LESSON OF THE DAY 695

Ayah of the Day:
And how many communities have We ruined as they were being unjust, so they tumbled down to their foundations; and how many wells lie abandoned where castles still stand! [22: 45]

Hadith of the Day:
The body nourished with unlawful means will not enter Paradise. [Bayhaqi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Death is always a silent companion. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
That which befits the true servant of Allah is not to have any feeling of superiority toward anyone. Such a person, when he encounters an ignorant sinner, thinks, "He sins because he does not know, yet I sin in spite of my knowledge. Therefore, he is certainly better than I." When he encounters knowledgeable people, he considers them more devout than himself, for who may judge the quality and quantity of wisdom?

When he meets an older person, he considers the elder more devout than himself, for he certainly has had more time to pray. When he sees a younger person, he reflects that he himself has had more time to sin than the youth. When he encounters someone of his own age and status, he considers that while he knows nothing of the life of the other, he knows very well how he has conducted his life, and something known is more justifiably open to criticism than something unknown.

Even when he meets someone who is without faith and openly denies God, he thinks: "How secure is my faith? How do I know that I will end my days as a believer? And how do I know that this poor man will not be honored by Islam before he leaves this world?" Let him even look upon a dog or a pig, and he will lament that these creatures have not revolted against their Maker, so that there is no judgment nor punishment for them, yet he himself, created as the best of creation, has revolted against his Lord and is deserving of punishment. These are the good servants of Allah who see themselves clearly and are making their accounting before they are obliged to make it. Engaged in repentance, they have no occasion to criticize others or show pride. [The Path of Muhammad]

Food for Thought:
Never mind your happiness; do your duty. Who escapes a duty, avoids gain. A duty dodged is like a debt unpaid; it is only deferred, and we must come back and settle the account at last.