cannot be atoned for--unless you abandon your talents and strip yourself of all praiseworthy qualities, so that you become stupid, worthless, and to them, innocuous. This result is exactly they want for you.
So remain firm and patient when facing their insults and criticism. If you are wounded by their words and let them have an influence over you, you will have realized their hopes for them. Instead, forgive them by showing them the most beautiful of manners. Turn away from them and do not feel distressed by their schemes. Their disapproval of you only increases you in worth and merit. You will not be able to silence them, but you will be able to bury their criticism by turning away from them and dismissing what they have to say. In fact, you will be able to increase in their rage by increasing your merits and developing your talents. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Everything in life is a paradox. The more you want approval, the more you become a person that other people don't want to approve of, the less you care about whether you get approval, the more you get.
Monday, April 03, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 514
Ayah of the Day:
Fulfill the commitment to God when you promise, and do no break a trust after its confirmation. You have made God your surety, for God knows whatever you do. [16: 91]
Hadith of the Day:
The excellence of a person's Islam includes leaving out what does not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Beware of having long-term expectations (for this world), for verily it makes one forget his true purpose. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Leave the future alone until it comes. Be not hasty and rushed for things that have yet to come to pass. Do you think it is wise to pick fruits before they become ripe? Tomorrow is non-existent, having no reality today, so why should you busy yourself with it? Why should you have apprehensions about future disasters? Why should you be engrossed by their thoughts, especially since you do not know whether you will even see tomorrow?
The important thing to know is that tomorrow is from the world of unseen, a bridge that we do not cross until it comes. Who knows, perhaps we might never reach the bridge, or the bridge might collapse before we reach it, or we may actually reach it and cross safely. For us to be engrossed in expectations about the future is looked down upon in our religion since it leads to our having a long-term attachment to this world, an attachment that the good believer shuns. Many people of this world are unduly fearful of future poverty, hunger, disease, and disaster: Such thinking is inspired by the Devil.
Many are those who cry because they see themselves starving tomorrow, falling sick after a month, or because they fear that the world will come to an end after a year. Someone who has no clue as to when he will die (which is all of us) should not busy himself with such thoughts. Since you are absorbed in the toils of today, leave tomorrow until it comes. Beware of becoming unduly attached to future prospects in this world. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
All of the "stuff" in your life has arrived to serve you, rather than to make you a servant of the stuff.
Fulfill the commitment to God when you promise, and do no break a trust after its confirmation. You have made God your surety, for God knows whatever you do. [16: 91]
Hadith of the Day:
The excellence of a person's Islam includes leaving out what does not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Beware of having long-term expectations (for this world), for verily it makes one forget his true purpose. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Leave the future alone until it comes. Be not hasty and rushed for things that have yet to come to pass. Do you think it is wise to pick fruits before they become ripe? Tomorrow is non-existent, having no reality today, so why should you busy yourself with it? Why should you have apprehensions about future disasters? Why should you be engrossed by their thoughts, especially since you do not know whether you will even see tomorrow?
The important thing to know is that tomorrow is from the world of unseen, a bridge that we do not cross until it comes. Who knows, perhaps we might never reach the bridge, or the bridge might collapse before we reach it, or we may actually reach it and cross safely. For us to be engrossed in expectations about the future is looked down upon in our religion since it leads to our having a long-term attachment to this world, an attachment that the good believer shuns. Many people of this world are unduly fearful of future poverty, hunger, disease, and disaster: Such thinking is inspired by the Devil.
Many are those who cry because they see themselves starving tomorrow, falling sick after a month, or because they fear that the world will come to an end after a year. Someone who has no clue as to when he will die (which is all of us) should not busy himself with such thoughts. Since you are absorbed in the toils of today, leave tomorrow until it comes. Beware of becoming unduly attached to future prospects in this world. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
All of the "stuff" in your life has arrived to serve you, rather than to make you a servant of the stuff.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 513
Ayah of the Day:
God commands justice, and goodness, and giving to relatives; and forbids indecency, and abomination and injustice, cautioning you that you may be mindful. [16: 90]
Hadith od the Day:
There is no obedience to the created beings when it entails disobedience to the Creator. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote f the Day:
A person's observance of God's commands and prohibitions is only proportionate to the strength of his faith. [Imam al Haddad]
Guidance of the Day:
Today is all that you have. If you are truthful with yourself and have a firm, solid resolve, you will undoubtedly convince yourself of the following: Today is my last day to live. When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality, expanding your abilities, and purifying your deeds. Then you say to yourself:
Today I shall be refined in my speech and will utter neither evil speech nor obscenity. Also I shall not backbite. Today I will strive to be obedient to my Lord, pray in the best manner possible, do more voluntary acts of righteousness, recite the Quran, and read beneficial books. I will plant goodness into my heart and extract from it the roots of evil--such as pride, jealousy , and hypocrisy. Today I will try to help others--to visit the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand side by side with the oppressed and weak. I will pay respect to the scholar, be merciful to the young, and reverent to the old.
