Ayahs of the Day:
Glorify God in your evenings and your mornings------for all praise in the heavens and on earth are due to God------and at dusk and midday. [30: 17,18]
Hadith of the Day:
A believer has found salvation only when he has just what he needs, and is satisfied and pleased with the share that God has bestowed on him. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There are three things that harm human beings: to be intolerant and impatient with people around you; to be habituated to something you cannot leave; and to be controlled by your ego. [Shaykh Hazim al Qibrisi]
Guidance of the Day:
Ideas shape our lives. Ideas shape history. We all have a need for a constant flow of ideas that inspire us, challenge us, illumine our minds, teach us about ourselves and our world, show us what is possible, and encourage us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. We need a diet of the mind just as much as we need a diet of the body. The ideas we feed our mind today tend to form our lives tomorrow.
We become the stories we listen to. It doesn't matter if we get those stories from movies, music, television, newspapers, magazines, politicians, friends, or books-----the stories we listen to form our lives. If you discover that the stories we are listening to have less meaning, contain more violence, and, rather than inspire us and raise our standards, appeal more and more to the lowest common denominator, you can be sure that in the future our lives will have less meaning, contain more violence, and be more focused on the lowest common denominator. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 850
Ayahs of the Day:
And on the Day when the Hour will be established, that Day (all men) shall be separated (according to what they have done). Then those who have believed and done righteous deeds, such shall be esteemed and made happy in the luxury of Gardens of Delight. [30: 14,15]
Hadith of the Day:
To be rich is not to own the goods of this world, but to "realize" the treasures God has placed in you. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
So long as you are in this world, be not surprised at the existence of sorrows. For, truly, it manifests nothing but what is keeping with its character or its inevitable nature. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Our greatest emotional need is for intimacy. Beyond the primary needs for food, water, sleep, and air to breathe, intimacy is the greatest need of the human person. Life is a self-revelation. Life expands in direct proportion to our ability to reveal ourselves to others and to the world around us. Create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves and reveal themselves, and together you will drink from the springs of intimacy. The more two people are able to share and accept without judgment, the more intimacy they will enjoy.
We must ask ourselves these questions: "Do we provide a non-judgmental environment for others to reveal themselves to us?" "Do we affirm those we love by complimenting them and expressing gratitude, not only for what they do, but for who they are?" "When others make mistakes, are we quick to judge and ridicule, or do we acknowledge it as a learning experience and part of their journey?" Are we willing to take the first step and make ourselves vulnerable by beginning to reveal our true selves to others?" [Kelly, Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
In the hour of adversity be not without hope; for crystal rain falls from black clouds. Man is never helped in his suffering by what he thinks for himself, but only by revelation of a wisdom greater than his own. It is this which lifts him out of his distress.
And on the Day when the Hour will be established, that Day (all men) shall be separated (according to what they have done). Then those who have believed and done righteous deeds, such shall be esteemed and made happy in the luxury of Gardens of Delight. [30: 14,15]
Hadith of the Day:
To be rich is not to own the goods of this world, but to "realize" the treasures God has placed in you. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
So long as you are in this world, be not surprised at the existence of sorrows. For, truly, it manifests nothing but what is keeping with its character or its inevitable nature. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Our greatest emotional need is for intimacy. Beyond the primary needs for food, water, sleep, and air to breathe, intimacy is the greatest need of the human person. Life is a self-revelation. Life expands in direct proportion to our ability to reveal ourselves to others and to the world around us. Create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves and reveal themselves, and together you will drink from the springs of intimacy. The more two people are able to share and accept without judgment, the more intimacy they will enjoy.
We must ask ourselves these questions: "Do we provide a non-judgmental environment for others to reveal themselves to us?" "Do we affirm those we love by complimenting them and expressing gratitude, not only for what they do, but for who they are?" "When others make mistakes, are we quick to judge and ridicule, or do we acknowledge it as a learning experience and part of their journey?" Are we willing to take the first step and make ourselves vulnerable by beginning to reveal our true selves to others?" [Kelly, Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
In the hour of adversity be not without hope; for crystal rain falls from black clouds. Man is never helped in his suffering by what he thinks for himself, but only by revelation of a wisdom greater than his own. It is this which lifts him out of his distress.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 849
Ayahs of the Day:
God initiates creation, then repeats it; then you will be returned to God. And on the Day when the Hour will be established, the criminals will sink deep in despair. [30: 11,12]
Hadith of the Day:
Oppose the desires of the world by pious asceticism. This will bring comfort both to your body and to your heart and mind. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The key to dignity in this life is obedience to Allah and the key to getting ready for the Hereafter is having short hopes. [Imam al Mannawi]
Guidance of the Day:
The truth about friendship is this: We learn more from our friends than we ever will from books. Sooner or later, our standards come to rest with the standards of our friends. Nothing influences us more than our peer group. The people you surround yourself will tell me something about who you are or something about who you will shortly become.
The people we surround ourselves with either raise or lower our standards. They either help us to become the-better-version-of-ourselves or encourage us to become lesser version of ourselves. We become like our friends. No man becomes great on his own. No woman becomes great on her own. The people around them help to make them great. We all need people in our lives who raise our standards, remind us of our essential purpose, and challenge us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Friendships aren't perfect, and yet they are very precious. If you expect perfection from other people, your whole life is a series of disappointments, grumbling and complaints.
God initiates creation, then repeats it; then you will be returned to God. And on the Day when the Hour will be established, the criminals will sink deep in despair. [30: 11,12]
Hadith of the Day:
Oppose the desires of the world by pious asceticism. This will bring comfort both to your body and to your heart and mind. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The key to dignity in this life is obedience to Allah and the key to getting ready for the Hereafter is having short hopes. [Imam al Mannawi]
Guidance of the Day:
The truth about friendship is this: We learn more from our friends than we ever will from books. Sooner or later, our standards come to rest with the standards of our friends. Nothing influences us more than our peer group. The people you surround yourself will tell me something about who you are or something about who you will shortly become.
The people we surround ourselves with either raise or lower our standards. They either help us to become the-better-version-of-ourselves or encourage us to become lesser version of ourselves. We become like our friends. No man becomes great on his own. No woman becomes great on her own. The people around them help to make them great. We all need people in our lives who raise our standards, remind us of our essential purpose, and challenge us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Friendships aren't perfect, and yet they are very precious. If you expect perfection from other people, your whole life is a series of disappointments, grumbling and complaints.
Monday, May 28, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 948
Ayah of the Day:
The end of those who did evil will be the worst, as they repudiated the signs of God, and used to deride them. [30: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
If people had enough gold to fill two valleys, they would wish to have a third. Nothing will fill such people's stomachs but the earth in their graves. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Emulate the obedient worshipper, keep the company of the humbly penitent, be close friends with the steadfast and submissive, and visit those who bow and prostrate. [Muhammad ibn al Siddiq Ghumari]
Guidance of the Day:
Our needs are powerful. In many cases, if they are not fulfilled in healthy ways, they will seek their own satisfaction in self-destructive ways. The next of our legitimate emotional needs is our need for dynamic friendship. While we certainly need acceptance, we also have a need to be encouraged and challenged to change and grow.
Once you become dedicated to becoming the-best-version-of-yourself, the people you will most enjoy spending time with are not those who agree with you in everything you say and tell you that you should be a little easier on yourself........and have a second slice of cheesecake! If you are dedicated to your essential purpose, the people you will want to surround yourself with are people who inspire and challenge you to become the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Time is lost when we have not lived a full human life. Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Time wasted is a theft from God. A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life.
The end of those who did evil will be the worst, as they repudiated the signs of God, and used to deride them. [30: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
If people had enough gold to fill two valleys, they would wish to have a third. Nothing will fill such people's stomachs but the earth in their graves. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Emulate the obedient worshipper, keep the company of the humbly penitent, be close friends with the steadfast and submissive, and visit those who bow and prostrate. [Muhammad ibn al Siddiq Ghumari]
Guidance of the Day:
Our needs are powerful. In many cases, if they are not fulfilled in healthy ways, they will seek their own satisfaction in self-destructive ways. The next of our legitimate emotional needs is our need for dynamic friendship. While we certainly need acceptance, we also have a need to be encouraged and challenged to change and grow.
Once you become dedicated to becoming the-best-version-of-yourself, the people you will most enjoy spending time with are not those who agree with you in everything you say and tell you that you should be a little easier on yourself........and have a second slice of cheesecake! If you are dedicated to your essential purpose, the people you will want to surround yourself with are people who inspire and challenge you to become the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Time is lost when we have not lived a full human life. Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Time wasted is a theft from God. A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 847
Ayah of the Day:
Haven't they traveled the earth and seen how those before them ended up? They were more powerful than these, and they plowed the land and populated it, more than these have peopled it; and their messengers came to them with indisputable evidence. It was not God who wronged them; rather, they wronged themselves. [30: 9]
Hadith of the Day:
A man grows old, but two things stay young in him------the wish to live forever and the wish to own the world. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Have faith in God the Omnipotent, the Eternal, the First and the Last, Who grants life and determines death. He bestows bounty, and only He can restore crushed hopes. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
In the emotional realm, it can be much more difficult to pinpoint our legitimate needs, because they are not necessary for our immediate survival. It is not too common to read in the newspaper about someone dying of emotional starvation. Our emotional needs are in many ways subtler, but certainly no less important if we are to thrive.
