LESSON OF THE DAY 818

Ayah of the Day:
And don't let anything obstruct you from the signs of God after they have been revealed to you; and pray to your Lord, and don't be an idolater. [28: 87]

Hadith of the Day:
Unless your faith is perfect, you will not be able to enter Paradise. And as long as you do not love each other for Allah's sake, your faith is not perfect. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
One who has affection for Almighty God must sacrifice himself for the sake of his Beloved. Such is the symbol of affection. Love and affection for God, is to expel and erase from the heart everything unwanted and unloved by God. [Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak]

Guidance of the Day:
To be grateful means you are thankful for and appreciate of what you have and where you are right now. Gratitude fills your heart with the joyful feeling of being blessed with many gifts and allows you to fully appreciate everything that arises on your path. As you strive to keep your focus on the present moment, you can experience full wonder of "here". Gratitude is a lesson that needs to be reinforced often. It is too easy to overlook the gifts you have when you focus on those that you hope to obtain, and you diminish the value of where you currently are on your path if you do not pause often to appreciate it.

There are many ways to cultivate gratitude: Imagine what your life would be like if you lost all that you had, this will most surely remind you of how much you do appreciate it. Make a list of all that you are grateful for, so that you can stay conscious daily of your blessings. Or spend a few minutes before you go to sleep giving thanks for all that you have. Spend time offering assistance to those who are less fortunate than you, so that you may gain perspective. Look for the gift in each challenging incident.

However you choose to learn gratitude is irrelevant. What really matters is that you create a space in your consciousness for appreciation for all that you have right now, so that you may live joyously in your present moment. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]

Food for Thought:
The gratification of wealth is not found in mere possession or in lavish expenditure, but in its wise application. Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community. He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.