LESSON OF THE DAY 539

Ayah of the Day:
Glory to the One who transported a devotee one night from the Sacred Mosque to the Furthest Mosque, whose precincts We blessed so We might show him some of Our signs. For God is the all-hearing, the all-seeing. [17:1]

Hadith of the Day:
And the destroyers are desires followed, miserliness obeyed, and a man being pleased with himself, and (of the things that destroy) this (last) is the worst of them. [Bayhaqi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Occupy yourself with inspecting your heart, discerning the features of your personality, giving worldly attachments a wide berth, purging yourself of ugly traits, and you would occupy yourself in adoring God the Exalted, worshipping Him, and acquiring good qualities. And not a day passes for any worshipper without his death during it being a possibility! [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
Vanity: Vanity (ujb) is to attribute one's excellence to oneself while being oblivious of the possibility of such excellence being snatched away by Allah Most High. Vanity is a cloaked and subtle trick of the lower self, which always desires to occupy a distinguished rank (above others). The lower self finds pleasure in this desire. Allah Most High detests anyone who considers himself distinguished, laudable, and the vessel of excellence.

Delight over the bounties granted by Allah Most High is not vanity. Such true delight is not unrestricted and does not produce vanity, since the fear of the elimination of the bounties is ever present in the heart. One realizes that the excellence or bounty that one has gained is purely a gift from Allah Most High, Who has awarded it because of some act or knowledge (which is also favor of Allah), and one further realizes that Allah Most High has the full power to take away the bounty at any time He desires. This experience of delight is therefore not vanity. On the other hand, a person suffering from vanity becomes neglectful and fails to see that the bounty in his possession is in fact a gift from Allah Most High. One afflicted with vanity thinks himself entitled to the bounties.

Vanity resembles pride in all aspects, save one; vanity does not necessarily require that others be one's inferiors. A person suffering from vanity considers himself to be a lofty rank without necessarily regarding another to be his inferior.

The Remedy: Always regard excellence and virtues that one possesses to be the gifts of Allah Most High. Contemplate the power of Allah and fear the possibility of the gifts being taken away. Consider your faults, both internal and external, so that the idea of perfection and self-righteousness is abolished. [The Path Of Perfection]

Food for Thought:
Miracles can only happen when you get rid of the concept of "impossible" and allow yourself to experience the magic of knowing.