Emotional starvation, while not life threatening, does have some symptoms. For some of us, emotional starvation can lead to radical mood swings, for others to general lethargy, for others yet, to anger, bitterness, and resentment. The heart suffers and the body cries out. Most of the emotional starvation leads to distortions in our character and prevents us from becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. No man is an island unto himself. We are social beings----and relationship brings out the best in us. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
It is human to err, but it is devilish to remain willfully in error. A great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and to continually make a new man of himself.
Haven't they traveled the earth and seen how those before them ended up? They were more powerful than these, and they plowed the land and populated it, more than these have peopled it; and their messengers came to them with indisputable evidence. It was not God who wronged them; rather, they wronged themselves. [30: 9]
Hadith of the Day:
A man grows old, but two things stay young in him------the wish to live forever and the wish to own the world. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Have faith in God the Omnipotent, the Eternal, the First and the Last, Who grants life and determines death. He bestows bounty, and only He can restore crushed hopes. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
In the emotional realm, it can be much more difficult to pinpoint our legitimate needs, because they are not necessary for our immediate survival. It is not too common to read in the newspaper about someone dying of emotional starvation. Our emotional needs are in many ways subtler, but certainly no less important if we are to thrive.
Emotional starvation, while not life threatening, does have some symptoms. For some of us, emotional starvation can lead to radical mood swings, for others to general lethargy, for others yet, to anger, bitterness, and resentment. The heart suffers and the body cries out. Most of the emotional starvation leads to distortions in our character and prevents us from becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. No man is an island unto himself. We are social beings----and relationship brings out the best in us. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
It is human to err, but it is devilish to remain willfully in error. A great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and to continually make a new man of himself.
Friday, May 25, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 946
Ayah of the Day:
Don't they reflect within themselves? God did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in a sound manner and for a definite term. But most people actually disbelieve in the meeting with their Lord. [30: 8]
Hadith of the Day:
The sign of God's contempt for a person is that He makes him spend what goods He has bestowed upon him on building monumental homes for himself. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
All who can read the signs of Allah in nature know His wisdom, goodness, power, and justice. They know His promise is sure, and in humble prayer, wholly put their trust in Him. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
The first step in our quest to become the best-version-of-ourselves is to define our legitimate needs. The second step is to create a lifestyle that fulfills those legitimate needs. We all have legitimate needs. The fulfillment of these needs is one of the very practical ways we can learn to embrace our essential purpose. If we are wise enough to seek their counsel, our legitimate needs will advise us what is necessary to maintain health of body, heart, mind, and spirit.
Our bodies are glorious creations and should be honored and respected. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular sleep are three of the easiest ways to increase our passion, energy, and enthusiasm for life. They are among our simplest legitimate needs and contribute massively to the well-being of the whole person. Physical well-being is the foundation upon which we build our lives. Unless we attend to our legitimate needs in relation to the physical aspect of our being, our capacity in all other areas of our life will be reduced. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Everything happens for a reason, even if we are not wise enough to see it. Great people are not affected by each puff of wind that blows ill. Like great ships, they sail serenely on, in a calm sea or a great tempest.
Don't they reflect within themselves? God did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in a sound manner and for a definite term. But most people actually disbelieve in the meeting with their Lord. [30: 8]
Hadith of the Day:
The sign of God's contempt for a person is that He makes him spend what goods He has bestowed upon him on building monumental homes for himself. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
All who can read the signs of Allah in nature know His wisdom, goodness, power, and justice. They know His promise is sure, and in humble prayer, wholly put their trust in Him. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
The first step in our quest to become the best-version-of-ourselves is to define our legitimate needs. The second step is to create a lifestyle that fulfills those legitimate needs. We all have legitimate needs. The fulfillment of these needs is one of the very practical ways we can learn to embrace our essential purpose. If we are wise enough to seek their counsel, our legitimate needs will advise us what is necessary to maintain health of body, heart, mind, and spirit.
Our bodies are glorious creations and should be honored and respected. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular sleep are three of the easiest ways to increase our passion, energy, and enthusiasm for life. They are among our simplest legitimate needs and contribute massively to the well-being of the whole person. Physical well-being is the foundation upon which we build our lives. Unless we attend to our legitimate needs in relation to the physical aspect of our being, our capacity in all other areas of our life will be reduced. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Everything happens for a reason, even if we are not wise enough to see it. Great people are not affected by each puff of wind that blows ill. Like great ships, they sail serenely on, in a calm sea or a great tempest.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 845
Ayah of the Day:
They know the superficials of the life of this world, but they are heedless of the Hereafter. [30: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
Gather in this world, no more than you need and no more than you can carry, for the Day of Judgment, you will be forced to carry all that you owned in this life. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Regret over things done can be eased over time. Regret over things left unsaid and undone is inconsolable. Now is your time. You have one life, and it is short. Use it powerfully. Celebrate it as a precious gift. Don't allow fear to paralyze you. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.
Life is too short to be lived halfheartedly and far too short to lose yourself in the day-to-day drudgery and the hustle and bustle. Dedicate yourself to the things that deserve your dedication. Life is short, and you are dead an awfully longtime. Live life passionately. Commit yourself to excellence. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
They know the superficials of the life of this world, but they are heedless of the Hereafter. [30: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
Gather in this world, no more than you need and no more than you can carry, for the Day of Judgment, you will be forced to carry all that you owned in this life. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Regret over things done can be eased over time. Regret over things left unsaid and undone is inconsolable. Now is your time. You have one life, and it is short. Use it powerfully. Celebrate it as a precious gift. Don't allow fear to paralyze you. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.
Life is too short to be lived halfheartedly and far too short to lose yourself in the day-to-day drudgery and the hustle and bustle. Dedicate yourself to the things that deserve your dedication. Life is short, and you are dead an awfully longtime. Live life passionately. Commit yourself to excellence. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 844
Ayah of the Day:
As for those who struggle for Our sake, We will guide them in Our ways. For God is with those who do good. [29: 69]
Hadith of the Day:
Attachment to this world is the foundation of all the errors of life. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
When a thing which you ask is slow to come, know that through delay gifts are received. [Ali ibn Hussain]
Guidance of the Day:
Whatever your wealth is, share it with all you can. Discover a deep and abiding peace. The peace that comes from knowing that who you are, where you are, and what you do is essentially good and makes sense; that you are contributing to the happiness of others; and that you are progressing toward becoming the best version of yourself. The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but it is too low and we reach it. Don't let the hustle and bustle of life drag you down. Don't allow the day-to-day drudgery of life distract you from your essential purpose-----becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Take time to dream. Imagine what you are capable of, and live that life.
You cannot live without dreams. Dreams foster hope, and hope is one of the forces by which men and women live. Life is short. Do not waste your life. Live life passionately. Somewhere deep within you there is a desire to dedicate yourself to becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. Foster that desire. Nurture that desire. Adopt habits that help you rekindle that desire. Otherwise life is in danger of becoming an utter waste. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Show your best face to the mirror, and you will be happy with the face looking back at you.
Live in this world like a stranger, a wayfarer, and deem yourselves as dwellers of the graves. [al Hadith]
As for those who struggle for Our sake, We will guide them in Our ways. For God is with those who do good. [29: 69]
Hadith of the Day:
Attachment to this world is the foundation of all the errors of life. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
When a thing which you ask is slow to come, know that through delay gifts are received. [Ali ibn Hussain]
Guidance of the Day:
Whatever your wealth is, share it with all you can. Discover a deep and abiding peace. The peace that comes from knowing that who you are, where you are, and what you do is essentially good and makes sense; that you are contributing to the happiness of others; and that you are progressing toward becoming the best version of yourself. The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but it is too low and we reach it. Don't let the hustle and bustle of life drag you down. Don't allow the day-to-day drudgery of life distract you from your essential purpose-----becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Take time to dream. Imagine what you are capable of, and live that life.
You cannot live without dreams. Dreams foster hope, and hope is one of the forces by which men and women live. Life is short. Do not waste your life. Live life passionately. Somewhere deep within you there is a desire to dedicate yourself to becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. Foster that desire. Nurture that desire. Adopt habits that help you rekindle that desire. Otherwise life is in danger of becoming an utter waste. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Show your best face to the mirror, and you will be happy with the face looking back at you.
Live in this world like a stranger, a wayfarer, and deem yourselves as dwellers of the graves. [al Hadith]
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 843
Ayah of the Day:
And who is more wrong than one who fabricates a lie against God, and repudiates truth when it comes to him? Is there not an abode in hell for the ingrates. [29: 68]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who loves this world loses the Hereafter; the one who is concerned with the Hereafter loses interest in this world. I hope you choose the lasting over the passing. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Your postponement of deeds till the time when you are free is one of the frivolities of the ego. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the Day:
Have complete control over your mental and physical faculties and do not be a slave to neither food, nor drink, nor any other substance. Be free, that you will have freedom in the truest sense of the word----the strength of character to do what is right in each situation. You should be able to discern the people, activities, and possessions that are most important to you. And give each of them their time and place according to their appropriate priority.
