Ayah of the Day:
If you could only see when the sinners are bowing their heads to their Lord: "Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard, so send us back and we'll make amends, for we are sure." [32: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
Fear in your hearts the punishment of God when you repeat my words unless you are absolutely sure that I said those words. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Relying upon the promise of "tomorrow," many people have wandered around that door, but that tomorrow never comes. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Open your heart and your mind to a new understanding of prayer. The purpose of prayer is to help you make the journey from point A to point B and to become the-best-version-of-yourself, which indeed is the purpose of life. Prayer is difficult. But those who learn to master prayer come to master themselves, and those who come to master themselves become the instruments of tremendous good and are able to master every other human activity.
Everything good comes from knowing and living in the will of God. We are created for a purpose. There is a plan for each of us----a divine blue print------a mission. That plan perfectly intertwines our talents, our legitimate needs, and our deepest desires-----to bring about this perfect harmony among body, heart, mind, and spirit. In following that plan, we find peace and prosperity, freedom and fulfillment. We may, of course, reject this plan, this blue print, this mission. And there lies the mystery of freedom and love. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Lord grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 903
Ayah of the Day:
God is the one who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in between them in six days, then mounted the Throne. You have no other protector, and no intercessor. So will you not be mindful? [32: 4]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever misappropriates someone's property through lying and cheating has lost his chance to enter Paradise and certainly deserves Hell. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There is no salvation like the heart's salvation, given that all the limbs respond to its desires. Therefore, knowledge of the heart's ailments, what causes each of them and what removes them, is an obligation on everyone. [Imam al-Mawlud]
Guidance of the Day:
Prayer is essential. Prayer cuts through and clarifies. Prayer reminds us of what is really important. Prayer awakens our awareness to our legitimate needs. Prayer is the great friend who introduces us to ourselves. Prayer is the great mediator that introduces us to God. Prayer is the faithful friend who points out who we are and who we are capable of being. Prayer reveals the deepest desires of our hearts and points out the path that was ordained for us from the beginning of time.
Prayer gifts us with purpose and direction, and peace in that direction. Prayer is a journey and a destination. Prayer is a chance to become intimately familiar with the better person we know we can be------and that familiarity is the beginning of wisdom. Prayer helps. Prayer is important. Prayer is needed. We need prayer. Prayer doesn't need us, and God doesn't need prayer. Prayer doesn't help God, it helps us. It isn't something we must do, it is something we should do. Pray!!! [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves-----our weaknesses, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and turn from them all. To know one's self is the true; to strive with one's self is the good; to conquer one's self is the beautiful.
God is the one who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in between them in six days, then mounted the Throne. You have no other protector, and no intercessor. So will you not be mindful? [32: 4]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever misappropriates someone's property through lying and cheating has lost his chance to enter Paradise and certainly deserves Hell. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There is no salvation like the heart's salvation, given that all the limbs respond to its desires. Therefore, knowledge of the heart's ailments, what causes each of them and what removes them, is an obligation on everyone. [Imam al-Mawlud]
Guidance of the Day:
Prayer is essential. Prayer cuts through and clarifies. Prayer reminds us of what is really important. Prayer awakens our awareness to our legitimate needs. Prayer is the great friend who introduces us to ourselves. Prayer is the great mediator that introduces us to God. Prayer is the faithful friend who points out who we are and who we are capable of being. Prayer reveals the deepest desires of our hearts and points out the path that was ordained for us from the beginning of time.
Prayer gifts us with purpose and direction, and peace in that direction. Prayer is a journey and a destination. Prayer is a chance to become intimately familiar with the better person we know we can be------and that familiarity is the beginning of wisdom. Prayer helps. Prayer is important. Prayer is needed. We need prayer. Prayer doesn't need us, and God doesn't need prayer. Prayer doesn't help God, it helps us. It isn't something we must do, it is something we should do. Pray!!! [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves-----our weaknesses, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and turn from them all. To know one's self is the true; to strive with one's self is the good; to conquer one's self is the beautiful.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 902
Ayah of the Day:
It is God who has the knowledge of the end of time, and who showers the rain, and who knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die: but God is omniscient, completely aware. [31: 34]
Hadith of the Day:
Lying is the opposite of faith in God. The two cannot be together. And the worst of lies is slander. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Good fortune will come to you only as you give. If you cannot renounce life completely you can at least free yourself from the love of riches and honors. [Farid uddin Attar]
Guidance of the Day:
Image or light, that is the question. We tend to spend our lives dedicated to the image, to the material. The image represents the body. The light represents the spirit. Do you identify more with your body or with your spirit? The highest levels of living are experienced when we have an absolute disregard for the body beyond our basic needs and a complete adherence to the promptings of the Divine Spirit within us. It is then that we form our identity from the spirit within, when we let the sweet light within us shine. A person who is completely dedicated to the light is capable of anything. Prayer shifts our dedication from the image to the light.
We want to live in peace. Without peace life is a drudgery. Peace is the fruit of an intimate harmony among the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual elements of the human person. Peace is not the absence of pain or pressure. Nor is it the absence of activity. Peace is not lying on a beach without a worry in the world. Peace is not born by doing nothing. This peace I speak of is a certainty in my heart and mind that I am using my life for the worthy purpose--------that each day I am able to love more than the day before, that I am becoming a better person each day, that in my own way I am touching and improving the lives of others. It is maintained with the conviction that the way I am spending the energies of my life makes sense. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
Never spend your money before you have it.
Never buy what you do not need.
It is God who has the knowledge of the end of time, and who showers the rain, and who knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die: but God is omniscient, completely aware. [31: 34]
Hadith of the Day:
Lying is the opposite of faith in God. The two cannot be together. And the worst of lies is slander. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Good fortune will come to you only as you give. If you cannot renounce life completely you can at least free yourself from the love of riches and honors. [Farid uddin Attar]
Guidance of the Day:
Image or light, that is the question. We tend to spend our lives dedicated to the image, to the material. The image represents the body. The light represents the spirit. Do you identify more with your body or with your spirit? The highest levels of living are experienced when we have an absolute disregard for the body beyond our basic needs and a complete adherence to the promptings of the Divine Spirit within us. It is then that we form our identity from the spirit within, when we let the sweet light within us shine. A person who is completely dedicated to the light is capable of anything. Prayer shifts our dedication from the image to the light.
We want to live in peace. Without peace life is a drudgery. Peace is the fruit of an intimate harmony among the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual elements of the human person. Peace is not the absence of pain or pressure. Nor is it the absence of activity. Peace is not lying on a beach without a worry in the world. Peace is not born by doing nothing. This peace I speak of is a certainty in my heart and mind that I am using my life for the worthy purpose--------that each day I am able to love more than the day before, that I am becoming a better person each day, that in my own way I am touching and improving the lives of others. It is maintained with the conviction that the way I am spending the energies of my life makes sense. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
Never spend your money before you have it.
Never buy what you do not need.
Friday, July 27, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 901
Ayah of the Day:
People, be conscious of your Lord, and fear a day when a father cannot compensate for his son, and a son cannot compensate for his father in anything. For the promise of God is true, so don't let worldly life beguile you, and don't let illusion blind you to God. [31: 33]
Hadith of the Day:
When you lie, the angels around you run away from the stench to a distance of ten miles. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
When a person turns away from the world, he adheres to God, and God lavishes incredible bounty on him. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
A large part of success in anything is victory. Success is mostly about victory over ourselves. The habitual and repetitious achievement of such victories produces the quality of self-discipline in a person's character. If you give your body a choice, it will always take the easy way out. Your body lies. It tells you it cannot when it can. The body has a natural capacity to increase its strength and abilities. The heart, mind, and spirit are all equipped with the same natural capacity. One thing is certain. If you do only what you feel like doing, your life will be miserable and you will be a failure.
Victory over self leads to ever increasing levels of achievements in any field. Who is the master? Your lower faculties-----bodily instincts------or your higher faculties-------intellect, will,or spirit? Do you do what your body tells you to do, or does your body do what you tell it to do? If your dreams, goals, and purpose are not enough to inspire you to want to get out of bed in the morning, then you need to rethink your dreams, goals, and purpose. Achieve that first victory. Small victories are the mentors of greater victories. The human spirit responds to victory. Victory elevates the human spirit. We must learn to find victory in everything, even in defeat. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. Men at some time are masters of their fate. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, they make them.
People, be conscious of your Lord, and fear a day when a father cannot compensate for his son, and a son cannot compensate for his father in anything. For the promise of God is true, so don't let worldly life beguile you, and don't let illusion blind you to God. [31: 33]
Hadith of the Day:
When you lie, the angels around you run away from the stench to a distance of ten miles. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
When a person turns away from the world, he adheres to God, and God lavishes incredible bounty on him. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
A large part of success in anything is victory. Success is mostly about victory over ourselves. The habitual and repetitious achievement of such victories produces the quality of self-discipline in a person's character. If you give your body a choice, it will always take the easy way out. Your body lies. It tells you it cannot when it can. The body has a natural capacity to increase its strength and abilities. The heart, mind, and spirit are all equipped with the same natural capacity. One thing is certain. If you do only what you feel like doing, your life will be miserable and you will be a failure.
