Ayahs of the Day:
"As for My devotees, you have no authority over them." And your Lord is an adequate guardian. Your Lord is the One who propels the ships for you on the sea, that you may seek some of the divine bounty; for God is Most Merciful to you. [17: 65,66]
Hadith of the Day:
Avoid cupidity (avarice), for it is instant poverty. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Prayer and fasting are among the greatest things a person can do, yet to remove pride and arrogance from one's heart rank even higher. [Shaykh Kharkhani]
Guidance of the Day:
New Energy Coming: There is a new energy, a new feeling coming into our life. We cannot base our expectations about how we will feel tomorrow, or even a few hours from now, on how we feel at this moment. There are no two moments in time alike. We are changing. Our life is changing. At times things hadn't worked out the way we wanted. We had lessons to learn. The future shall not be like the past. The truly difficult times are over. The confusion, the most challenging learning experiences, the difficult feelings are about to pass. Do not limit the future by the past! Haven't there been many changes that have brought you to where you are now? Reflect on one year ago. Haven't you and your circumstances changed since then.
Sometimes, problems and feelings linger for a while. These times are temporary. Times of confusion, uncertainty, times of living with a particular unsolved problem do not last for ever. We make these doubly hard by comparing them to our past. Each situation and circumstance has had its particular influence in shaping who we are. We do not have to scare ourselves by comparing our present and future to a painful past, especially our past before we learned through a certain experience. Know that the discomfort will not be permanent. Do not try to figure out how you shall feel or when you shall feel differently. Instead, trust. Accept today, but do not be limited by it.
A new energy is coming. A new feeling is on the way. We cannot predict how it will be by looking at how it was or how it is, because it shall be entirely different. We have not worked and struggled in vain. It has been for and toward something. Continue on the path of trust and obedience. Be open to the new. [The Language of Letting go]
Food for Thought:
One of the greatest gifts we can give is an open, loving heart. And holding on to negative feelings from past relationships is our greatest barrier to that gift.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 568
Ayahs of the Day:
(God) said, "Go: and if any of them follow you, hell is your reward, an ample reward. And inflame any of them you can with your voice, and attack them with your cavalry and your infantry; and share with them in properties and children and make promises to them."--But Satan promises them nothing but deception. [!7: 63,64]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of suspicion, for it is the most deceitful of thoughts. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Islam expects of its followers that they will be masters of live hearts and wakeful conscience, which would ensure the protection of the rights of God and humanity and which would also protect their actions from the commitment of excesses. [Muhammad al Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Appreciating Our Past: It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth. Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons. Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want.
Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we needed to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for truth. [The Language of Letting Go]
Food for Thought:
One is judged by one's dominant characteristics. From the lack of fairness is to expect refinement in the world, while you yourself are unrefined.
(God) said, "Go: and if any of them follow you, hell is your reward, an ample reward. And inflame any of them you can with your voice, and attack them with your cavalry and your infantry; and share with them in properties and children and make promises to them."--But Satan promises them nothing but deception. [!7: 63,64]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of suspicion, for it is the most deceitful of thoughts. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Islam expects of its followers that they will be masters of live hearts and wakeful conscience, which would ensure the protection of the rights of God and humanity and which would also protect their actions from the commitment of excesses. [Muhammad al Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Appreciating Our Past: It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth. Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons. Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want.
Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we needed to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for truth. [The Language of Letting Go]
Food for Thought:
One is judged by one's dominant characteristics. From the lack of fairness is to expect refinement in the world, while you yourself are unrefined.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 567
Ayahs of the Day:
When We said to the angels; "Bow to Adam," they bowed, except Iblis the desperate one, who said, "What? Shall I bow to one you've made from clay?" He said, "Do you see this one whom You have honored over me? If You let me stay until the Day of Resurrection, I will bring his descendants into subjection, except for a few." [17: 61,62]
Hadith of the Day:
The servants God loves most are those most sincere with God's servants. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Self satisfaction is a sure sign of lacking intellect. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
New Beginnings: Resentments are the blocks that hold us back from loving ourselves and others. Resentments do not punish the other person; they punish us. They become barriers to feeling good and enjoying life. They prevent us from being in harmony with the world. Resentments are hardened chunks of anger. They loosen up and dissolve with forgiveness and letting go.
Letting go of resentments does not mean we allow the other person to do anything to us that he or she wants. It means we accept what happened in the past, and we set boundaries for the future. We can let go of resentments and still have boundaries!
