LESSON OF THE DAY 677

Ayahs of the Day:
We have sent you only as a mercy to all peoples. Say, "It has only been revealed to me that your deity is one God; so do you acquiesce?" Then if they turn away, then say, "I have exhorted you just the same, even though I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far." [21: 107,108,109]

Hadith of the Day:
Interest, however much it might accrue, leads in the end to penury. [Ibn Maja, Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Never consider sin to be small. Regard sin as great. He who thinks slightly of sin has considered Allah to be insignificant. [Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]

Guidance of the Day:
A possible cure for hypocrisy is to be wary of one's concern for the opinions of others. It is best to totally ignore people's opinions, unless your behavior is harmful to them. Indeed, your fasting or praying is between you and Allah and has nothing to do with human beings. If you seek other people's recognition of your piety, you are setting up partners to Allah---unless you want to set an example to others, you are the same as the secular hypocrite who wishes to become the commanding of the army by showing false valor in battle, and gets himself killed.

What is most pernicious is hidden hypocrisy---hidden even from the hypocrite himself. It is more difficult to detect than the sound of an ant's footsteps. That is why a sincere person must take great care to learn the signs of hidden hypocrisy.

Sometimes we find joy, satisfaction, and a little pride in people's approval and praise of things we have done with the true intention of helping others, leading them to the straight path, or serving as an example of selfless obedience to Allah. If we do these things without remembering that they are all undertaken for His sake and that He is the one who rewards us by hiding our faults and showing us only His beautiful side----then there is danger of hypocrisy. To be happy and satisfied in yourself, thankful to Allah for making you act like a human being, and hopeful of His favors in the Hereafter, is not a sign of hypocrisy. The test is in our ability to look into ourselves in sincerity. [The Path of Muhammad]

Food for Thought:
The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ennoble it. We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light. True politeness consists in being easy one's self, and in making everyone about one as easy as one can.