Victory over self leads to ever increasing levels of achievements in any field. Who is the master? Your lower faculties-----bodily instincts------or your higher faculties-------intellect, will,or spirit? Do you do what your body tells you to do, or does your body do what you tell it to do? If your dreams, goals, and purpose are not enough to inspire you to want to get out of bed in the morning, then you need to rethink your dreams, goals, and purpose. Achieve that first victory. Small victories are the mentors of greater victories. The human spirit responds to victory. Victory elevates the human spirit. We must learn to find victory in everything, even in defeat. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. Men at some time are masters of their fate. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, they make them.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 900
Ayah of the Day:
And when surging waves cover them like canopies, they pray to God with sole devotion; some of them take a moderate course; and no one rejects Our signs but every treacherous ingrate. [31: 32]
Hadith of the Day:
Lying is a black smear on your character that will never wash away. You will pay for slander, hypocrisy, and lying with the tortures of the grave. [Ibn Hibban]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The scope of speech is so wide that there is no need to lie. [Ibn Sirin]
Guidance of the Day:
The vicious cycle exists in one way or another in the lives of each and every one of us. We get caught up in certain patterns of behavior that are self-destructive, a rhythm of life that does not attend to our legitimate needs, a lifestyle that does not enrich and fulfill us. How do we escape these vicious cycles? Little by little. Small victories are the key. If you decide to become a marathon runner, you don't go out and try to run a marathon straightaway. You start by running one mile a day, then two, three, five, and seven. Over time you build yourself up, and as you strengthen and develop, you extend the distances. Many victories are won before a marathon runner's first race.
These small victories build strength and confidence. The victory over twenty sit-ups builds strength, courage, and confidence to achieve the victory of doing thirty sit-ups the following week. Set goals that stretch you but do not break you. In the way that these small victories build strength, confidence, and courage in athletes, they can do the same for us in every area of our lives, whether in our professional work, our relationships, or our spiritual practices. That is the greatness of human spirit------making the unknown known, making the impossible possible. Small victories, one upon the other, are the making of every great champion. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become. Success seems to be a matter of hanging on while others have let go. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
And when surging waves cover them like canopies, they pray to God with sole devotion; some of them take a moderate course; and no one rejects Our signs but every treacherous ingrate. [31: 32]
Hadith of the Day:
Lying is a black smear on your character that will never wash away. You will pay for slander, hypocrisy, and lying with the tortures of the grave. [Ibn Hibban]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The scope of speech is so wide that there is no need to lie. [Ibn Sirin]
Guidance of the Day:
The vicious cycle exists in one way or another in the lives of each and every one of us. We get caught up in certain patterns of behavior that are self-destructive, a rhythm of life that does not attend to our legitimate needs, a lifestyle that does not enrich and fulfill us. How do we escape these vicious cycles? Little by little. Small victories are the key. If you decide to become a marathon runner, you don't go out and try to run a marathon straightaway. You start by running one mile a day, then two, three, five, and seven. Over time you build yourself up, and as you strengthen and develop, you extend the distances. Many victories are won before a marathon runner's first race.
These small victories build strength and confidence. The victory over twenty sit-ups builds strength, courage, and confidence to achieve the victory of doing thirty sit-ups the following week. Set goals that stretch you but do not break you. In the way that these small victories build strength, confidence, and courage in athletes, they can do the same for us in every area of our lives, whether in our professional work, our relationships, or our spiritual practices. That is the greatness of human spirit------making the unknown known, making the impossible possible. Small victories, one upon the other, are the making of every great champion. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become. Success seems to be a matter of hanging on while others have let go. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 899
Ayah of the Day:
Haven't you seen that ships sail the sea by the grace of God, to show you some signs of the divine? Surely there are signs in that for everyone patient and thankful. [31: 31]
Hadith of the Day:
Humanity is created with a multitude of dispositions, and lying and disloyalty are not among them. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is an infamous thing to exalt oneself and to prefer oneself to all other creatures. You should learn a lesson from the pupil of the eye, which sees everyone else, and does not see itself. [Shams al-din Hafiz]
Guidance of the Day:
Desire is the greatest motivator. The rhythm of life ensures our health and well-being------physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually-----by creating a lifestyle that fulfills our legitimate needs in each of these four areas. It maximizes our efficiency and effectiveness in everything we do. It lays the natural foundation for us to achieve our greatest dreams and achievements beyond what we have even dared to dream. It leads to the satisfaction of the deepest desires of our hearts, which is the fulfillment of the will of God. The fruits of this alone are peace, joy, happiness, an increased ability to love, and an increased ability to be loved.
Our lives are a material expression of our desires. Desire is the seedling from which everything in our lives is born----good and bad, enriching and destructing. If you teach yourself, condition yourself, to desire those things that are good for you, there is nothing you cannot achieve or become. Desire is one of the greatest forces at work within the human being. How so we condition ourselves to desire the things that are best for us? We desire the things we ponder. We desire the things we see every day. Great sporting champions ponder and desire victory. Great entrepreneurs ponder and desire financial wealth. Great saints ponder and desire intimacy with God. If you begin to ponder the things that are good for you, you will begin to desire them. If you begin to desire them, you will soon begin to attain them. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Life is a do-it-yourself project. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow. The process of surrendering, focusing and living on purpose leads to ecstasy.
Haven't you seen that ships sail the sea by the grace of God, to show you some signs of the divine? Surely there are signs in that for everyone patient and thankful. [31: 31]
Hadith of the Day:
Humanity is created with a multitude of dispositions, and lying and disloyalty are not among them. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is an infamous thing to exalt oneself and to prefer oneself to all other creatures. You should learn a lesson from the pupil of the eye, which sees everyone else, and does not see itself. [Shams al-din Hafiz]
Guidance of the Day:
Desire is the greatest motivator. The rhythm of life ensures our health and well-being------physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually-----by creating a lifestyle that fulfills our legitimate needs in each of these four areas. It maximizes our efficiency and effectiveness in everything we do. It lays the natural foundation for us to achieve our greatest dreams and achievements beyond what we have even dared to dream. It leads to the satisfaction of the deepest desires of our hearts, which is the fulfillment of the will of God. The fruits of this alone are peace, joy, happiness, an increased ability to love, and an increased ability to be loved.
Our lives are a material expression of our desires. Desire is the seedling from which everything in our lives is born----good and bad, enriching and destructing. If you teach yourself, condition yourself, to desire those things that are good for you, there is nothing you cannot achieve or become. Desire is one of the greatest forces at work within the human being. How so we condition ourselves to desire the things that are best for us? We desire the things we ponder. We desire the things we see every day. Great sporting champions ponder and desire victory. Great entrepreneurs ponder and desire financial wealth. Great saints ponder and desire intimacy with God. If you begin to ponder the things that are good for you, you will begin to desire them. If you begin to desire them, you will soon begin to attain them. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Life is a do-it-yourself project. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow. The process of surrendering, focusing and living on purpose leads to ecstasy.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 898
Ayahs of the Day:
Haven't you seen that God makes night enter day and day enter night, and has subordinated the sun and the moon, each to run for prescribed term; and that God is fully aware of what you are doing? That is because God is the truth, and whatever else they pray to is falsehood; and because God is most high, most comprehensive. [31: 29,30]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who keeps silence is saved. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sell this present world of yours for the next and you will gain both in entirety, but do not sell the next world for this world, for so shall you lose the two together. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the Day:
We don't need more time; we need more energy. There are twenty four hours in a day. Nobody gets more, and nobody gets less. It is probably the only way the equality we speak so much about actually exists. The differentiating factor is energy. Energy is our most valuable resource, not time. Energy is created by a sense of purpose and a life style that integrates our legitimate needs, our deepest desires, and our talents.
Our purpose is to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. The rhythm of life is the way of life that brings our needs, desires, and talents into harmony with each other. The result-------passion and energy. Life is the spending and replenishing of energy. You can't get more time, but you can have more energy. It is time to unleash the energy factor in your life. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
We build our lives, one day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
Haven't you seen that God makes night enter day and day enter night, and has subordinated the sun and the moon, each to run for prescribed term; and that God is fully aware of what you are doing? That is because God is the truth, and whatever else they pray to is falsehood; and because God is most high, most comprehensive. [31: 29,30]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who keeps silence is saved. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sell this present world of yours for the next and you will gain both in entirety, but do not sell the next world for this world, for so shall you lose the two together. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the Day:
We don't need more time; we need more energy. There are twenty four hours in a day. Nobody gets more, and nobody gets less. It is probably the only way the equality we speak so much about actually exists. The differentiating factor is energy. Energy is our most valuable resource, not time. Energy is created by a sense of purpose and a life style that integrates our legitimate needs, our deepest desires, and our talents.