O'past that has departed and is gone, I will not cry over you. You will not see me remembering you, because you have traveled away from me never to return. O' future, you are in the realm of the unseen, so I will not be obsessed by your dreams. I will not be preoccupied about what is to come because tomorrow is nothing and has not yet been created. 'Today is my only day' is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Try to learn from the past, rather than repeating it and making references to it all the time.
God commands justice, and goodness, and giving to relatives; and forbids indecency, and abomination and injustice, cautioning you that you may be mindful. [16: 90]
Hadith od the Day:
There is no obedience to the created beings when it entails disobedience to the Creator. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote f the Day:
A person's observance of God's commands and prohibitions is only proportionate to the strength of his faith. [Imam al Haddad]
Guidance of the Day:
Today is all that you have. If you are truthful with yourself and have a firm, solid resolve, you will undoubtedly convince yourself of the following: Today is my last day to live. When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality, expanding your abilities, and purifying your deeds. Then you say to yourself:
Today I shall be refined in my speech and will utter neither evil speech nor obscenity. Also I shall not backbite. Today I will strive to be obedient to my Lord, pray in the best manner possible, do more voluntary acts of righteousness, recite the Quran, and read beneficial books. I will plant goodness into my heart and extract from it the roots of evil--such as pride, jealousy , and hypocrisy. Today I will try to help others--to visit the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand side by side with the oppressed and weak. I will pay respect to the scholar, be merciful to the young, and reverent to the old.
O'past that has departed and is gone, I will not cry over you. You will not see me remembering you, because you have traveled away from me never to return. O' future, you are in the realm of the unseen, so I will not be obsessed by your dreams. I will not be preoccupied about what is to come because tomorrow is nothing and has not yet been created. 'Today is my only day' is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
Try to learn from the past, rather than repeating it and making references to it all the time.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 512
Ayah of the Day:
And the day We raise among them a witness from every people against them We will bring you as a witness against these. For We have revealed the Book to you, an explanation of all things, and guidance and mercy, and good news for those who are obedient. [16: 89]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of wrong doing, for wrong doing becomes manifold darknesses on the Day of Judgment. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A servant is never free of either blunders or shortcomings or lassitude. Therefore never be neglectful of repentance, and never turn away from the act of returning to God the Exalted, and never neglect acts that bring you closer to God the Exalted. [Ahmad al Zarruq]
Guidance of the Day:
Today is all that you have. When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening--live as though today is all that you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life's span is but one day, as if you were born in it and die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Qur'an with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs, satisfied with your allotted portion, concerned with your appearance and health.
Organize the hours of this day, so that you make years out of minutes, and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace. Be content with your sustenance, your spouse, your children, your house and your station in life. Live today free of sorrow, bother, anger, jealousy, and malice. You must engrave into your heart one phrase: Today is my only day. If you have eaten warm, fresh bread today, then what do yesterday's dry, rotten bread and tomorrow's anticipated bread matter? [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
It's not what is available or unavailable that determines your level of success and happiness; it is what you convince yourself is true.
And the day We raise among them a witness from every people against them We will bring you as a witness against these. For We have revealed the Book to you, an explanation of all things, and guidance and mercy, and good news for those who are obedient. [16: 89]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of wrong doing, for wrong doing becomes manifold darknesses on the Day of Judgment. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A servant is never free of either blunders or shortcomings or lassitude. Therefore never be neglectful of repentance, and never turn away from the act of returning to God the Exalted, and never neglect acts that bring you closer to God the Exalted. [Ahmad al Zarruq]
Guidance of the Day:
Today is all that you have. When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening--live as though today is all that you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life's span is but one day, as if you were born in it and die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Qur'an with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs, satisfied with your allotted portion, concerned with your appearance and health.
Organize the hours of this day, so that you make years out of minutes, and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace. Be content with your sustenance, your spouse, your children, your house and your station in life. Live today free of sorrow, bother, anger, jealousy, and malice. You must engrave into your heart one phrase: Today is my only day. If you have eaten warm, fresh bread today, then what do yesterday's dry, rotten bread and tomorrow's anticipated bread matter? [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought:
It's not what is available or unavailable that determines your level of success and happiness; it is what you convince yourself is true.
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