We try to see the good in the person, or the good that ultimately evolved from whatever incident we feel resentful about. We try to see our part. Then we put the incident to rest. Praying for those we resent helps. Asking God to take our resentments from us helps too. What better way to begin a day than by clearing the slate of the past, and entering this one free of resentments. [The Language of Letting go]
Food for Thought:
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of a hole is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
When We said to the angels; "Bow to Adam," they bowed, except Iblis the desperate one, who said, "What? Shall I bow to one you've made from clay?" He said, "Do you see this one whom You have honored over me? If You let me stay until the Day of Resurrection, I will bring his descendants into subjection, except for a few." [17: 61,62]
Hadith of the Day:
The servants God loves most are those most sincere with God's servants. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Self satisfaction is a sure sign of lacking intellect. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
New Beginnings: Resentments are the blocks that hold us back from loving ourselves and others. Resentments do not punish the other person; they punish us. They become barriers to feeling good and enjoying life. They prevent us from being in harmony with the world. Resentments are hardened chunks of anger. They loosen up and dissolve with forgiveness and letting go.
Letting go of resentments does not mean we allow the other person to do anything to us that he or she wants. It means we accept what happened in the past, and we set boundaries for the future. We can let go of resentments and still have boundaries!
We try to see the good in the person, or the good that ultimately evolved from whatever incident we feel resentful about. We try to see our part. Then we put the incident to rest. Praying for those we resent helps. Asking God to take our resentments from us helps too. What better way to begin a day than by clearing the slate of the past, and entering this one free of resentments. [The Language of Letting go]
Food for Thought:
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of a hole is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
Monday, June 05, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 566
Ayah of the Day:
And there is no community but We will annihilate it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. That is written in the Book. [17: 58]
Hadith of the Day:
Honor scholars, as they are the inheritors of the prophets. Anyone who honors them has honored God and His Messenger. [Al Khatib]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The sign of love for Allah Most High is that one follows the character, acts, laws, and ways of the beloved messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). [Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi]
Guidance of the Day:
Gratitude: Sometimes in life, things happen too fast. We barely solve one problem when two new problems surface. We are feeling great in the morning, but we are submerged in misery by nightfall. Every day we face interruptions, delays, changes, and challenges. We face personality conflicts and disappointments. Often when we are feeling overwhelmed, we can't see the lessons in these experiences.
One simple concept can get us through the most stressful of times. It's called gratitude. We learn to say, thank you, for these problems and feelings. Thank you for the way things are. I don't like this experience, but thank you anyway. Force gratitude until it becomes habitual. Gratitude helps us stop trying to control outcomes. It is the key that unlocks positive energy in our life. It is the alchemy that turns problems into blessings, and the unexpected into gifts. [The Language of Letting Go]
Food for Thought:
There are times in life when we can walk a gentle, loving path. There are times, however, when we need to stand up for ourselves--when walking the gentle, loving path puts us deeper into the hands of those who could mistreat us.
And there is no community but We will annihilate it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. That is written in the Book. [17: 58]
Hadith of the Day:
Honor scholars, as they are the inheritors of the prophets. Anyone who honors them has honored God and His Messenger. [Al Khatib]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The sign of love for Allah Most High is that one follows the character, acts, laws, and ways of the beloved messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). [Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi]
Guidance of the Day:
Gratitude: Sometimes in life, things happen too fast. We barely solve one problem when two new problems surface. We are feeling great in the morning, but we are submerged in misery by nightfall. Every day we face interruptions, delays, changes, and challenges. We face personality conflicts and disappointments. Often when we are feeling overwhelmed, we can't see the lessons in these experiences.