Our purpose is to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. The rhythm of life is the way of life that brings our needs, desires, and talents into harmony with each other. The result-------passion and energy. Life is the spending and replenishing of energy. You can't get more time, but you can have more energy. It is time to unleash the energy factor in your life. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
We build our lives, one day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
Monday, July 23, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 897
Ayahs of the Day:
Even if all the trees on the earth were pens, and the ocean were augmented by seven more oceans, the words of God would not be exhausted; for God is infinitely powerful, infinitely wise. Your creation and your resurrection are but as those of a single being: surely God is all-hearing, all-seeing. [31: 27,28]
Hadith of the Day:
Those who hold their tongues are as blessed as those who keep some of their fortune to spend in charity. [Bazzar]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The lovers of God derive their strength and spiritual energy from dhikr. They find happiness and glory in this world and in the Hereafter. [Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Guidance of the Day:
When we are in touch with the rhythm of life, we are able to think about our lives as we live them, rather than as an after thought or regret. It is good for the soul to live life after reflecting. Many people are gifted extraordinarily; very few use their gifts to the upper limits. Upper-limit achievement is the fruit of disciplined, selective, concentrated focus. A life lived reflectively is a life lived effectively.
Slow down to find the rhythm of life. Maintain the rhythm in your life and enjoy the harmony it produces. Once you discover that peace deep within you, protect it at all costs. For this peace alone is happiness, fulfillment, contentment, pleasure, and a sure sign that you are evolving into a glorious being. Reflection creates direction and inner peace. The rhythm of life allows us to maintain that inner peace even amid the turmoil of the world. Let us begin to live to life what we believe. Let us discover the rhythm of life. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
You are a soul with a body, rather than a body with a soul. Allow yourself the luxury of believing in the divinity of your own soul. Treasure your physical being as a vehicle that house your soul. Once you have the inner way, the outer way will follow. In your soul lies the entryway to the world of real magic.
Even if all the trees on the earth were pens, and the ocean were augmented by seven more oceans, the words of God would not be exhausted; for God is infinitely powerful, infinitely wise. Your creation and your resurrection are but as those of a single being: surely God is all-hearing, all-seeing. [31: 27,28]
Hadith of the Day:
Those who hold their tongues are as blessed as those who keep some of their fortune to spend in charity. [Bazzar]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The lovers of God derive their strength and spiritual energy from dhikr. They find happiness and glory in this world and in the Hereafter. [Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Guidance of the Day:
When we are in touch with the rhythm of life, we are able to think about our lives as we live them, rather than as an after thought or regret. It is good for the soul to live life after reflecting. Many people are gifted extraordinarily; very few use their gifts to the upper limits. Upper-limit achievement is the fruit of disciplined, selective, concentrated focus. A life lived reflectively is a life lived effectively.
Slow down to find the rhythm of life. Maintain the rhythm in your life and enjoy the harmony it produces. Once you discover that peace deep within you, protect it at all costs. For this peace alone is happiness, fulfillment, contentment, pleasure, and a sure sign that you are evolving into a glorious being. Reflection creates direction and inner peace. The rhythm of life allows us to maintain that inner peace even amid the turmoil of the world. Let us begin to live to life what we believe. Let us discover the rhythm of life. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
You are a soul with a body, rather than a body with a soul. Allow yourself the luxury of believing in the divinity of your own soul. Treasure your physical being as a vehicle that house your soul. Once you have the inner way, the outer way will follow. In your soul lies the entryway to the world of real magic.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 896
Ayahs of the Day:
And whoever disbelieves, don't let theirs atheism grieve you. They will wind up before Us, and We will tell them about what they did. For God knows what is in hearts. We let them enjoy a little, then We drive them to a severe agony. [31: 23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
A good man comes so close to Paradise that the distance between him and eternal salvation is no more than the length of a spear. Then he utters a thoughtless word that throws him back the distance from here to Yemen. [Abi Dunya]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever breaks a habit within himself of the type that everyone else amongst mankind continues to have, then God Most High, in turn for that, will similarly break for him a habit, and this is called a miracle (karamah) by the masses. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
From the moment that we are born into this planet, there is more to do than can ever be done, more to see than can ever be seen, and if something is important, we must make time. We must decide what is really important, really necessary, make it a priority, and make time. Otherwise the siren call of the world will always keep us busy and distracted from what really is important. What really counts?
Our priorities should not be based on a material goal. Rather, we should use our time and our talents to develop our whole person. Our own development should be our top priority. When we are fully alive, in every way, striving toward perfection, we experience the profound joy of life. Finding the rhythm of life is largely about reassessing our priorities and reallocating our resources and energies according to those new priorities. The result is the whole person, a person fully alive, striving to grow, develop, and perfect the various aspects of our character. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Forgiveness is a man's highest achievement because it shows true enlightenment in action. It shows that one is in touch with the energy of love. Create an inner harmony where your loving soul guides your physical behavior, rather than having your soul always come in second place.
And whoever disbelieves, don't let theirs atheism grieve you. They will wind up before Us, and We will tell them about what they did. For God knows what is in hearts. We let them enjoy a little, then We drive them to a severe agony. [31: 23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
A good man comes so close to Paradise that the distance between him and eternal salvation is no more than the length of a spear. Then he utters a thoughtless word that throws him back the distance from here to Yemen. [Abi Dunya]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever breaks a habit within himself of the type that everyone else amongst mankind continues to have, then God Most High, in turn for that, will similarly break for him a habit, and this is called a miracle (karamah) by the masses. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
From the moment that we are born into this planet, there is more to do than can ever be done, more to see than can ever be seen, and if something is important, we must make time. We must decide what is really important, really necessary, make it a priority, and make time. Otherwise the siren call of the world will always keep us busy and distracted from what really is important. What really counts?
Our priorities should not be based on a material goal. Rather, we should use our time and our talents to develop our whole person. Our own development should be our top priority. When we are fully alive, in every way, striving toward perfection, we experience the profound joy of life. Finding the rhythm of life is largely about reassessing our priorities and reallocating our resources and energies according to those new priorities. The result is the whole person, a person fully alive, striving to grow, develop, and perfect the various aspects of our character. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Forgiveness is a man's highest achievement because it shows true enlightenment in action. It shows that one is in touch with the energy of love. Create an inner harmony where your loving soul guides your physical behavior, rather than having your soul always come in second place.
Friday, July 20, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 895
Ayah of the Day:
Whoever submits his intention to God and is a doer of good has taken hold of the most trustworthy support, as the outcome of all affairs is up to God. [31: 22]
Hadith of the Day:
A man utters a word, seeing no harm in it, but this very word makes him fall into Hellfire from seventy years' distance up in the heavens. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There is only one virtue and one sin for a soul on the path: virtue when he is conscious of God and sin when he is not. [Abu Hashim Madani]
Guidance of the Day:
We need to dedicate ourselves to our development as a person-----body, heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing more important in life. We know it, but we let the things we do get in the way. We get carried away with doing. We become human doings. Life is about being and becoming. We must remind ourselves continually that there is nothing more important than our development as human beings.
We do, of course, live in a time that is marked by tremendous technological advancement. Every time-saving device is available to us, and still no one has time. If God appeared to you in a vision and told you that three weeks from today you would be making the journey from this life to the next, would you rush back to work to make your millions? Would you rush out to the mall to make sure you had the right clothes to die in? No. Most of us would spend time with family and friends and, in some way, try to prepare ourselves for that journey to the next life. We do not know how long our lives on this earth will last. Some things are more important than others. Prayer, reflection, meditation, and a life with rhythm remind us of this truth and help us remain focused on the things that are really important. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life}
Food for Thought:
Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful, or debase it into ugliness. It's in our hands. We create our fate every day .... most of the ills we suffer from are directly traceable to our own behavior.
Whoever submits his intention to God and is a doer of good has taken hold of the most trustworthy support, as the outcome of all affairs is up to God. [31: 22]
Hadith of the Day:
A man utters a word, seeing no harm in it, but this very word makes him fall into Hellfire from seventy years' distance up in the heavens. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
There is only one virtue and one sin for a soul on the path: virtue when he is conscious of God and sin when he is not. [Abu Hashim Madani]
Guidance of the Day:
We need to dedicate ourselves to our development as a person-----body, heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing more important in life. We know it, but we let the things we do get in the way. We get carried away with doing. We become human doings. Life is about being and becoming. We must remind ourselves continually that there is nothing more important than our development as human beings.
We do, of course, live in a time that is marked by tremendous technological advancement. Every time-saving device is available to us, and still no one has time. If God appeared to you in a vision and told you that three weeks from today you would be making the journey from this life to the next, would you rush back to work to make your millions? Would you rush out to the mall to make sure you had the right clothes to die in? No. Most of us would spend time with family and friends and, in some way, try to prepare ourselves for that journey to the next life. We do not know how long our lives on this earth will last. Some things are more important than others. Prayer, reflection, meditation, and a life with rhythm remind us of this truth and help us remain focused on the things that are really important. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life}
Food for Thought:
Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful, or debase it into ugliness. It's in our hands. We create our fate every day .... most of the ills we suffer from are directly traceable to our own behavior.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 894
Ayah of the Day:
And when they are told, "Follow what God has revealed," they say, "No, we will follow what we found our fathers devoted to." What? Even if it is Satan inviting them to the torment of the blaze? [31: 21]
Hadith of the Day:
Remember God always, read God's prescriptions in the Holy Book, because that will shed light upon your life in this world and secure God's remembrance of you in the heavens. And watch your tongue even when you speak beneficently. If you do these things, you will resist the temptations of the accursed Devil. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Stay away from abomination of sin that may deface your purity. The Lord shall bless you with much bounty; therefore let not the cares of this world drive your peace away. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
If we can discover the rhythm of our own lives, that rhythm will in turn create a harmony and balance that will give birth to a deep and abiding peace. And it is that peace, the fruit of harmony, that allows the highest levels of effective and abundant living. What great lessons can nature teach us about ourselves? Nature whispers messages to us each and every day: "Great things are achieved little by little." Discover the rhythm of life and align your life with this rhythm. The more you do, the more you will enjoy peace and prosperity.