Have the courage, determination, firmness, and persistence to perform the tasks that you choose, decide, and resolve to perform. Perform them with a commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Discover a unique talent that leads you to dedicate the professional aspect of your life to some work you can be passionate about. Enjoy the rare privilege of spending your days in meaningful work. That you serve your neighbor, your family, and your community in this occupation and that by it, you are able to provide for your temporal needs. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
And who is more wrong than one who fabricates a lie against God, and repudiates truth when it comes to him? Is there not an abode in hell for the ingrates. [29: 68]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who loves this world loses the Hereafter; the one who is concerned with the Hereafter loses interest in this world. I hope you choose the lasting over the passing. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Your postponement of deeds till the time when you are free is one of the frivolities of the ego. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the Day:
Have complete control over your mental and physical faculties and do not be a slave to neither food, nor drink, nor any other substance. Be free, that you will have freedom in the truest sense of the word----the strength of character to do what is right in each situation. You should be able to discern the people, activities, and possessions that are most important to you. And give each of them their time and place according to their appropriate priority.
Have the courage, determination, firmness, and persistence to perform the tasks that you choose, decide, and resolve to perform. Perform them with a commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Discover a unique talent that leads you to dedicate the professional aspect of your life to some work you can be passionate about. Enjoy the rare privilege of spending your days in meaningful work. That you serve your neighbor, your family, and your community in this occupation and that by it, you are able to provide for your temporal needs. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Monday, May 21, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 842
Ayahs of the Day:
When they ride on a boat, they pray to God, sincere in their faith in God; but once We have delivered them onto dry land, then they attribute partners to God, being ungrateful for what We have given them, yet enjoying themselves; but they will know. [29: 65,66]
Hadith of the Day:
This world is damned, and all that there is in it is damned, except the things that remind you of God and of which God approves, and the ones who learn from these, and the ones who teach them. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience in adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Happiness is an inside-out job. All too often, what is going on around us is only a reflection of what is going on within us. When you know you are striving to become the best version of yourself, that alone is enough to sustain you in happiness. When you don't have that, all the pleasure and possessions you can summon from the world cannot sustain happiness in the depths of your heart.
We spend our lives in the service of our desires. Sometimes those desires are good and their pursuit is to our benefit. At other times our desires are selfish and self-destructive. If there is purpose and meaning to our lives, then the highest levels of living must be linked to discovering that meaning and fulfilling that purpose. It stands to reason, then, that there should be a relationship between the purpose and meaning of life and our dreams. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.
When they ride on a boat, they pray to God, sincere in their faith in God; but once We have delivered them onto dry land, then they attribute partners to God, being ungrateful for what We have given them, yet enjoying themselves; but they will know. [29: 65,66]
Hadith of the Day:
This world is damned, and all that there is in it is damned, except the things that remind you of God and of which God approves, and the ones who learn from these, and the ones who teach them. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience in adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Happiness is an inside-out job. All too often, what is going on around us is only a reflection of what is going on within us. When you know you are striving to become the best version of yourself, that alone is enough to sustain you in happiness. When you don't have that, all the pleasure and possessions you can summon from the world cannot sustain happiness in the depths of your heart.
We spend our lives in the service of our desires. Sometimes those desires are good and their pursuit is to our benefit. At other times our desires are selfish and self-destructive. If there is purpose and meaning to our lives, then the highest levels of living must be linked to discovering that meaning and fulfilling that purpose. It stands to reason, then, that there should be a relationship between the purpose and meaning of life and our dreams. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 841
Ayah of the Day:
What is this life of the world but play and sport? The home of the Hereafter------that is life, if only they knew. [29: 64]
Hadith of the Day:
All people pass a test in their life. The test of my people is what they do with the goods of this world. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A servant is never free of either blunders or shortcomings or lassitude. Therefore never be neglectful of repentance, and never turn away from the act of returning to God the Exalted, and never neglect acts that bring you closer to God the Exalted. [Ahmad al Zarruq]
Guidance of the Day:
Our essential purpose is to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. Once we discover this and place this purpose at the center of our lives, everything begins to make sense. Until we discover our essential purpose, nothing makes sense, and we wander around aimlessly, slowly being numbed into lives of quiet desperation. It is the quest to improve ourselves, to be all we are capable of being, to test our limits, and to grow steadily toward the-best- version-of-ourselves that brings meaning to our lives.
There is purpose and meaning to life. You were born to become the-best-version-of- yourself. To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. Our yearning for happiness is intimately linked to our essential purpose. The activities that help us become-the-best-version-of-ourselves also fill our lives with sustainable happiness. Embrace this one solitary truth------you were born to become the-best-version-of-yourself-----and it will change your life more than anything you have ever learned. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.
Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
What is this life of the world but play and sport? The home of the Hereafter------that is life, if only they knew. [29: 64]
Hadith of the Day:
All people pass a test in their life. The test of my people is what they do with the goods of this world. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A servant is never free of either blunders or shortcomings or lassitude. Therefore never be neglectful of repentance, and never turn away from the act of returning to God the Exalted, and never neglect acts that bring you closer to God the Exalted. [Ahmad al Zarruq]
Guidance of the Day:
Our essential purpose is to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. Once we discover this and place this purpose at the center of our lives, everything begins to make sense. Until we discover our essential purpose, nothing makes sense, and we wander around aimlessly, slowly being numbed into lives of quiet desperation. It is the quest to improve ourselves, to be all we are capable of being, to test our limits, and to grow steadily toward the-best- version-of-ourselves that brings meaning to our lives.
There is purpose and meaning to life. You were born to become the-best-version-of- yourself. To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. Our yearning for happiness is intimately linked to our essential purpose. The activities that help us become-the-best-version-of-ourselves also fill our lives with sustainable happiness. Embrace this one solitary truth------you were born to become the-best-version-of-yourself-----and it will change your life more than anything you have ever learned. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.
Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
Friday, May 18, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 840
Ayah of the Day:
And if you asked them who rains water from the sky, enlivening the earth thereby after it has died, they would surely say, "God." Say, "Praise be to God." But most of them don't understand. [29: 63]
Hadith of the Day:
The generous person is close to God, heaven, and humanity, and far away from Hell, while the miser is kept far from God, heaven, and humanity, and is in Hell. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Make a frequent practice of remembering death and what lies beyond it, and the narrow bridge and what lies beyond it. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
What happens in our lives is almost always a result of those things we habitually think and those things we habitually do. Life is the fruit of discipline, or lack of it. We are our habits. Every disciplined effort has its own multiple reward. Life is the gathering of truth. Any truth we discover must not be allowed to remain isolated in one area of our lives, and certainly must not be allowed to remain merely in our minds. Rather, any truth life reveals to us must filter into every aspect of our lives, like blood to the cells of the body. Life is one. Truth should be lived.
What we do in the span of our lives may bring us financial rewards, status, power, and unimaginable possessions, but lasting happiness and fulfillment are not the by-products of doing and having. The truth is a startling contrast to the present culture's credo. Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do or what you have. The meaning and purpose of life is for you to become the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.
And if you asked them who rains water from the sky, enlivening the earth thereby after it has died, they would surely say, "God." Say, "Praise be to God." But most of them don't understand. [29: 63]
Hadith of the Day:
The generous person is close to God, heaven, and humanity, and far away from Hell, while the miser is kept far from God, heaven, and humanity, and is in Hell. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Make a frequent practice of remembering death and what lies beyond it, and the narrow bridge and what lies beyond it. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
What happens in our lives is almost always a result of those things we habitually think and those things we habitually do. Life is the fruit of discipline, or lack of it. We are our habits. Every disciplined effort has its own multiple reward. Life is the gathering of truth. Any truth we discover must not be allowed to remain isolated in one area of our lives, and certainly must not be allowed to remain merely in our minds. Rather, any truth life reveals to us must filter into every aspect of our lives, like blood to the cells of the body. Life is one. Truth should be lived.
What we do in the span of our lives may bring us financial rewards, status, power, and unimaginable possessions, but lasting happiness and fulfillment are not the by-products of doing and having. The truth is a startling contrast to the present culture's credo. Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do or what you have. The meaning and purpose of life is for you to become the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 839
Ayah of the Day :
God expands the provision of anyone at will, and regulates it too; for God knows everything. [29: 62]
Hadith of the Day:
Avarice is a tree whose roots are in Hell. The miser is tied to one of its branches and will not be saved until he is pulled into Hellfire. [Dar-i Kutni]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is not for us to question Allah's plan, which is full of wisdom and mercy for all. Our duty is to stand firm and unswerving, to obey, and in steadfast courage to persevere, to retrieve our mistakes, not in grief and despair, but in firm hope in Allah. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Nothing changes a person's life more than the discovery of one solitary truth: There is meaning and purpose to life. More specifically: There is meaning and purpose to your life. As we grow wiser, we realize that life is too short to learn all of its lessons from personal experience, and we discover that other people, places, and times are all too willing to pass on the hard-earned wisdom of their experience.