One simple concept can get us through the most stressful of times. It's called gratitude. We learn to say, thank you, for these problems and feelings. Thank you for the way things are. I don't like this experience, but thank you anyway. Force gratitude until it becomes habitual. Gratitude helps us stop trying to control outcomes. It is the key that unlocks positive energy in our life. It is the alchemy that turns problems into blessings, and the unexpected into gifts. [The Language of Letting Go]
Food for Thought:
There are times in life when we can walk a gentle, loving path. There are times, however, when we need to stand up for ourselves--when walking the gentle, loving path puts us deeper into the hands of those who could mistreat us.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 565
Ayah of the Day:
Those to whom they pray seek closeness to their Lord, even the nearest; and they hope for Divine Mercy and fear Divine Punishment: for the punishment of your Lord is something to beware of. [17: 57]
Hadith of the Day:
The majority of man's sins emanate from his tongue. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A grateful heart is a fount from which flows one of this worlds greatest pleasures--happiness. When the heart is grateful it is also happy. [Imam Magid bin Muhammad]
Guidance of the Day:
Acting as if: The behavior we call "acting as if" is a powerful tool to practice the positive. It's a positive form of pretending. It's a tool we use to get ourselves unstuck. It's a tool we make a conscious decision to use. Acting as if can be helpful when a feeling begins to control us. We make a conscious decision to act as if we feel fine and are going to be fine. When a problem plagues us, acting as if can help us get unstuck. We act as if the problem will be or already solved, so we can go on with our life. Often, acting as if we are detached will set the stage for detachment to come in and take over.
There are many areas where acting as if--will set the stage for the reality we desire. We can act as if we love everyone, until we actually do begin to care for everyone. Acting as if is a positive way to overcome fears, doubts, and low self esteem.. We do not have to lie; we do not have to be dishonest with ourselves. We open up to the positive possibilities of the future, instead of limiting the future by today's feelings and circumstances. Acting as if helps us get past shaky ground and into solid territory. [The Language of Letting go]
Food for Thought:
Being grateful, being positive, being healthy, does not mean we never feel angry. Being grateful, positive, and healthy means we feel angry when we need to.
Those to whom they pray seek closeness to their Lord, even the nearest; and they hope for Divine Mercy and fear Divine Punishment: for the punishment of your Lord is something to beware of. [17: 57]
Hadith of the Day:
The majority of man's sins emanate from his tongue. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A grateful heart is a fount from which flows one of this worlds greatest pleasures--happiness. When the heart is grateful it is also happy. [Imam Magid bin Muhammad]
Guidance of the Day:
Acting as if: The behavior we call "acting as if" is a powerful tool to practice the positive. It's a positive form of pretending. It's a tool we use to get ourselves unstuck. It's a tool we make a conscious decision to use. Acting as if can be helpful when a feeling begins to control us. We make a conscious decision to act as if we feel fine and are going to be fine. When a problem plagues us, acting as if can help us get unstuck. We act as if the problem will be or already solved, so we can go on with our life. Often, acting as if we are detached will set the stage for detachment to come in and take over.
There are many areas where acting as if--will set the stage for the reality we desire. We can act as if we love everyone, until we actually do begin to care for everyone. Acting as if is a positive way to overcome fears, doubts, and low self esteem.. We do not have to lie; we do not have to be dishonest with ourselves. We open up to the positive possibilities of the future, instead of limiting the future by today's feelings and circumstances. Acting as if helps us get past shaky ground and into solid territory. [The Language of Letting go]
Food for Thought:
Being grateful, being positive, being healthy, does not mean we never feel angry. Being grateful, positive, and healthy means we feel angry when we need to.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 564
Ayah of the Day:
Tell My servants to say what is best, for Satan sows dissension among them; indeed Satan is an open enemy to man. [17: 53]
Hadith of the Day:
The worst of heinous sins are idolatry, murder, abuse of one's parents, and false testimony. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The essence of knowledge is to know what obedience and worship are. Know that obedience and worship are conformity to the Lawgiver as regards commands and prohibitions, in both word and deed. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Prayer: As a matter of fact, prayer is the only real action in the full sense of the word, because prayer is the only thing that changes one's character. A change in character, or a change in soul, is a real change. We are spiritual beings who are human. Praying and meditating are ways we take to take care of our spirit. Prayer and meditation are ways to improve our personal relationship with a God to benefit ourselves, our life, and our growth.
Praying is how we connect with God. We don't pray because we have to; we pray because we want to. It is how we link our soul to our Source. We learn to take care of our emotions, our mind, and our physical needs. We learn to change our behaviors. But we also learn to take care of our spirit, our soul, because that is where all true change begins. Each time we talk to God, we are transformed. Each time we connect with our Higher Power, we are heard, touched, and changed for the best. [The language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie]
Food for Thought:
All adversity is really an opportunity for our souls to grow, all adversity is really a form of growing pain.