The truth of this message is displayed all around us in thousands of ways every day. The waves roll onto the shore, washing against the rocks, and erosion occurs. You do not see it with the first wave or with the second or third, but over the years you realize that slowly and steadily the waves are wearing the rock down. Who would think of water as stronger than rock? Persistence has strength. The rhythm of life is powerful. The rhythm of life leads us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place and role in nature, empowering us to harness our own natural energies. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes to us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives, puts itself in our hands and hopes we learned something yesterday.
And when they are told, "Follow what God has revealed," they say, "No, we will follow what we found our fathers devoted to." What? Even if it is Satan inviting them to the torment of the blaze? [31: 21]
Hadith of the Day:
Remember God always, read God's prescriptions in the Holy Book, because that will shed light upon your life in this world and secure God's remembrance of you in the heavens. And watch your tongue even when you speak beneficently. If you do these things, you will resist the temptations of the accursed Devil. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Stay away from abomination of sin that may deface your purity. The Lord shall bless you with much bounty; therefore let not the cares of this world drive your peace away. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
If we can discover the rhythm of our own lives, that rhythm will in turn create a harmony and balance that will give birth to a deep and abiding peace. And it is that peace, the fruit of harmony, that allows the highest levels of effective and abundant living. What great lessons can nature teach us about ourselves? Nature whispers messages to us each and every day: "Great things are achieved little by little." Discover the rhythm of life and align your life with this rhythm. The more you do, the more you will enjoy peace and prosperity.
The truth of this message is displayed all around us in thousands of ways every day. The waves roll onto the shore, washing against the rocks, and erosion occurs. You do not see it with the first wave or with the second or third, but over the years you realize that slowly and steadily the waves are wearing the rock down. Who would think of water as stronger than rock? Persistence has strength. The rhythm of life is powerful. The rhythm of life leads us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place and role in nature, empowering us to harness our own natural energies. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes to us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives, puts itself in our hands and hopes we learned something yesterday.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 893
Ayah of the Day:
Haven't you seen that God has made what is in the heavens and on earth subject to you, and has showered you with divine favor, outwardly and inwardly? Yet some people dispute about God without knowledge, without guidance, and without an enlightening Book. [31:20]
Hadith of the Day:
Be prepared to fight for God's sake: to fight against one's ego is the greatest of struggles. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Just as the effect of an atom's weight of food or drink or medicine is not lost on the body, so too the effect of an atom's weight of goodness or evil is not lost either in drawing near to God's door or in estrangement from Him. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
It is said that a crisis brings out the best in people. They say if it doesn't kill you, it makes you a better person. Our lives change when we stop merely replying to questions and begin to ask them. We need a way of living that brings out the best in us. We need a way of life that honors our legitimate needs. We need a lifestyle that helps us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. The rhythm of life is the perfect combination of rest, activity, and pace; it ennobles us to become the unique individuals we were created to be, enables us to excel in all we do, and empowers us with a certain clarity of mind and peace of heart.
We make a thousand lifestyle choices every day. Those decisions either create or destroy the natural rhythm of life. Life is not a hundred meter-dash; it's a marathon. There is more to life than increasing the speed. Faster isn't always better, bigger isn't always better, louder isn't always better. More isn't always the solution. Life is not a competition to see who can collect the most expensive toys. The best things in life are not things-----and sometimes less is more. Find your rhythm.....and you will flood your life with passion, creativity, and energy. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Besides the art of getting things done, there is the art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials. We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.
Haven't you seen that God has made what is in the heavens and on earth subject to you, and has showered you with divine favor, outwardly and inwardly? Yet some people dispute about God without knowledge, without guidance, and without an enlightening Book. [31:20]
Hadith of the Day:
Be prepared to fight for God's sake: to fight against one's ego is the greatest of struggles. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Just as the effect of an atom's weight of food or drink or medicine is not lost on the body, so too the effect of an atom's weight of goodness or evil is not lost either in drawing near to God's door or in estrangement from Him. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
It is said that a crisis brings out the best in people. They say if it doesn't kill you, it makes you a better person. Our lives change when we stop merely replying to questions and begin to ask them. We need a way of living that brings out the best in us. We need a way of life that honors our legitimate needs. We need a lifestyle that helps us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. The rhythm of life is the perfect combination of rest, activity, and pace; it ennobles us to become the unique individuals we were created to be, enables us to excel in all we do, and empowers us with a certain clarity of mind and peace of heart.
We make a thousand lifestyle choices every day. Those decisions either create or destroy the natural rhythm of life. Life is not a hundred meter-dash; it's a marathon. There is more to life than increasing the speed. Faster isn't always better, bigger isn't always better, louder isn't always better. More isn't always the solution. Life is not a competition to see who can collect the most expensive toys. The best things in life are not things-----and sometimes less is more. Find your rhythm.....and you will flood your life with passion, creativity, and energy. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Besides the art of getting things done, there is the art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials. We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 892
Ayahs of the Day:
(Luqman said) " And don't be contemptuous toward people, and don't swagger around on earth: for God loves no pompous braggart. And moderate your stride, and lower your voice, for the most repulsive sound is surely the braying of an ass. [31: 18,19]
Hadith of the Day:
To respect God as you should is the source of all good deeds. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The ruin of the heart lies in the denying the desire for obedience. [Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
Every happiness in life comes from discovering who you are as a unique individual and being true to your own self. It is only through self-donation-----giving ourselves to others----that we discover our true self. There is no greater gift than the sincere gift of self. It is the essence of relationship and life. There is more to life than getting, grabbing, having, and receiving. Life is as much about giving as it is about receiving. Learn to give the one gift that you were born to give----yourself. The meaning of life is mysteriously revealed in this act. There is no faster way to happen upon the purpose of your life than to embrace life's daily opportunities to serve those around you.
Life is an adventure of self-discovery. You are different. You are unique and special. You are a wonder and a marvel. Be all you can be. Be yourself. In every moment, choose your best self. If you do you will be choosing happiness for you and for all those you touch in this life. You are the gift you can give to yourself and to the world. Celebrate the one life you have by becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The superior man is modest in his speech, but excels in his actions. There is no genius in life like the genius of energy and activity. Right action is the key to good living. Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.
(Luqman said) " And don't be contemptuous toward people, and don't swagger around on earth: for God loves no pompous braggart. And moderate your stride, and lower your voice, for the most repulsive sound is surely the braying of an ass. [31: 18,19]
Hadith of the Day:
To respect God as you should is the source of all good deeds. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The ruin of the heart lies in the denying the desire for obedience. [Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
Every happiness in life comes from discovering who you are as a unique individual and being true to your own self. It is only through self-donation-----giving ourselves to others----that we discover our true self. There is no greater gift than the sincere gift of self. It is the essence of relationship and life. There is more to life than getting, grabbing, having, and receiving. Life is as much about giving as it is about receiving. Learn to give the one gift that you were born to give----yourself. The meaning of life is mysteriously revealed in this act. There is no faster way to happen upon the purpose of your life than to embrace life's daily opportunities to serve those around you.
Life is an adventure of self-discovery. You are different. You are unique and special. You are a wonder and a marvel. Be all you can be. Be yourself. In every moment, choose your best self. If you do you will be choosing happiness for you and for all those you touch in this life. You are the gift you can give to yourself and to the world. Celebrate the one life you have by becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The superior man is modest in his speech, but excels in his actions. There is no genius in life like the genius of energy and activity. Right action is the key to good living. Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.
Monday, July 16, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 891
Ayah of the Day:
(Luqman said) "My son pray regularly, enjoin what is fair and forbid the unacceptable. And be constant no matter what happens to you; for that is the matter of the resolve that determines affairs. [31: 17]
Hadith of the Day:
Do not speak in a manner displeasing to your Lord. Empty talk hardens people's hearts, and people with hard hearts drift away from God. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Wealth is for use and on trust for mankind: Hoard not; nor misuse it. Fight a straight fight in the cause of Right. Go forth bravely to strive and struggle, and prove yourselves worth of Allah. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
We all want to be loved and accepted. The danger that emerges from this desire is that we may fall into the trap of doing or saying things just to please others. Each time we walk this path, we abandon a portion of our self. There is a part of each of us that is weak and can be bought. There is also a part of each of us that is strong and cannot be bought at any price. Ignore the former and nurture the latter. But most of all, befriend that part of you that cannot be bought at any price, because it will tell you who you are.
In truth nobody is loved by everybody. Even the greatest men and women in history have critics. Even people who have dedicated themselves and their lives selflessly to assist others have critics and detractors. You are no different. Some people are going to like you, some people are going to love you, some people are not going to like you at all, and some people may even despise you. You might as well be yourself. That way al least you will know that the people who like you, like you for who you truly are. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you. Muslims are never stingy. Give and spend and God will send. It is impossible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.