Without a clear sense of the purpose and meaning of our lives, the emptiness is overwhelming. We try to fill the void with pleasure and possessions, but the emptiness is unaffected by such trivialities. There are moments of pleasure, but they are brief in a long succession of twenty-four-hour days. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
God expands the provision of anyone at will, and regulates it too; for God knows everything. [29: 62]
Hadith of the Day:
Avarice is a tree whose roots are in Hell. The miser is tied to one of its branches and will not be saved until he is pulled into Hellfire. [Dar-i Kutni]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is not for us to question Allah's plan, which is full of wisdom and mercy for all. Our duty is to stand firm and unswerving, to obey, and in steadfast courage to persevere, to retrieve our mistakes, not in grief and despair, but in firm hope in Allah. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Nothing changes a person's life more than the discovery of one solitary truth: There is meaning and purpose to life. More specifically: There is meaning and purpose to your life. As we grow wiser, we realize that life is too short to learn all of its lessons from personal experience, and we discover that other people, places, and times are all too willing to pass on the hard-earned wisdom of their experience.
Without a clear sense of the purpose and meaning of our lives, the emptiness is overwhelming. We try to fill the void with pleasure and possessions, but the emptiness is unaffected by such trivialities. There are moments of pleasure, but they are brief in a long succession of twenty-four-hour days. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 838
Ayah of the Day:
And if you asked them who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and moon work, they would surely say God------how then are they deceived? [29: 61]
Hadith of the Day:
Generosity is a tree whose roots are in Paradise. The generous person is held at one of its branches and he stays there until he is pulled into Paradise. [Dar-i Kutni]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The reality of thankfulness is to obey Allah with all your limbs, in private and in public. [Ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Commitment is the logical and natural response that follows from an understanding of our purpose. Everything in our lives is either pursued or rejected according to whether or not it will help us, and others, fulfill what we perceive as purpose. Someone who makes money his goal in life accepts or rejects everything according to whether or not it will help him achieve that goal.
Someone who makes pleasure the goal of his life accepts or rejects everything according to whether or not it will help him achieve his goal. In the absence of a genuine understanding of the meaning and purpose of our lives, we substitute it with shallow and superficial meaning. The human person cannot live without meaning and purpose. Why is depression so dramatically on the rise? I cannot imagine anything more depressing than not having any sense of the meaning and purpose of your own life. [The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
As you make your bed, so you must lie in it. Life is what we make it. Always has been. Always will be. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
And if you asked them who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and moon work, they would surely say God------how then are they deceived? [29: 61]
Hadith of the Day:
Generosity is a tree whose roots are in Paradise. The generous person is held at one of its branches and he stays there until he is pulled into Paradise. [Dar-i Kutni]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The reality of thankfulness is to obey Allah with all your limbs, in private and in public. [Ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Commitment is the logical and natural response that follows from an understanding of our purpose. Everything in our lives is either pursued or rejected according to whether or not it will help us, and others, fulfill what we perceive as purpose. Someone who makes money his goal in life accepts or rejects everything according to whether or not it will help him achieve that goal.
Someone who makes pleasure the goal of his life accepts or rejects everything according to whether or not it will help him achieve his goal. In the absence of a genuine understanding of the meaning and purpose of our lives, we substitute it with shallow and superficial meaning. The human person cannot live without meaning and purpose. Why is depression so dramatically on the rise? I cannot imagine anything more depressing than not having any sense of the meaning and purpose of your own life. [The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
As you make your bed, so you must lie in it. Life is what we make it. Always has been. Always will be. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 837
Ayah of the Day:
How many animals don't carry their provisions! God provides for them, and for you too, being the all-hearing, the all-knowing. [29: 60]
Hadith of the Day:
The fear of God should be in your hearts. If you dare to hurt your Muslim brother, that is sufficient to earn you God's curse. It is forbidden by God to harm the property, the honor, or the physical being of another Muslim. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Those who truly know God worship Him with all their resolve; they concede to His ubiquitous bounty and obey all His commandments with the utmost fervor. As their adoration grows so does their obedience. [Al-Hujwiri]
Guidance of the Day:
If you don't know what you want from life, everything will appear either an obstacle or as a burden. But one of the great lessons of history is that the world gets out of the way for people who know what they want or where they are going. Be assured, if you don't know where you are going, you are lost.
A great purposelessness has descended upon modern civilizations. People at large have lost any sense of the meaning and purpose of life; and without an understanding of our own purpose, there can be no true commitment. Whether that commitment is to marriage, family, study, work, God, relationships, or the simple resolutions of our lives, it will be almost impossible to fulfill with a clear and practical understanding of our purpose. Commitment and purpose go hand in hand. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Experience is yesterday's answer to today's problems. Our wisdom usually comes from our experience, and our experience largely from our foolishness. One reason experience is such a good teacher is that it doesn't allow any dropouts.
How many animals don't carry their provisions! God provides for them, and for you too, being the all-hearing, the all-knowing. [29: 60]
Hadith of the Day:
The fear of God should be in your hearts. If you dare to hurt your Muslim brother, that is sufficient to earn you God's curse. It is forbidden by God to harm the property, the honor, or the physical being of another Muslim. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Those who truly know God worship Him with all their resolve; they concede to His ubiquitous bounty and obey all His commandments with the utmost fervor. As their adoration grows so does their obedience. [Al-Hujwiri]
Guidance of the Day:
If you don't know what you want from life, everything will appear either an obstacle or as a burden. But one of the great lessons of history is that the world gets out of the way for people who know what they want or where they are going. Be assured, if you don't know where you are going, you are lost.
A great purposelessness has descended upon modern civilizations. People at large have lost any sense of the meaning and purpose of life; and without an understanding of our own purpose, there can be no true commitment. Whether that commitment is to marriage, family, study, work, God, relationships, or the simple resolutions of our lives, it will be almost impossible to fulfill with a clear and practical understanding of our purpose. Commitment and purpose go hand in hand. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Experience is yesterday's answer to today's problems. Our wisdom usually comes from our experience, and our experience largely from our foolishness. One reason experience is such a good teacher is that it doesn't allow any dropouts.
Monday, May 14, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 836
Ayahs of the Day:
And for those who believed and did good deeds, We will prepare for them lofty dwellings in the garden, with streams running below them, wherein they will abide, a perfect reward for the workers, those who have been constant and who trust in their Lord. [29: 58,59]
Hadith of the Day:
Knowledge is acquired by learning. Forbearance is acquired by suffering the impudence of others without reacting. Whoever makes an effort to obtain that which is good, God gives him good. Whoever is able to stand controversy is saved from suffering. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Through love all that is bitter will be sweet.
Through love all that is copper will be gold.
Through love all that dregs will turn to purest wine.
Through love all pain will turn to medicine.
Through love the dead will all become alive.
Through love the king will turn into a slave. [Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Intellectually, when you take ten or fifteen minutes a day to read a good book, what happens? Your vision of yourself expands; your vision of the world expands. You become more focused, more alert, and more vibrant. Clarity replaces confusion. You feel more fully alive, and you are happier.
Finally, spiritually, when you take a few moments each day to step into the classroom of silence and reconnect with yourself and with your God, what happens? The gentle voice within grows stronger, and you develop a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and direction. You are healthier, you are happier, and you have a richer experience of life.
Physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually, we know the things that infuse our lives with passion and enthusiasm. We know the things that make us happy. We just don't do them. It doesn't make sense, does it? On the other hand, we all want to be happy. On the other hand, we all know the things that make us happy? But we don't do those things. Why? Simple. We are too busy. Too busy doing what? Too busy trying to be happy. This is the paradox of happiness that has bewitched our age. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Whether you are sixteen or sixty, the rest of your life is ahead of you. You cannot change one moment of your past, but you can change your whole future. Now is your time.
And for those who believed and did good deeds, We will prepare for them lofty dwellings in the garden, with streams running below them, wherein they will abide, a perfect reward for the workers, those who have been constant and who trust in their Lord. [29: 58,59]
Hadith of the Day:
Knowledge is acquired by learning. Forbearance is acquired by suffering the impudence of others without reacting. Whoever makes an effort to obtain that which is good, God gives him good. Whoever is able to stand controversy is saved from suffering. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Through love all that is bitter will be sweet.
Through love all that is copper will be gold.
Through love all that dregs will turn to purest wine.
Through love all pain will turn to medicine.
Through love the dead will all become alive.
Through love the king will turn into a slave. [Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Intellectually, when you take ten or fifteen minutes a day to read a good book, what happens? Your vision of yourself expands; your vision of the world expands. You become more focused, more alert, and more vibrant. Clarity replaces confusion. You feel more fully alive, and you are happier.
Finally, spiritually, when you take a few moments each day to step into the classroom of silence and reconnect with yourself and with your God, what happens? The gentle voice within grows stronger, and you develop a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and direction. You are healthier, you are happier, and you have a richer experience of life.
Physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually, we know the things that infuse our lives with passion and enthusiasm. We know the things that make us happy. We just don't do them. It doesn't make sense, does it? On the other hand, we all want to be happy. On the other hand, we all know the things that make us happy? But we don't do those things. Why? Simple. We are too busy. Too busy doing what? Too busy trying to be happy. This is the paradox of happiness that has bewitched our age. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Whether you are sixteen or sixty, the rest of your life is ahead of you. You cannot change one moment of your past, but you can change your whole future. Now is your time.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 835
Ayahs of the Day:
O servants of Mine who believe, My earth is wide indeed; so let it be Me that you serve. Everything will experience death; then you will be returned to Us. [29: 56,57]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who is deprived of compassion and gentle manners is deprived of all good. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Bury your existence in the earth of obscurity, for whatever sprouts forth, without having first been buried, flowers imperfectly. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the Day:
There are four aspects to the human person: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
Physically, when you exercise regularly, sleep regularly, eat the right sorts of foods, and balance your diet, how do you feel? You feel fantastic. You feel more fully alive. You are healthier, happier, and you have a richer, more abundant experience of life.
Emotionally, when you give focus and priority to your relationships, what happens? You switch the focus off yourself and onto others. As you do, your ability to love increases........and as your ability to love increases, your ability to be loved increases. You become more aware of yourself, develop a more balanced view of life, and experience a deeper sense of fulfillment. You are healthier. You are happier. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Man's ways lead to a hopeless end, Allah's way leads to an endless hope. A lot of kneeling will keep you in a good standing. He who kneels before Allah can stand before anyone.
O servants of Mine who believe, My earth is wide indeed; so let it be Me that you serve. Everything will experience death; then you will be returned to Us. [29: 56,57]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who is deprived of compassion and gentle manners is deprived of all good. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Bury your existence in the earth of obscurity, for whatever sprouts forth, without having first been buried, flowers imperfectly. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the Day:
There are four aspects to the human person: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
Physically, when you exercise regularly, sleep regularly, eat the right sorts of foods, and balance your diet, how do you feel? You feel fantastic. You feel more fully alive. You are healthier, happier, and you have a richer, more abundant experience of life.
Emotionally, when you give focus and priority to your relationships, what happens? You switch the focus off yourself and onto others. As you do, your ability to love increases........and as your ability to love increases, your ability to be loved increases. You become more aware of yourself, develop a more balanced view of life, and experience a deeper sense of fulfillment. You are healthier. You are happier. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Man's ways lead to a hopeless end, Allah's way leads to an endless hope. A lot of kneeling will keep you in a good standing. He who kneels before Allah can stand before anyone.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 834
Ayah of the Day:
Say, "God is sufficient as a witness between me and you, knowing everything in the heavens and the earth. As for those who believe in what is false and disbelieve in God, they are the losers." [29: 52]
Hadith of the Day:
To be compassionate and gentle is one of God's blessings. To be coarse and stupid is one of God's curses. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do good to the people for the sake of God or for the peace of your own soul that you may always see what is pure and save your heart from the darkness of hate. [Jalaluddin Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Most people spend their lives arguing for their weaknesses, complaining about their lot in life, or blaming other people for their weaknesses and their lot in life. You may argue that you are forced to live in a certain city or drive a certain car, but it is not true. And if it is, it is true only temporarily and because of a choice you have made in the past. We choose, and in doing so, we design our lives.
Some may say that we do not choose our circumstances. You would be surprised. We have much power over the circumstances of our lives than most men and women would ever admit. And even if circumstances are thrust upon us, we choose how we respond to those circumstances. The day we accept that we have chosen to choose our choices is the day we cast off the shackles of victimhood and are set free to pursue the lives we were born to live. Learn to master the moment of decision and you will live a life uncommon. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Actions express priorities. Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
Say, "God is sufficient as a witness between me and you, knowing everything in the heavens and the earth. As for those who believe in what is false and disbelieve in God, they are the losers." [29: 52]
Hadith of the Day:
To be compassionate and gentle is one of God's blessings. To be coarse and stupid is one of God's curses. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do good to the people for the sake of God or for the peace of your own soul that you may always see what is pure and save your heart from the darkness of hate. [Jalaluddin Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Most people spend their lives arguing for their weaknesses, complaining about their lot in life, or blaming other people for their weaknesses and their lot in life. You may argue that you are forced to live in a certain city or drive a certain car, but it is not true. And if it is, it is true only temporarily and because of a choice you have made in the past. We choose, and in doing so, we design our lives.
Some may say that we do not choose our circumstances. You would be surprised. We have much power over the circumstances of our lives than most men and women would ever admit. And even if circumstances are thrust upon us, we choose how we respond to those circumstances. The day we accept that we have chosen to choose our choices is the day we cast off the shackles of victimhood and are set free to pursue the lives we were born to live. Learn to master the moment of decision and you will live a life uncommon. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Actions express priorities. Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
Friday, May 11, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 833
Ayah of the Day:
Isn't it enough for them that We have revealed the Book to you, which you recite to them? Surely in that is mercy and a reminder for people who believe. [29: 51]
Hadith of the Day:
Wherever there is gentleness, there is beauty. Wherever gentleness has disappeared there is shame. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Wasted is the scholar who is not asked about what he knows, as is the wealth which is not used in good, as is the knowledge which is not acted upon. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Everything is a choice. This is life's greatest truth and its hardest lesson. It is a great truth because it reminds us of our power. Not power over others, but the often untapped power to be ourselves and to live the life we have imagined. It is a hard lesson, because it causes us to realize that we have chosen the life we are living right now. It is also liberating, because we can now begin to choose what we will find when we look at our life in the tomorrows that lie unlived before us.
Life is choices. You have chosen to live this day. You have chosen to believe certain ideas. You have chosen the people you call friends. You have chosen to live in a certain city. You choose the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the thoughts you think. You choose to be calm or restless, you choose to feel appreciative or grateful. Love is a choice. Anger is a choice. Fear is a choice. Courage is a choice. You choose. Sometimes we choose the-best-version-of-ourselves, and sometimes we choose a-second-rate-version-of-ourselves. Everything is a choice, and our choices echo throughout our lives......and into history.......and on and on into eternity. [The Rhythm of Life by Mathew Kelly]
Food for Thought:
Worry never climbed a hill, worry never paid a bill. Worry is the darkroom in which the negatives can develop. There is no greater security than knowing that we are in the presence of Allah, who controls all things.
Isn't it enough for them that We have revealed the Book to you, which you recite to them? Surely in that is mercy and a reminder for people who believe. [29: 51]
Hadith of the Day:
Wherever there is gentleness, there is beauty. Wherever gentleness has disappeared there is shame. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Wasted is the scholar who is not asked about what he knows, as is the wealth which is not used in good, as is the knowledge which is not acted upon. [Othman radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Everything is a choice. This is life's greatest truth and its hardest lesson. It is a great truth because it reminds us of our power. Not power over others, but the often untapped power to be ourselves and to live the life we have imagined. It is a hard lesson, because it causes us to realize that we have chosen the life we are living right now. It is also liberating, because we can now begin to choose what we will find when we look at our life in the tomorrows that lie unlived before us.
Life is choices. You have chosen to live this day. You have chosen to believe certain ideas. You have chosen the people you call friends. You have chosen to live in a certain city. You choose the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the thoughts you think. You choose to be calm or restless, you choose to feel appreciative or grateful. Love is a choice. Anger is a choice. Fear is a choice. Courage is a choice. You choose. Sometimes we choose the-best-version-of-ourselves, and sometimes we choose a-second-rate-version-of-ourselves. Everything is a choice, and our choices echo throughout our lives......and into history.......and on and on into eternity. [The Rhythm of Life by Mathew Kelly]
Food for Thought:
Worry never climbed a hill, worry never paid a bill. Worry is the darkroom in which the negatives can develop. There is no greater security than knowing that we are in the presence of Allah, who controls all things.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 832
Ayah of the Day:
For thus have We revealed the Book to you, so those to whom We have given the scripture believe in it too; and no one rejects Our signs except the ungrateful. [29: 47]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who is humble, who cares for all of God's creatures, and who serves them with gentleness and dignity is safe from Hellfire. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Supreme knowledge is fear of Allah, cheerful acceptance of the decree of Allah, and love for Allah. [shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
You can look back on the incidents in your past and see clearly the lessons you have learned, resisted, and are still repeating. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why we call it the present." It is more challenging to look at present situation and see exactly what your lessons are. Looking into the future is the most difficult. Wishing that you had already graduated from the school of life does not accelerate your progress or make the lessons any easier. Examining the situation for the real lesson is the scavenger hunt.
Remind yourself that you are here to learn lessons. Be present with your process. Pay attention to what you are experiencing. Be diligent with actions which enable you to "get" the lessons presented to you. Ask for answers and you shall receive them. Listen with an open heart. Explore all options. See your judgment as a mirror. View each crisis as an opportunity. Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of our own experience. Great victories come, not through ease, but by fighting valiantly and meeting hardships bravely. While troubles will come, they are always temporary-----nothing lasts forever. Remember, "This too will pass."