Tell My servants to say what is best, for Satan sows dissension among them; indeed Satan is an open enemy to man. [17: 53]
Hadith of the Day:
The worst of heinous sins are idolatry, murder, abuse of one's parents, and false testimony. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The essence of knowledge is to know what obedience and worship are. Know that obedience and worship are conformity to the Lawgiver as regards commands and prohibitions, in both word and deed. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Prayer: As a matter of fact, prayer is the only real action in the full sense of the word, because prayer is the only thing that changes one's character. A change in character, or a change in soul, is a real change. We are spiritual beings who are human. Praying and meditating are ways we take to take care of our spirit. Prayer and meditation are ways to improve our personal relationship with a God to benefit ourselves, our life, and our growth.
Praying is how we connect with God. We don't pray because we have to; we pray because we want to. It is how we link our soul to our Source. We learn to take care of our emotions, our mind, and our physical needs. We learn to change our behaviors. But we also learn to take care of our spirit, our soul, because that is where all true change begins. Each time we talk to God, we are transformed. Each time we connect with our Higher Power, we are heard, touched, and changed for the best. [The language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie]
Food for Thought:
All adversity is really an opportunity for our souls to grow, all adversity is really a form of growing pain.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
LESSON OF THE DAY 563
Ayah of the Day:
One day God will call you, and you will answer with praise of God; and you will think you stayed (in the world) only a little while. [17: 52]
Hadith of the Day:
What enables people to enter Paradise more than anything is piety and good character. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who solely depends upon Allah is more at rest with His promise than with the promises of men. [ Shaqeeq al Balki]
Guidance of the Day:
Further Advice: These ten attitudes will prove greatly beneficial in this world and the Hereafter: truth with sincerity, justice with creation, wrath with the lower self, service to the saints, love and mercy upon little ones, generosity with the dervishes, advice and admonition to friends, patience with enemies, silence with ignoramuses, and humility with the scholars. Stay among people, but remain aloof. Your body should be among creation, but your heart with the Creator. This will ensure that negligence does not overtake you. Beware of such negligence lest you conform with people in a way that entails opposition to Allah and His displeasure.
There are two kinds of repentance: The first is to repent of sins because of fear of Allah's punishment. The second is to resort to repentance because of shame for Allah Most High. One's worship is absolutely insignificant in the presence of His Majesty and Splendor.
Every part of the body has its repentance. The repentance of the heart is its intention to abstain from the unlawful. The repentance of the eye is not to glance at things forbidden. The repentance of the ear is not to listen to evil and nonsensical talk. The repentance of the hands is not to raise them toward what has been forbidden. The repentance of the stomach is to refrain from consuming the unlawful. The repentance of one's modesty is to abstain from acts of immorality and from fornication. [The Path to Perfection by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]
Food for Thought:
A truly wise person will have the wisdom to know what he can do, accept what he can't do, and have the generosity of spirit to extend himself in ways that can make a difference.
One day God will call you, and you will answer with praise of God; and you will think you stayed (in the world) only a little while. [17: 52]
Hadith of the Day:
What enables people to enter Paradise more than anything is piety and good character. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who solely depends upon Allah is more at rest with His promise than with the promises of men. [ Shaqeeq al Balki]
Guidance of the Day:
Further Advice: These ten attitudes will prove greatly beneficial in this world and the Hereafter: truth with sincerity, justice with creation, wrath with the lower self, service to the saints, love and mercy upon little ones, generosity with the dervishes, advice and admonition to friends, patience with enemies, silence with ignoramuses, and humility with the scholars. Stay among people, but remain aloof. Your body should be among creation, but your heart with the Creator. This will ensure that negligence does not overtake you. Beware of such negligence lest you conform with people in a way that entails opposition to Allah and His displeasure.
There are two kinds of repentance: The first is to repent of sins because of fear of Allah's punishment. The second is to resort to repentance because of shame for Allah Most High. One's worship is absolutely insignificant in the presence of His Majesty and Splendor.
Every part of the body has its repentance. The repentance of the heart is its intention to abstain from the unlawful. The repentance of the eye is not to glance at things forbidden. The repentance of the ear is not to listen to evil and nonsensical talk. The repentance of the hands is not to raise them toward what has been forbidden. The repentance of the stomach is to refrain from consuming the unlawful. The repentance of one's modesty is to abstain from acts of immorality and from fornication. [The Path to Perfection by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]
Food for Thought:
A truly wise person will have the wisdom to know what he can do, accept what he can't do, and have the generosity of spirit to extend himself in ways that can make a difference.
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