(Luqman said) "My son pray regularly, enjoin what is fair and forbid the unacceptable. And be constant no matter what happens to you; for that is the matter of the resolve that determines affairs. [31: 17]
Hadith of the Day:
Do not speak in a manner displeasing to your Lord. Empty talk hardens people's hearts, and people with hard hearts drift away from God. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Wealth is for use and on trust for mankind: Hoard not; nor misuse it. Fight a straight fight in the cause of Right. Go forth bravely to strive and struggle, and prove yourselves worth of Allah. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
We all want to be loved and accepted. The danger that emerges from this desire is that we may fall into the trap of doing or saying things just to please others. Each time we walk this path, we abandon a portion of our self. There is a part of each of us that is weak and can be bought. There is also a part of each of us that is strong and cannot be bought at any price. Ignore the former and nurture the latter. But most of all, befriend that part of you that cannot be bought at any price, because it will tell you who you are.
In truth nobody is loved by everybody. Even the greatest men and women in history have critics. Even people who have dedicated themselves and their lives selflessly to assist others have critics and detractors. You are no different. Some people are going to like you, some people are going to love you, some people are not going to like you at all, and some people may even despise you. You might as well be yourself. That way al least you will know that the people who like you, like you for who you truly are. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you. Muslims are never stingy. Give and spend and God will send. It is impossible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 890
Ayah of the Day:
(Luqman said): "My son, be their the weight of a mustard seed, even it in rock, or in the skies, or in the earth, God will bring it forth. For God is most subtle, thoroughly aware. [31: 16]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever among you believes in God and the Day of Judgment, either speak of things from which people will benefit, or keep silent. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not stir your feet except where you expect the reward of Allah; and do not sit except where you are likely to be safe from disobeying Allah. [Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Guidance of the Day:
Wisdom is not the amassing of knowledge. Wisdom is truth lived. From this day on, begin to foster a belief that you were born for a reason, and although you may not have yet discovered the specifics of that reason, you are being prepared to fulfill it in every moment. In general terms, you know that your essential purpose is to grow, change, develop, and become the-best-version-of-yourself. It is this process of growth that makes life interesting, exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling. Dedication to this process of growth is greatness. Greatness should never be confused with fame, fortune, status, or power. These are only passing illusions. Greatness is to become more fully aware of your self with each passing day.
A chance for greatness awaits you----your chance at greatness----and it will involve unique and providential blend of your needs, talents, and desires. The pursuit of your chance at greatness will reveal you to your family, friends, colleagues, spouse, children, and everyone who crosses your path. It is the attuning of your personality. Life is a revelation of self. Life is an unfolding story. Your life is your story. Life is a gift to you and for you----and yet, in a paradoxical but complimentary way, it is also your chance to serve your neighbor, to touch and enrich the lives of others, and to make a difference in this sometimes weary world. This is the mystery of God----to lead you toward your perfection and fulfillment, while at the same time using your journey to lead others toward their perfection and fulfillment. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in surrendering that we are born a new
(Luqman said): "My son, be their the weight of a mustard seed, even it in rock, or in the skies, or in the earth, God will bring it forth. For God is most subtle, thoroughly aware. [31: 16]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever among you believes in God and the Day of Judgment, either speak of things from which people will benefit, or keep silent. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not stir your feet except where you expect the reward of Allah; and do not sit except where you are likely to be safe from disobeying Allah. [Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Guidance of the Day:
Wisdom is not the amassing of knowledge. Wisdom is truth lived. From this day on, begin to foster a belief that you were born for a reason, and although you may not have yet discovered the specifics of that reason, you are being prepared to fulfill it in every moment. In general terms, you know that your essential purpose is to grow, change, develop, and become the-best-version-of-yourself. It is this process of growth that makes life interesting, exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling. Dedication to this process of growth is greatness. Greatness should never be confused with fame, fortune, status, or power. These are only passing illusions. Greatness is to become more fully aware of your self with each passing day.
A chance for greatness awaits you----your chance at greatness----and it will involve unique and providential blend of your needs, talents, and desires. The pursuit of your chance at greatness will reveal you to your family, friends, colleagues, spouse, children, and everyone who crosses your path. It is the attuning of your personality. Life is a revelation of self. Life is an unfolding story. Your life is your story. Life is a gift to you and for you----and yet, in a paradoxical but complimentary way, it is also your chance to serve your neighbor, to touch and enrich the lives of others, and to make a difference in this sometimes weary world. This is the mystery of God----to lead you toward your perfection and fulfillment, while at the same time using your journey to lead others toward their perfection and fulfillment. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in surrendering that we are born a new
Friday, July 13, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 889
Ayah of the Day:
If the two of them (i.e. parents) strive to have you associate what you have no knowledge of with Me, then do not obey them. But keep company with them courteously in this world, and follow the path of those who turn to Me: then it is to Me that you will return, and I will inform you of what you have been doing. [31: 15]
Hadith of the Day:
The thing that should be feared most is your tongue. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
One of the most important ways to conquer the hearts of people is that one always seeks an opportunity to do others good and once such an opportunity appears, makes use of it without delay. If only we could set our hearts on always doing good to others. [Fethullah Gulen]
Guidance of the Day:
It would be convenient if we could isolate our addictions to one area of our lives, but they will not be contained. Born in our minds, addictions spread through our minds to every area of our lives. They deprive us of our well-being and rob us of our personal freedom. Addictions are a serious drain on our efficiency and effectiveness. They cloud our judgment,cause us to lose sight of our essential purpose, and hold us back from becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves.
All true spirituality seeks to free us from any type of slavery that prevents us from moving along the path and becoming a more loving and lovable person. A valuable exercise to make a regular part of our prayer, reflection, and self-analysis is to seek out and identify areas of addiction and slavery in our lives. They will not go away simply by ignoring them. Every day they will become more powerful until we confront them. Nothing compares to the freedom of being able to choose the-best-version-of-yourself in the moments of the day. It is a liberation that nobody can ever take from you. It is the freedom to choose what is good, true, noble, beautiful, and right. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Conscience tells us that we ought to do right, but it does not tell us what right is-----that we are taught by God's word. Conscience is God's presence in man, the voice of the soul. There is always a voice saying the right thing to you somewhere, if you'll only listen for it. A sleeping pill will never take the place of a clear conscience.
If the two of them (i.e. parents) strive to have you associate what you have no knowledge of with Me, then do not obey them. But keep company with them courteously in this world, and follow the path of those who turn to Me: then it is to Me that you will return, and I will inform you of what you have been doing. [31: 15]
Hadith of the Day:
The thing that should be feared most is your tongue. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
One of the most important ways to conquer the hearts of people is that one always seeks an opportunity to do others good and once such an opportunity appears, makes use of it without delay. If only we could set our hearts on always doing good to others. [Fethullah Gulen]
Guidance of the Day:
It would be convenient if we could isolate our addictions to one area of our lives, but they will not be contained. Born in our minds, addictions spread through our minds to every area of our lives. They deprive us of our well-being and rob us of our personal freedom. Addictions are a serious drain on our efficiency and effectiveness. They cloud our judgment,cause us to lose sight of our essential purpose, and hold us back from becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves.
All true spirituality seeks to free us from any type of slavery that prevents us from moving along the path and becoming a more loving and lovable person. A valuable exercise to make a regular part of our prayer, reflection, and self-analysis is to seek out and identify areas of addiction and slavery in our lives. They will not go away simply by ignoring them. Every day they will become more powerful until we confront them. Nothing compares to the freedom of being able to choose the-best-version-of-yourself in the moments of the day. It is a liberation that nobody can ever take from you. It is the freedom to choose what is good, true, noble, beautiful, and right. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Conscience tells us that we ought to do right, but it does not tell us what right is-----that we are taught by God's word. Conscience is God's presence in man, the voice of the soul. There is always a voice saying the right thing to you somewhere, if you'll only listen for it. A sleeping pill will never take the place of a clear conscience.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 888
Ayah of the Day:
We have entrusted man with the care of his parents: his mother bore him, sapped and weakened, and his weaning takes two years: so be grateful to Me, and to your parents. The journey is to Me. [31: 14]
Hadith of the Day:
Learn to lock up your tongues in the prison of your mouths. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Through the remembrance of God your inward will be illuminated and you will achieve a degree of detachment from the world. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Addictions drain us of our willpower and tend to make cowards of us. Some people are addicted to having the remote control in their hand when they are watching television. Take it away from them, and their reaction will have addiction written all over it. Some people cannot survive, they think, without coffee first thing in the morning. Others are addicted to having everything in their house, office, and car exactly in the right place and perfectly tidy. Others are addicted to cigarettes. The point is, we all have addictions. We all have habits that enslave us. There are areas in our lives that have become out of control. Areas in our lives where external realities or illusions determine how we act or what we do. We all have areas of our lives where we are not masters of ourselves.
In the beginning, we form our habits. After a while, they begin to form us. If we do not conquer our bad habits, sooner or later they conquer us. What areas of your life have become out of control? From time to time, we all have to wrestle with different things. What are we wrestling with? You had better get rid of it, or it is going to get rid of you. That is the very nature of addiction. You are not wrestling for a can of coke or a piece of chocolate; you are wrestling for your very self. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Don't be simply good; be good for something. Don't waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good. We ought to do good to others as simply and as naturally as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne.