For thus have We revealed the Book to you, so those to whom We have given the scripture believe in it too; and no one rejects Our signs except the ungrateful. [29: 47]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who is humble, who cares for all of God's creatures, and who serves them with gentleness and dignity is safe from Hellfire. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Supreme knowledge is fear of Allah, cheerful acceptance of the decree of Allah, and love for Allah. [shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
You can look back on the incidents in your past and see clearly the lessons you have learned, resisted, and are still repeating. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why we call it the present." It is more challenging to look at present situation and see exactly what your lessons are. Looking into the future is the most difficult. Wishing that you had already graduated from the school of life does not accelerate your progress or make the lessons any easier. Examining the situation for the real lesson is the scavenger hunt.
Remind yourself that you are here to learn lessons. Be present with your process. Pay attention to what you are experiencing. Be diligent with actions which enable you to "get" the lessons presented to you. Ask for answers and you shall receive them. Listen with an open heart. Explore all options. See your judgment as a mirror. View each crisis as an opportunity. Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of our own experience. Great victories come, not through ease, but by fighting valiantly and meeting hardships bravely. While troubles will come, they are always temporary-----nothing lasts forever. Remember, "This too will pass."
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 831
Ayah of the Day:
And do not contest the people of scripture, unless with what is better, except those of them who have been unjust: say, "We believe in what was revealed to us, and what was revealed to you; for our God and your God is one, to Whom we submit. [29: 46]
Hadith of the Day:
God certainly loves the one who is well-behaved, well-bred, well-mannered, honest, and gentle, who does not expect anything from any one and is not envious of others. He certainly does not love those who use foul language and are constantly asking and expecting favors from others. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Our honesty and upright conduct are not mere matters of policy or convenience: all our life in this world must be lived as in the presence of Allah the Most High. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Your time on this earth is brief. Time passes and things change. You have options and choices in which to make your wishes, dreams, and goals become reality. When you ask yourself, "Why am I here?" or "Why is this happening to me?" or "What is the lesson?" If you hear a defensive reaction using the words "never" or "always" in your response, you haven't yet learned the lesson. Next, go a little deeper and ask, "What is there for me to learn from this experience?"
Each time you view your circumstances as possessing value, regardless of the apparent confusion or hardship, you grow. Your personal evolution will depend on how readily you embrace your lessons and integrate them into your life. Remember, the only consequence for resisting lessons, is that they will keep repeating themselves until you learn them. When you have learned a lesson, you will always be tested. When the lesson is learned, the test will be easily passed, and you then move on to more complex and challenging ones. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been a reward for what he gave. It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness, it is certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.
And do not contest the people of scripture, unless with what is better, except those of them who have been unjust: say, "We believe in what was revealed to us, and what was revealed to you; for our God and your God is one, to Whom we submit. [29: 46]
Hadith of the Day:
God certainly loves the one who is well-behaved, well-bred, well-mannered, honest, and gentle, who does not expect anything from any one and is not envious of others. He certainly does not love those who use foul language and are constantly asking and expecting favors from others. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Our honesty and upright conduct are not mere matters of policy or convenience: all our life in this world must be lived as in the presence of Allah the Most High. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Your time on this earth is brief. Time passes and things change. You have options and choices in which to make your wishes, dreams, and goals become reality. When you ask yourself, "Why am I here?" or "Why is this happening to me?" or "What is the lesson?" If you hear a defensive reaction using the words "never" or "always" in your response, you haven't yet learned the lesson. Next, go a little deeper and ask, "What is there for me to learn from this experience?"
Each time you view your circumstances as possessing value, regardless of the apparent confusion or hardship, you grow. Your personal evolution will depend on how readily you embrace your lessons and integrate them into your life. Remember, the only consequence for resisting lessons, is that they will keep repeating themselves until you learn them. When you have learned a lesson, you will always be tested. When the lesson is learned, the test will be easily passed, and you then move on to more complex and challenging ones. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been a reward for what he gave. It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness, it is certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 830
Ayah of the Day:
Recite what has been revealed to you from the Book, and pray regularly; for prayer restrains from that which is abominable and disavowed. And remembrance of God is even greater. And God knows what you do. [29: 45]
Hadith of the Day:
A person who is not trustworthy does not have faith. The religion of the one does not keep his word is not true religion. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If you persevere in adversity and depend on God, then know that He will remove your afflictions and bestow vast blessings upon you. Therefore follow the road of patience and rejoice in His infinite bounty. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
What we call results are beginnings. The lesson of limitlessness will keep you traveling along your path. It is sense that there are no boundaries to what you can become or do. You learn it when you know that your evolution is never-ending and your potential for growth reaches to infinity. However, boundaries exist only in your mind. When you are able to transcend them, you learn the lesson of limitlessness. We could do anything we set our minds to, no matter how impossible it might seen or how strong the opposition. The reason there is no end to the levels you can reach is because you already have infinite potential within you. Your challenge in this lifetime is simply to uncover that potential by peeling back the layers and remembering this essential truth: there is nothing you cannot do, be or have. All is within your reach.
Each lesson you learn in your lifetime will open doorways to your own sense of limitlessness. There is no limit to your compassion or patience, nor to your willingness, commitment, tolerance, or any other pocket of understanding you reach into. You have infinite permission to love, to grow, and to re-remember all the wisdom within you. What is important is that you believe that you can do it and that you give yourself every opportunity to succeed. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
If you are faced with a challenge,
refuse to be panic-stricken.
Life has not ended for you.
Life flows on. Declare for yourself:
I accept the responsibility of this situation,
but not its permanence.
Recite what has been revealed to you from the Book, and pray regularly; for prayer restrains from that which is abominable and disavowed. And remembrance of God is even greater. And God knows what you do. [29: 45]
Hadith of the Day:
A person who is not trustworthy does not have faith. The religion of the one does not keep his word is not true religion. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If you persevere in adversity and depend on God, then know that He will remove your afflictions and bestow vast blessings upon you. Therefore follow the road of patience and rejoice in His infinite bounty. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
What we call results are beginnings. The lesson of limitlessness will keep you traveling along your path. It is sense that there are no boundaries to what you can become or do. You learn it when you know that your evolution is never-ending and your potential for growth reaches to infinity. However, boundaries exist only in your mind. When you are able to transcend them, you learn the lesson of limitlessness. We could do anything we set our minds to, no matter how impossible it might seen or how strong the opposition. The reason there is no end to the levels you can reach is because you already have infinite potential within you. Your challenge in this lifetime is simply to uncover that potential by peeling back the layers and remembering this essential truth: there is nothing you cannot do, be or have. All is within your reach.
Each lesson you learn in your lifetime will open doorways to your own sense of limitlessness. There is no limit to your compassion or patience, nor to your willingness, commitment, tolerance, or any other pocket of understanding you reach into. You have infinite permission to love, to grow, and to re-remember all the wisdom within you. What is important is that you believe that you can do it and that you give yourself every opportunity to succeed. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
If you are faced with a challenge,
refuse to be panic-stricken.
Life has not ended for you.
Life flows on. Declare for yourself:
I accept the responsibility of this situation,
but not its permanence.
Monday, May 07, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 829
Ayah of the Day:
The pattern of those who take to patrons other than God is like the spider who builds a nest: for the flimsiest of houses is surely the spider's nest. If only they knew! God knows whatever else they pray to, for God is almighty, the supreme wise. But while We give people these examples, no one understands them except those who know. [29: 41]
Hadith of the Day:
Anger comes from Satan and Satan is from fire. Fire can only be put out by water. So Whenever one of you is stricken by anger, make an ablution. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If in spite of intense supplication, there is a delay in the timing of the Gift, let that not be the cause for your despairing. For He has guaranteed you a response in what He chooses for you, not in what you choose for yourself, and at the time He desires, not the time you desire. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. The ultimate destination of your life path is wisdom. Wisdom is the highest and deepest degree of knowledge, insight, and understanding. It provides you with the broadest perspective on life, its purpose, and the lessons you learn throughout your lifetime. When you find your wisdom, you are living in the light.
Wisdom is not a state to be achieved, but rather a state to be recalled. You arrived on this planet fully equipped with the boundless wisdom inherent in all humans; you only need to access that place within you that connects you to the infinite divine source in order to remember it. Wisdom is not intelligence. It has nothing to do with the level of your IQ or how well you did in school. Rather, wisdom is the highest level of emotional, spiritual, and mental evolution, at which you value intuition as much as information, willingness as much as ability, and inspiration as much as knowledge. It is where you synergize your deepest understanding with your everyday actions. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are. In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.
The pattern of those who take to patrons other than God is like the spider who builds a nest: for the flimsiest of houses is surely the spider's nest. If only they knew! God knows whatever else they pray to, for God is almighty, the supreme wise. But while We give people these examples, no one understands them except those who know. [29: 41]
Hadith of the Day:
Anger comes from Satan and Satan is from fire. Fire can only be put out by water. So Whenever one of you is stricken by anger, make an ablution. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If in spite of intense supplication, there is a delay in the timing of the Gift, let that not be the cause for your despairing. For He has guaranteed you a response in what He chooses for you, not in what you choose for yourself, and at the time He desires, not the time you desire. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. The ultimate destination of your life path is wisdom. Wisdom is the highest and deepest degree of knowledge, insight, and understanding. It provides you with the broadest perspective on life, its purpose, and the lessons you learn throughout your lifetime. When you find your wisdom, you are living in the light.
