LESSON OF THE DAY 673

Ayahs of the Day:
Indeed, this community of yours is one single community, and I am your Lord, so serve Me. But they differed in their religion one from another, they will all return to Us. [21: 92,93]

Hadith of the Day:
Voluntary charity extinguishes the anger of the Lord and prevents an unpleasant death. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
O son of Adam, you are but a few days, whenever a day is gone, part of you is too. [Hasan al Basri]

Guidance of the Day:
It is necessary to fight an endless battle in this life in order to protect ourselves against the ego---the greatest of evil enemies. A continuous effort must be made to repel it, or at least to reduce our acquiescence to its demands. Perhaps the first attempt should be to change our habits, which usually already represent the established rule of our egos. That struggle is the true sign of the righteous. It is the only way to take hold of the force that leads us astray. We must fight to bring our egos under control, in order to save our souls and afford them their rightful ruling place in our lives.

If you wish your Lord to lead you on the straight path to truth, first you must eliminate the hindrance of your ego on that path. Then Allah will certainly act upon what He promises. In the struggle with the ego, we should be careful not to tyrannize ourselves. Among the desires of our flesh there are things permissible, even necessary. One should be able to gauge the strength and insistence of these desires: it is excess that makes them blameworthy. Indeed, it is not possible for human nature totally to deny what the flesh and the ego desire. The exaggeration of asceticism is forbidden in Islam. Even in our worship moderation is advised. To seek rest, comfort, and recreation, not for their own sake, but to give one strength and motivation to live a righteous life, is to abide by the rules of religion. [The Path of Muhammad]

Food for Thought:
The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together. Where there is much light, the shadow is deep. Joy and grief are never far apart. The luster of diamonds is invigorated by the interposition of darker bodies; the highest pleasure which nature has indulged to sensitive perception is that of rest after fatigue.