We have entrusted man with the care of his parents: his mother bore him, sapped and weakened, and his weaning takes two years: so be grateful to Me, and to your parents. The journey is to Me. [31: 14]
Hadith of the Day:
Learn to lock up your tongues in the prison of your mouths. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Through the remembrance of God your inward will be illuminated and you will achieve a degree of detachment from the world. [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
Addictions drain us of our willpower and tend to make cowards of us. Some people are addicted to having the remote control in their hand when they are watching television. Take it away from them, and their reaction will have addiction written all over it. Some people cannot survive, they think, without coffee first thing in the morning. Others are addicted to having everything in their house, office, and car exactly in the right place and perfectly tidy. Others are addicted to cigarettes. The point is, we all have addictions. We all have habits that enslave us. There are areas in our lives that have become out of control. Areas in our lives where external realities or illusions determine how we act or what we do. We all have areas of our lives where we are not masters of ourselves.
In the beginning, we form our habits. After a while, they begin to form us. If we do not conquer our bad habits, sooner or later they conquer us. What areas of your life have become out of control? From time to time, we all have to wrestle with different things. What are we wrestling with? You had better get rid of it, or it is going to get rid of you. That is the very nature of addiction. You are not wrestling for a can of coke or a piece of chocolate; you are wrestling for your very self. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Don't be simply good; be good for something. Don't waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good. We ought to do good to others as simply and as naturally as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 887
Ayah of the Day:
Remember how Luqman said to his son, admonishing him, "My son, don't associate anything with God, for idolatry is a tremendous error." [31: 13]
Hadith of the Day:
No one is truly faithful unless truth enters his heart, and truth does not penetrate the heart unless the tongue is truthful. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not keep company with anyone whose state does not inspire you and whose speech does not lead you to God. You might be in a bad state; then, your associating with one who is in a worse state makes you see virtue in yourself. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Addictions stifle our personal development. They prevent us from changing, growing, and becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. Deep within you there is a very strong desire to become your best self, and living out of that desire is the key. Desire is a great motivator. If you can see how overcoming the addiction will give you a richer, fuller life, and constantly remind yourself of this fact, your desire for a richer, fuller life will become greater than your desire for the addictive behavior. Any addiction we have in our lives is going to become an obstacle that will keep us from fulfilling essential purpose.
Addiction is not confined to areas such as alcohol, drugs, and gambling. The truth is, we all have addictions. Some of our addictions are large and serious problems; others are small and more minor issues. But whatever the addiction, the effect is the same. The great Spanish mystic and monk John of the Cross wrote: "Whether a bird is held by a chain or a thread, still it cannot fly." [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Repentance, without amendment, is like continually pumping without mending the leak. Repentance does not mean remorse. Repentance means giving up sin. You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too lake.
Remember how Luqman said to his son, admonishing him, "My son, don't associate anything with God, for idolatry is a tremendous error." [31: 13]
Hadith of the Day:
No one is truly faithful unless truth enters his heart, and truth does not penetrate the heart unless the tongue is truthful. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not keep company with anyone whose state does not inspire you and whose speech does not lead you to God. You might be in a bad state; then, your associating with one who is in a worse state makes you see virtue in yourself. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Addictions stifle our personal development. They prevent us from changing, growing, and becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. Deep within you there is a very strong desire to become your best self, and living out of that desire is the key. Desire is a great motivator. If you can see how overcoming the addiction will give you a richer, fuller life, and constantly remind yourself of this fact, your desire for a richer, fuller life will become greater than your desire for the addictive behavior. Any addiction we have in our lives is going to become an obstacle that will keep us from fulfilling essential purpose.
Addiction is not confined to areas such as alcohol, drugs, and gambling. The truth is, we all have addictions. Some of our addictions are large and serious problems; others are small and more minor issues. But whatever the addiction, the effect is the same. The great Spanish mystic and monk John of the Cross wrote: "Whether a bird is held by a chain or a thread, still it cannot fly." [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Repentance, without amendment, is like continually pumping without mending the leak. Repentance does not mean remorse. Repentance means giving up sin. You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too lake.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 886
Ayah of the Day:
We gave Luqman the wisdom to be grateful to God; and whoever is thankful gives thanks for the benefit of his own soul. And if anyone is ungrateful, well, God is free of all needs, worthy of all praise. [31: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
No one is truly a servant of God until he is able to watch his tongue. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The lower self dissuades from conforming to faith. The more the self is subdued, the easier it becomes to glorify God. When the ego is annihilated, worship becomes sustenance, just as it sustains the angels. [al-Hujwiri]
Guidance of the Day:
We are creatures of habit. It is simply the way we are made. The important thing is that once we have recognized this truth about ourselves, we should begin to use this self-knowledge to our advantage. The power of habits can be harnessed to help us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves, or the power of habits can be used to help us become a-second-rate-version-of-ourselves. It's the same power, but how we apply it to our lives can be radically different.
Addictions are acquired by practicing a certain type of behavior often and excessively. Character is acquired by practicing certain types of behavior often and excessively. We break addictions in the same way we form them. An addiction is a pattern of behavior. It is not enough merely to give up a certain type of self-destructive behavior. That simply does not work. We must crowd them out. In the place of self-destructive habit, we must plant a self-empowering habit. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Nothing is more powerful than habit. Character is simply habit long enough continued. Good habits which bring our lower passions and appetites under automatic control, leave our natures free to explore the larger experiences of life.
We gave Luqman the wisdom to be grateful to God; and whoever is thankful gives thanks for the benefit of his own soul. And if anyone is ungrateful, well, God is free of all needs, worthy of all praise. [31: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
No one is truly a servant of God until he is able to watch his tongue. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The lower self dissuades from conforming to faith. The more the self is subdued, the easier it becomes to glorify God. When the ego is annihilated, worship becomes sustenance, just as it sustains the angels. [al-Hujwiri]
Guidance of the Day:
We are creatures of habit. It is simply the way we are made. The important thing is that once we have recognized this truth about ourselves, we should begin to use this self-knowledge to our advantage. The power of habits can be harnessed to help us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves, or the power of habits can be used to help us become a-second-rate-version-of-ourselves. It's the same power, but how we apply it to our lives can be radically different.
Addictions are acquired by practicing a certain type of behavior often and excessively. Character is acquired by practicing certain types of behavior often and excessively. We break addictions in the same way we form them. An addiction is a pattern of behavior. It is not enough merely to give up a certain type of self-destructive behavior. That simply does not work. We must crowd them out. In the place of self-destructive habit, we must plant a self-empowering habit. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Nothing is more powerful than habit. Character is simply habit long enough continued. Good habits which bring our lower passions and appetites under automatic control, leave our natures free to explore the larger experiences of life.
Monday, July 09, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 885
Ayahs of the Day:
He is the one who created the skies without supports that you can see, and set unshakable mountains on earth lest it quake with you all, and dispersed every kind of animal thereon. And We have showered water from the sky, propagating every precious species on earth. This is the creation of God: now show me what anyone else has created. No, the oppressors are in obvious error. [31: 10,11]
Hadith of the Day:
Every morning when a person wakes up the whole body begs the tongue, "Fear God for our sake, for our salvation depends upon you! If you are true, we will be truthful. If you are false, we are doomed." [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A man's intellect becomes apparent from his speech; as does his character from the goodness of his action. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Addiction is an increasing desire for an act which gives less and less satisfaction. If you think you are addicted to something, there is only one way to find out. They say twenty-eight days is the critical period for breaking addictions. The only way to know if you are free is to say no. Give it up. If you can, you are not addicted. If you cannot go without it, whatever it is for you, then there is a good chance you are addicted.
We all have addictions. Some are much more serious than an addiction to chocolate, but the effect is the same. Addictions weaken the will, which in turn weaken our character, which weakens our ability to choose the-best-version-of-ourselves in the moments of our days. Every area of life is weakened by addiction. Addiction is simply the result of taking the path of least resistance. Too often we live by the mottoes "If it feels good, do it!" In doing so, we begin to form certain habits. In forming these habits, we become addicted to certain patterns of behavior that are ultimately self-destructive. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
When you squeeze an orange you get orange juice because that's what's inside. The very same principle is true about you. When someone squeezes you------puts pressure on you-------what comes out is what's inside. And if you don't like what's inside you can change it by changing your thoughts.
He is the one who created the skies without supports that you can see, and set unshakable mountains on earth lest it quake with you all, and dispersed every kind of animal thereon. And We have showered water from the sky, propagating every precious species on earth. This is the creation of God: now show me what anyone else has created. No, the oppressors are in obvious error. [31: 10,11]
Hadith of the Day:
Every morning when a person wakes up the whole body begs the tongue, "Fear God for our sake, for our salvation depends upon you! If you are true, we will be truthful. If you are false, we are doomed." [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A man's intellect becomes apparent from his speech; as does his character from the goodness of his action. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
Addiction is an increasing desire for an act which gives less and less satisfaction. If you think you are addicted to something, there is only one way to find out. They say twenty-eight days is the critical period for breaking addictions. The only way to know if you are free is to say no. Give it up. If you can, you are not addicted. If you cannot go without it, whatever it is for you, then there is a good chance you are addicted.