Wisdom is not a state to be achieved, but rather a state to be recalled. You arrived on this planet fully equipped with the boundless wisdom inherent in all humans; you only need to access that place within you that connects you to the infinite divine source in order to remember it. Wisdom is not intelligence. It has nothing to do with the level of your IQ or how well you did in school. Rather, wisdom is the highest level of emotional, spiritual, and mental evolution, at which you value intuition as much as information, willingness as much as ability, and inspiration as much as knowledge. It is where you synergize your deepest understanding with your everyday actions. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are. In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 828
Ayah of the Day:
The pattern of those who take to patrons other than God is like the spider who builds a nest: for the flimsiest of houses is surely the spider's nest. If only they knew! God knows whatever else they pray to, for God is almighty, the supreme wise. But while We give people these examples, no one understands them except those who know. [29: 41]
Hadith of the Day:
Anger comes from Satan and Satan is from fire. Fire can only be put out by water. So Whenever one of you is stricken by anger, make an ablution. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If in spite of intense supplication, there is a delay in the timing of the Gift, let that not be the cause for your despairing. For He has guaranteed you a response in what He chooses for you, not in what you choose for yourself, and at the time He desires, not the time you desire. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. The ultimate destination of your life path is wisdom. Wisdom is the highest and deepest degree of knowledge, insight, and understanding. It provides you with the broadest perspective on life, its purpose, and the lessons you learn throughout your lifetime. When you find your wisdom, you are living in the light.
Wisdom is not a state to be achieved, but rather a state to be recalled. You arrived on this planet fully equipped with the boundless wisdom inherent in all humans; you only need to access that place within you that connects you to the infinite divine source in order to remember it. Wisdom is not intelligence. It has nothing to do with the level of your IQ or how well you did in school. Rather, wisdom is the highest level of emotional, spiritual, and mental evolution, at which you value intuition as much as information, willingness as much as ability, and inspiration as much as knowledge. It is where you synergize your deepest understanding with your everyday actions. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are. In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.
The pattern of those who take to patrons other than God is like the spider who builds a nest: for the flimsiest of houses is surely the spider's nest. If only they knew! God knows whatever else they pray to, for God is almighty, the supreme wise. But while We give people these examples, no one understands them except those who know. [29: 41]
Hadith of the Day:
Anger comes from Satan and Satan is from fire. Fire can only be put out by water. So Whenever one of you is stricken by anger, make an ablution. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If in spite of intense supplication, there is a delay in the timing of the Gift, let that not be the cause for your despairing. For He has guaranteed you a response in what He chooses for you, not in what you choose for yourself, and at the time He desires, not the time you desire. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. The ultimate destination of your life path is wisdom. Wisdom is the highest and deepest degree of knowledge, insight, and understanding. It provides you with the broadest perspective on life, its purpose, and the lessons you learn throughout your lifetime. When you find your wisdom, you are living in the light.
Wisdom is not a state to be achieved, but rather a state to be recalled. You arrived on this planet fully equipped with the boundless wisdom inherent in all humans; you only need to access that place within you that connects you to the infinite divine source in order to remember it. Wisdom is not intelligence. It has nothing to do with the level of your IQ or how well you did in school. Rather, wisdom is the highest level of emotional, spiritual, and mental evolution, at which you value intuition as much as information, willingness as much as ability, and inspiration as much as knowledge. It is where you synergize your deepest understanding with your everyday actions. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are. In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 827
Ayah of the Day:
We punished each one for his sins. Among them were those against whom We sent a storm, and among them were those whom the blast overcame, and among them were those whom We made the earth swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. Yet God was not trying to oppress them; rather, they had wronged their own selves. [29: 40]
Hadith of the Day:
There is nothing a servant may swallow that is considered as praiseworthy as the swallowing of anger. [Ibn Maja]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A people who have left the struggle in Allah's way have shackled themselves in the dark caverns of disgrace and utter loss. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Life is either daring adventure or nothing at all. Your life has the potential to be a wondrous journey, filled with exciting moments and astonishing experiences. Adventure is the result of your willingness to live life with a spirit of enthusiasm. It takes you beyond your comfort level. They expand your horizons and take you into new and exciting worlds. When you experience the aliveness of experimenting with new options and taking risks, you learn the value of adventure in your life.
Since what you make of your life is up to you, you can either create a life filled with miraculous adventures or stay huddled and safe, never experiencing the joyful rush of journeying outside your world with boldness. A life devoid of adventure may be secure, but it is one that lacks texture and color. If you never ventured forth, you can never expand and grow. Think about the adventures you have had in your lifetime. Those moments in which you took a leap of faith and expanded beyond your comfort zone are precious gifts, as they can remind you of the joy that is available to you when you embrace life with exuberance. These moments can be turning points in your personal history and inspire you to create new realities for yourself whenever you choose.
Imagine yourself at ninety years old, looking back on your life. What do you want to see? You only regret that which you don't do. Do you want to look back at a life filled with regrets or a life filled with magical moments inspired by adventure? [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face--------you must do the thing you cannot do. It takes courage. When you believe you can-------you can!
We punished each one for his sins. Among them were those against whom We sent a storm, and among them were those whom the blast overcame, and among them were those whom We made the earth swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. Yet God was not trying to oppress them; rather, they had wronged their own selves. [29: 40]
Hadith of the Day:
There is nothing a servant may swallow that is considered as praiseworthy as the swallowing of anger. [Ibn Maja]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A people who have left the struggle in Allah's way have shackled themselves in the dark caverns of disgrace and utter loss. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Life is either daring adventure or nothing at all. Your life has the potential to be a wondrous journey, filled with exciting moments and astonishing experiences. Adventure is the result of your willingness to live life with a spirit of enthusiasm. It takes you beyond your comfort level. They expand your horizons and take you into new and exciting worlds. When you experience the aliveness of experimenting with new options and taking risks, you learn the value of adventure in your life.
Since what you make of your life is up to you, you can either create a life filled with miraculous adventures or stay huddled and safe, never experiencing the joyful rush of journeying outside your world with boldness. A life devoid of adventure may be secure, but it is one that lacks texture and color. If you never ventured forth, you can never expand and grow. Think about the adventures you have had in your lifetime. Those moments in which you took a leap of faith and expanded beyond your comfort zone are precious gifts, as they can remind you of the joy that is available to you when you embrace life with exuberance. These moments can be turning points in your personal history and inspire you to create new realities for yourself whenever you choose.
Imagine yourself at ninety years old, looking back on your life. What do you want to see? You only regret that which you don't do. Do you want to look back at a life filled with regrets or a life filled with magical moments inspired by adventure? [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face--------you must do the thing you cannot do. It takes courage. When you believe you can-------you can!
Friday, May 04, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 826
Ayahs of the Day:
And God punishes whomever God will, and God grants mercy to whomever God will; and to God you will be received. And you won't cause frustration on earth or heavens; and you have no protector and no savior besides God. [29: 21,22]
Hadith of the Day:
Allah Most High abandons the punishment due to anyone who can abandon his own anger. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Laughter always follows tears. Blessed are those who understand. Life blossoms wherever water flows. Where tears are shed divine mercy is shown. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.
Within each of us lies a power center, and we learn to call upon this power as we set out to design our lives according to our will. Power is a natural state of being----it is a force to which we are all entitled and to which we all have unlimited access. Your power is what propels you forward day after day, what sustains you in dark moments, what gives you the ability to do whatever you feel driven to do. It glows within you like a light, beamed outward into the world as needed.
There may be times, however, when you have difficulty seeing that light within you. You may experience "power leaks" that rob you of your ability to manifest reality. In those times you need to identify what is robbing you of your power and patch the leaks. Power leaks come in many forms: intimidation, discouragement and disappointment, setbacks, rejection, or loss, just to name a few. The best way to patch these leaks is to look back at your earlier successes as a way to remind yourself of what you are capable of. You may need to patch leaks in your power many times throughout your life, but once you groove an easy path back to the power source within you and live from within it, you will never again question the idea that what you make of your life is entirely up to you. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Nothing builds self esteem and self confidence like accomplishment. It's not what we have, but what we do is our kingdom. Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his power of accomplishment.
And God punishes whomever God will, and God grants mercy to whomever God will; and to God you will be received. And you won't cause frustration on earth or heavens; and you have no protector and no savior besides God. [29: 21,22]
Hadith of the Day:
Allah Most High abandons the punishment due to anyone who can abandon his own anger. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Laughter always follows tears. Blessed are those who understand. Life blossoms wherever water flows. Where tears are shed divine mercy is shown. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.
Within each of us lies a power center, and we learn to call upon this power as we set out to design our lives according to our will. Power is a natural state of being----it is a force to which we are all entitled and to which we all have unlimited access. Your power is what propels you forward day after day, what sustains you in dark moments, what gives you the ability to do whatever you feel driven to do. It glows within you like a light, beamed outward into the world as needed.