We all have addictions. Some are much more serious than an addiction to chocolate, but the effect is the same. Addictions weaken the will, which in turn weaken our character, which weakens our ability to choose the-best-version-of-ourselves in the moments of our days. Every area of life is weakened by addiction. Addiction is simply the result of taking the path of least resistance. Too often we live by the mottoes "If it feels good, do it!" In doing so, we begin to form certain habits. In forming these habits, we become addicted to certain patterns of behavior that are ultimately self-destructive. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
When you squeeze an orange you get orange juice because that's what's inside. The very same principle is true about you. When someone squeezes you------puts pressure on you-------what comes out is what's inside. And if you don't like what's inside you can change it by changing your thoughts.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 884
Ayahs of the Day:
As for those who have faith and do good works, for them there are gardens of felicity, wherein they will abide, as a promise of God, which is true; as God is the almighty, the supreme wise. [31: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
The best thing a person can do to gain God's approval is to watch the tongue. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
No work would be more highly rewarded on the Day of judgment than"bringing happiness to the human heart." [Nizamuddin Awliya]
Guidance of the Day:
The human spirit has extraordinary abilities and was created to soar. There is nothing more devastating than the stifling of the human spirit. Addictions take a grip on us from within. They suck the strength from our will and render us useless in any worthwhile cause. People who are enslaved by addictions have a weak will. Their mind is plagued by doubts, fears, and all manner of negative thoughts. They have no self-control and are not capable of taking the initiative. Those who are paralyzed by addiction follow sheepishly wherever the flock leads. And they will do anything to avoid taking a good, long, hard look at themselves.
Quite the opposite is the man who is free. The free man or woman is quietly confident and peaceful. Aware of both his strengths and weaknesses, he seeks self-analysis to improve himself. She is a woman of integrity, and her word is better than a signed contract. His mind is constantly filled with gratitude, appreciation, and all manner of positive thoughts. She is a leader who is prepared to take the initiative. He is a man of character, self-control, and firm will. She lives by bringing happiness to other people's lives. Are you free? [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Piety is the foundation of all virtues. It is a silver chain uniting heaven and earth, temporal and spiritual, God and man together. All is vanity which is not honest, and there is no solid wisdom but in true piety. Every thought which genius and piety throw into the world, alters the world.
As for those who have faith and do good works, for them there are gardens of felicity, wherein they will abide, as a promise of God, which is true; as God is the almighty, the supreme wise. [31: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
The best thing a person can do to gain God's approval is to watch the tongue. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
No work would be more highly rewarded on the Day of judgment than"bringing happiness to the human heart." [Nizamuddin Awliya]
Guidance of the Day:
The human spirit has extraordinary abilities and was created to soar. There is nothing more devastating than the stifling of the human spirit. Addictions take a grip on us from within. They suck the strength from our will and render us useless in any worthwhile cause. People who are enslaved by addictions have a weak will. Their mind is plagued by doubts, fears, and all manner of negative thoughts. They have no self-control and are not capable of taking the initiative. Those who are paralyzed by addiction follow sheepishly wherever the flock leads. And they will do anything to avoid taking a good, long, hard look at themselves.
Quite the opposite is the man who is free. The free man or woman is quietly confident and peaceful. Aware of both his strengths and weaknesses, he seeks self-analysis to improve himself. She is a woman of integrity, and her word is better than a signed contract. His mind is constantly filled with gratitude, appreciation, and all manner of positive thoughts. She is a leader who is prepared to take the initiative. He is a man of character, self-control, and firm will. She lives by bringing happiness to other people's lives. Are you free? [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Piety is the foundation of all virtues. It is a silver chain uniting heaven and earth, temporal and spiritual, God and man together. All is vanity which is not honest, and there is no solid wisdom but in true piety. Every thought which genius and piety throw into the world, alters the world.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 883
Ayah of the Day:
When Our signs are read to one of them, he turns away arrogantly, as if he hadn't heard, as if there were deafness in his ears; so announce a painful penalty to him. [31: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who asks God for forgiveness of his sins yet continues sinning is mocking his Lord. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The best means for the slave to reach his Master is by being constantly in need of Him in all states, adhering to the sunna in all deeds, and seeking his sustenance in lawful manner. [Abu Hafs]
Guidance of the Day:
In a day and age where there is little real threat of our freedom being attacked by foreign forces, we have become slaves. The threat is not foreign, but local. Internal. We have become our own worst enemies. The people of these modern times have become slaves to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, violence, shopping. . . Our slavery is the result of a complex of addictions that we often refuse to acknowledge or challenge. These addictions attack and take over not only our bodies, but also our minds, spirits, and checkbooks.
Addiction is the enemy of self-discipline. Addiction is the enemy of freedom. Addiction robs us of self-discipline, freedom, and indeed our very dignity. Our lives and times are plagued and characterized by innumerable addictions. We are addicted, and inasmuch as we are addicted, we are slaves. The foundation of great nations is freedom. The foundation of freedom is not strength, but character. The foundation of character is discipline. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Be such a man, and live such a life,
That if every man were such as you,
And every life a life like yours,
This earth would be God's Paradise.
When Our signs are read to one of them, he turns away arrogantly, as if he hadn't heard, as if there were deafness in his ears; so announce a painful penalty to him. [31: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who asks God for forgiveness of his sins yet continues sinning is mocking his Lord. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The best means for the slave to reach his Master is by being constantly in need of Him in all states, adhering to the sunna in all deeds, and seeking his sustenance in lawful manner. [Abu Hafs]
Guidance of the Day:
In a day and age where there is little real threat of our freedom being attacked by foreign forces, we have become slaves. The threat is not foreign, but local. Internal. We have become our own worst enemies. The people of these modern times have become slaves to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, violence, shopping. . . Our slavery is the result of a complex of addictions that we often refuse to acknowledge or challenge. These addictions attack and take over not only our bodies, but also our minds, spirits, and checkbooks.
Addiction is the enemy of self-discipline. Addiction is the enemy of freedom. Addiction robs us of self-discipline, freedom, and indeed our very dignity. Our lives and times are plagued and characterized by innumerable addictions. We are addicted, and inasmuch as we are addicted, we are slaves. The foundation of great nations is freedom. The foundation of freedom is not strength, but character. The foundation of character is discipline. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Be such a man, and live such a life,
That if every man were such as you,
And every life a life like yours,
This earth would be God's Paradise.
Friday, July 06, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 882
Ayah of the Day:
There are some people who vend amusing tales to lead astray from the way of God in the absence of knowledge, making a joke of it; there is a degrading punishment in store for them. [31: 6]
Hadith of the Day:
A person is together with the one he loves in this world and in the Hereafter. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Fear and hope are two pillars of faith. Those who fear devote themselves to God through fear of separation from Him, and those who hope worship in hope of realizing the ultimate union. [al-Razi]
Guidance of the Day:
Self-discipline is the foundation of freedom. This self-discipline, this mastery of self, is acquired only by the practice of self-denial and is acquired always from within. Discipline can never be imposed upon a person; it must emerge from within a person. Self-discipline is the foundation of greatness, achievement, success, heroism, leadership, sanctity, and vibrant and flourishing communities and nations. There is no liberty where there is no self-discipline.
If you examine the lives of men and women who have achieved little or nothing with their lives, people who are miserable, mean, and dispassionate, you will discover that it was not other people who destroyed their lives. Destruction always comes from within. It is true for a nation, and it is true for people. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Know that it is good to work. Work with love and think of liking it when you do it. Good for body is the work of the body, good for the soul is the work of the soul, and good for either is the work of the other.
There are some people who vend amusing tales to lead astray from the way of God in the absence of knowledge, making a joke of it; there is a degrading punishment in store for them. [31: 6]
Hadith of the Day:
A person is together with the one he loves in this world and in the Hereafter. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Fear and hope are two pillars of faith. Those who fear devote themselves to God through fear of separation from Him, and those who hope worship in hope of realizing the ultimate union. [al-Razi]
Guidance of the Day:
Self-discipline is the foundation of freedom. This self-discipline, this mastery of self, is acquired only by the practice of self-denial and is acquired always from within. Discipline can never be imposed upon a person; it must emerge from within a person. Self-discipline is the foundation of greatness, achievement, success, heroism, leadership, sanctity, and vibrant and flourishing communities and nations. There is no liberty where there is no self-discipline.
If you examine the lives of men and women who have achieved little or nothing with their lives, people who are miserable, mean, and dispassionate, you will discover that it was not other people who destroyed their lives. Destruction always comes from within. It is true for a nation, and it is true for people. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Know that it is good to work. Work with love and think of liking it when you do it. Good for body is the work of the body, good for the soul is the work of the soul, and good for either is the work of the other.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 881
Ayahs of the Day:
These are signs of the Book full of wisdom, guidance and mercy for those who do good, those who pray regularly and give alms and who are certain of the Hereafter. They are following guidance from their Lord, and they are the ones who thrive. [31: 2,3,4,5]
Hadith of the Day:
A person is united with the people he loves. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is better that the injustices of others stand than that our own injustices should stand. [Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
Freedom is the corner stone of all great nations. Freedom is the pinnacle of spirituality. And freedom is the most basic and essential human right. What is freedom? Freedom is viewed as the power, the strength, or merely the convenience to choose. This notion is false.