There may be times, however, when you have difficulty seeing that light within you. You may experience "power leaks" that rob you of your ability to manifest reality. In those times you need to identify what is robbing you of your power and patch the leaks. Power leaks come in many forms: intimidation, discouragement and disappointment, setbacks, rejection, or loss, just to name a few. The best way to patch these leaks is to look back at your earlier successes as a way to remind yourself of what you are capable of. You may need to patch leaks in your power many times throughout your life, but once you groove an easy path back to the power source within you and live from within it, you will never again question the idea that what you make of your life is entirely up to you. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Nothing builds self esteem and self confidence like accomplishment. It's not what we have, but what we do is our kingdom. Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his power of accomplishment.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 825
Ayahs of the Day:
Don't they see how God initiates the creation, then renews it? Indeed, that is easy for God. Say, "Travel the earth and see how God originated the creation; and God will produce the final genesis. For God has power over all things. [29: 19,20]
Hadith of the Day:
Anger subverts religious feeling as bitter substances spoil honey. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Satan is terrified of the shadow of the one who conquers the passions of the world. [Malik bin Dinar]
Guidance of the Day:
Courage is the price life exacts for granting peace. Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty, or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the spark that ignites the initial baby steps of growth. It resides deep within each of us, ready to be accessed in those moments when you need to forge ahead or break through insurmountable barriers. It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey.
It takes courage to embrace the idea that what you make of your life is up to you and to actually do what you need to do. You can learn how to access your courage by digging down deep inside and tapping into whatever spiritual connection sustains you. Courage is learned in the moment that you take a leap of faith and take action. Fears, real or imagined, only impede you. Banish them so that you may learn the lesson of courage and create the life you desire. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Death is a friendly but invisible companion, reminding us to live our lives and not just exist. Whatever prepares us for death enhances our lives. Awareness of our mortality will facilitate important shifts in our priorities and values. Living the present moment fully will be the best preparation for what the future holds.
Don't they see how God initiates the creation, then renews it? Indeed, that is easy for God. Say, "Travel the earth and see how God originated the creation; and God will produce the final genesis. For God has power over all things. [29: 19,20]
Hadith of the Day:
Anger subverts religious feeling as bitter substances spoil honey. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Satan is terrified of the shadow of the one who conquers the passions of the world. [Malik bin Dinar]
Guidance of the Day:
Courage is the price life exacts for granting peace. Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty, or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the spark that ignites the initial baby steps of growth. It resides deep within each of us, ready to be accessed in those moments when you need to forge ahead or break through insurmountable barriers. It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey.
It takes courage to embrace the idea that what you make of your life is up to you and to actually do what you need to do. You can learn how to access your courage by digging down deep inside and tapping into whatever spiritual connection sustains you. Courage is learned in the moment that you take a leap of faith and take action. Fears, real or imagined, only impede you. Banish them so that you may learn the lesson of courage and create the life you desire. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Death is a friendly but invisible companion, reminding us to live our lives and not just exist. Whatever prepares us for death enhances our lives. Awareness of our mortality will facilitate important shifts in our priorities and values. Living the present moment fully will be the best preparation for what the future holds.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 824
Ayah of the Day:
There are some people who say, "We believe in God," yet when they are harassed on God's account, they construe the strife of men as the castigation of God. And if help came from your Lord, they would say, "We were actually with you?" But is God not best acquainted with what is in the hearts of beings? [29: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
The best of my people are those whose strength of religion is like steel. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
God gave us the Prophet because He loved what we might become. [Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness. Release is simply the act of letting go. In every situation, you can either take responsibility and attempt to cause things to happen, or you can let go. Neither option is better or worse. Every situation is different, and only you will know what is the right thing to do in each case. There are times when you will need to take responsibility for the progression of a relationship, and times you will need to just let go and walk away. You learn the lesson of release when you begin to choose it as a conscious act rather than as a passive means to hide from responsibility.
Another emotion that often lurks in people's minds is anger. This anger can fester in their unconscious minds, blocking the flow of their natural power to create their lives. They focus so intently on their negative feelings that they are blind to the power of forgiveness and release. Sometimes negative memories can clutter your mind and take up the space needed in order to imagine and create a life based on what you want. It is unfortunate that "bad" things happen, but clinging to the psychic debris left behind can do even more damage than the actual event. People are able to overcome and release even the most heinous of experiences if they are willing. The human heart is remarkably resilient, and you will need to trust yours in order to release the memories that stagnate you. You can learn to release it through awareness and willingness. Once you become aware of what stands in your way and become willing to release it, you are ready to manifest the life you were meant to be. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Religion primarily came to bring prosperity and happiness to people. Your value is determined by your faith and character. Trust in Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
There are some people who say, "We believe in God," yet when they are harassed on God's account, they construe the strife of men as the castigation of God. And if help came from your Lord, they would say, "We were actually with you?" But is God not best acquainted with what is in the hearts of beings? [29: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
The best of my people are those whose strength of religion is like steel. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
God gave us the Prophet because He loved what we might become. [Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness. Release is simply the act of letting go. In every situation, you can either take responsibility and attempt to cause things to happen, or you can let go. Neither option is better or worse. Every situation is different, and only you will know what is the right thing to do in each case. There are times when you will need to take responsibility for the progression of a relationship, and times you will need to just let go and walk away. You learn the lesson of release when you begin to choose it as a conscious act rather than as a passive means to hide from responsibility.
Another emotion that often lurks in people's minds is anger. This anger can fester in their unconscious minds, blocking the flow of their natural power to create their lives. They focus so intently on their negative feelings that they are blind to the power of forgiveness and release. Sometimes negative memories can clutter your mind and take up the space needed in order to imagine and create a life based on what you want. It is unfortunate that "bad" things happen, but clinging to the psychic debris left behind can do even more damage than the actual event. People are able to overcome and release even the most heinous of experiences if they are willing. The human heart is remarkably resilient, and you will need to trust yours in order to release the memories that stagnate you. You can learn to release it through awareness and willingness. Once you become aware of what stands in your way and become willing to release it, you are ready to manifest the life you were meant to be. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Religion primarily came to bring prosperity and happiness to people. Your value is determined by your faith and character. Trust in Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 823
Ayahs of the Day:
We have prescribed for man goodness to his parents; but if they strive to get you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, then don't obey them. Your destination is to Me; I will tell you about what you were doing. And those who believe and do good works We will include among the righteous. [29: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
It is not lawful for a believer to be angry at another believer for more than three days. When they meet, they should salute each other. If both do, they will share Allah's pleasure. If one does not respond, he will be sinning. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sometimes in order to help He makes us cry. Happy the eye that shed tears for His sake. Fortunate the heart that burns for His sake. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
We have to accept the responsibility of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime. To take responsibility means you admit your accountability and acknowledge your influence and role in the circumstances in which you find yourself. It means you are answerable for your behavior and you fully accept any consequences created by your actions.
Responsibility is not blame, however, and understanding the difference between the two is crucial to learning this lesson. Blame is associated with fault, whereas responsibility denotes authorship. Blame carries guilt and negative feelings; responsibility brings the relief of not having to dodge the full truth anymore and releases the guilt. Blame implies fault; responsibility implies ownership. Blame is stagnant; responsibility propels you forward and onward to your greater good. Responsibility comes with certain rewards, but it is a lesson that is often hard-earned.
Responsibility is a major lesson of adulthood. If you still haven't learned the lesson of responsibility, it's not too late. Remember, life will provide you with plenty of opportunities to get it right. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Wrong is but falsehood put in practice. Two wrongs do not make a right. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it. The remedy for wrongs is to forget them.
We have prescribed for man goodness to his parents; but if they strive to get you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, then don't obey them. Your destination is to Me; I will tell you about what you were doing. And those who believe and do good works We will include among the righteous. [29: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
It is not lawful for a believer to be angry at another believer for more than three days. When they meet, they should salute each other. If both do, they will share Allah's pleasure. If one does not respond, he will be sinning. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sometimes in order to help He makes us cry. Happy the eye that shed tears for His sake. Fortunate the heart that burns for His sake. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
We have to accept the responsibility of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime. To take responsibility means you admit your accountability and acknowledge your influence and role in the circumstances in which you find yourself. It means you are answerable for your behavior and you fully accept any consequences created by your actions.
Responsibility is not blame, however, and understanding the difference between the two is crucial to learning this lesson. Blame is associated with fault, whereas responsibility denotes authorship. Blame carries guilt and negative feelings; responsibility brings the relief of not having to dodge the full truth anymore and releases the guilt. Blame implies fault; responsibility implies ownership. Blame is stagnant; responsibility propels you forward and onward to your greater good. Responsibility comes with certain rewards, but it is a lesson that is often hard-earned.
Responsibility is a major lesson of adulthood. If you still haven't learned the lesson of responsibility, it's not too late. Remember, life will provide you with plenty of opportunities to get it right. [Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]
Food for Thought:
Wrong is but falsehood put in practice. Two wrongs do not make a right. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it. The remedy for wrongs is to forget them.
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