Freedom is not simply the circumstances that allow you to do whatever you want. Freedom is not only the opportunity to choose. Freedom is the strength of character to choose and to do what is right. With this in mind, ours is not an age of freedom, but an age of slavery. It is subtle, but it is real. The foundation of freedom is not power or choice. Freedom is upheld not by men and women in government, but by people who govern themselves. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To expect life to be tailored to our specifications is to invite frustrations. The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering. People are lucky and unlucky according to the ratio between what they get and what they have been led to expect.
These are signs of the Book full of wisdom, guidance and mercy for those who do good, those who pray regularly and give alms and who are certain of the Hereafter. They are following guidance from their Lord, and they are the ones who thrive. [31: 2,3,4,5]
Hadith of the Day:
A person is united with the people he loves. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is better that the injustices of others stand than that our own injustices should stand. [Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
Freedom is the corner stone of all great nations. Freedom is the pinnacle of spirituality. And freedom is the most basic and essential human right. What is freedom? Freedom is viewed as the power, the strength, or merely the convenience to choose. This notion is false.
Freedom is not simply the circumstances that allow you to do whatever you want. Freedom is not only the opportunity to choose. Freedom is the strength of character to choose and to do what is right. With this in mind, ours is not an age of freedom, but an age of slavery. It is subtle, but it is real. The foundation of freedom is not power or choice. Freedom is upheld not by men and women in government, but by people who govern themselves. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To expect life to be tailored to our specifications is to invite frustrations. The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering. People are lucky and unlucky according to the ratio between what they get and what they have been led to expect.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 880
Ayahs of the Day:
We have presented to people every pattern in this Recital. But even if you bring them a sign, the scoffers will surely say you are only a faker. Thus does God seal the hearts of those who do not know. So be patient, for the promise of God is true; don't let the uncertain make you reckless. [30: 58,59,60]
Hadith of the Day:
One of the signs of faith is to love God's creation, not because one benefits from the beloved, but because one loves for God's sake. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Allah's commands are not irrational taboos, but based on the moral law. And conformable to reason. His way is the straight way of justice, and truth. In unity and faith must we dedicate all our life to His service, and His alone, to whom we shall return. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Do not ask, "What is the least I can do?"; rather, in every situation, ask yourself, "What is the most I can do?" If you are willing, this one question will introduce you to your better self and change your life forever. Somewhere right now, someone is training for the next Olympic games. Can you imagine an Olympic athlete asking him/herself, "What is the least I can do and still win the gold medal?" Champions don't take shortcuts. Champions give everything they have to training, preparation, and competition. That is what makes them champions. On the day of competition, the day that really counts, every shortcut taken in training comes to haunt the athlete.
Your character is your destiny. Building character is a task only for the brave and dedicated. There are no shortcuts when it comes to building character. If you wish to cure minimalism in your own life, to develop a complete commitment to excellence and an absolute rejection of mediocrity, the question you need to start asking yourself is, "What is the most I can do?" Give this question a permanent place in your inner dialogue, and you will be well on the way to achieving your dreams and becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
You can be discouraged by failure-----or you can learn from it. Mistakes can be a valuable part of life's curriculum. Accidents, failures, and mistakes can often lead us to our greatest successes and open us to our true interests. An "F" in the subject of life doesn't just stand for failure. It can also stand for fun, flow, find, finish-----and more.
We have presented to people every pattern in this Recital. But even if you bring them a sign, the scoffers will surely say you are only a faker. Thus does God seal the hearts of those who do not know. So be patient, for the promise of God is true; don't let the uncertain make you reckless. [30: 58,59,60]
Hadith of the Day:
One of the signs of faith is to love God's creation, not because one benefits from the beloved, but because one loves for God's sake. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Allah's commands are not irrational taboos, but based on the moral law. And conformable to reason. His way is the straight way of justice, and truth. In unity and faith must we dedicate all our life to His service, and His alone, to whom we shall return. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Do not ask, "What is the least I can do?"; rather, in every situation, ask yourself, "What is the most I can do?" If you are willing, this one question will introduce you to your better self and change your life forever. Somewhere right now, someone is training for the next Olympic games. Can you imagine an Olympic athlete asking him/herself, "What is the least I can do and still win the gold medal?" Champions don't take shortcuts. Champions give everything they have to training, preparation, and competition. That is what makes them champions. On the day of competition, the day that really counts, every shortcut taken in training comes to haunt the athlete.
Your character is your destiny. Building character is a task only for the brave and dedicated. There are no shortcuts when it comes to building character. If you wish to cure minimalism in your own life, to develop a complete commitment to excellence and an absolute rejection of mediocrity, the question you need to start asking yourself is, "What is the most I can do?" Give this question a permanent place in your inner dialogue, and you will be well on the way to achieving your dreams and becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
You can be discouraged by failure-----or you can learn from it. Mistakes can be a valuable part of life's curriculum. Accidents, failures, and mistakes can often lead us to our greatest successes and open us to our true interests. An "F" in the subject of life doesn't just stand for failure. It can also stand for fun, flow, find, finish-----and more.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 879
Ayahs of the Day:
And on the day of the end of time, the sinners will swear they had stayed but an hour-------that is how they were deceived. But those to whom knowledge and faith were given will say, "you actually stayed until the day of resurrection, according to the contract of God: now this is the day of resurrection, though you did not know." On that day the excuse of those who did wrong will not profit them, nor will their plea be admitted. [30: 55,56,57]
Hadith of the Day:
The best a man can do is to love for God's sake and hate for God's sake. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If you are a lover of Allah, you must always and everywhere prefer God's words to the words of men. If you love Him be with Him and find Him in yourself. Be ever in search of His pleasure and desirous of His beauty. [Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Guidance of the Day:
Minimalism breeds mediocrity. It is the destroyer of passion. Minimalism is one of the greatest character diseases of our time. It is the enemy of excellence and a cancer on society. It is born from lack of passion for the things we do. Wherever you find people doing things that they are not passionate about, you will find minimalism.
The effects of minimalism are many. It eats away the character of a person. The minimalist suffers from dreadfully low self-esteem. His low self-esteem is not the result of failure, but the consequence of not even trying. He doesn't strive to excel; he strives to survive. He forgets that it takes just as much energy to avoid excellence as it does to achieve excellence. A person gripped by the mind-set of minimalism becomes very self-seeking and contributes little to the common good of his community or society. The minimalist just goes through the motions. He is a prisoner and victim of the day-to-day drudgery that stifles the greatness of the human spirit. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
And on the day of the end of time, the sinners will swear they had stayed but an hour-------that is how they were deceived. But those to whom knowledge and faith were given will say, "you actually stayed until the day of resurrection, according to the contract of God: now this is the day of resurrection, though you did not know." On that day the excuse of those who did wrong will not profit them, nor will their plea be admitted. [30: 55,56,57]
Hadith of the Day:
The best a man can do is to love for God's sake and hate for God's sake. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If you are a lover of Allah, you must always and everywhere prefer God's words to the words of men. If you love Him be with Him and find Him in yourself. Be ever in search of His pleasure and desirous of His beauty. [Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Guidance of the Day:
Minimalism breeds mediocrity. It is the destroyer of passion. Minimalism is one of the greatest character diseases of our time. It is the enemy of excellence and a cancer on society. It is born from lack of passion for the things we do. Wherever you find people doing things that they are not passionate about, you will find minimalism.
The effects of minimalism are many. It eats away the character of a person. The minimalist suffers from dreadfully low self-esteem. His low self-esteem is not the result of failure, but the consequence of not even trying. He doesn't strive to excel; he strives to survive. He forgets that it takes just as much energy to avoid excellence as it does to achieve excellence. A person gripped by the mind-set of minimalism becomes very self-seeking and contributes little to the common good of his community or society. The minimalist just goes through the motions. He is a prisoner and victim of the day-to-day drudgery that stifles the greatness of the human spirit. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
Monday, July 02, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 878
Ayah of the Day:
God is the one who created you in weakness, then put strength after weakness, then put frailty and old age after strength. God creates what God wills, being the Omniscient, the All-Powerful. [30: 54]
Hadith of the Day:
As your appointed time of death follows you all through your life, so does your God-allotted sustenance. [Ibn Hibban]
Wise Quote of the Day:
People praise you for what they suppose is in you, but you must blame your soul for what you know is in you. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Very often our old habits get in the way, and, to a certain extent, can prevent us from choosing happiness. These habits may manifest as eating too much, drinking too much, watching television instead of exercising, hanging out with the wrong crowd, or any number of behaviors that cause us to become a-lesser-version-of-ourselves. But they all begin as habits of the mind. If we want our lives to change, we must first examine and alter our mind habits.
The enemy of excellence is minimalism. One of the greatest obstacles to achieving our dreams, becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves, and embracing our destiny is minimalism. Consciously or unconsciously, the minimalist is always asking, "What is the least I can do?" Minimalism is a mind -set, a habit of the mind that can affect any area of our lives. The litany of the minimalist is never ending. What is the least I can do and still keep my job? What is the least I can do and still get reasonable grades in school? What is the least I can do to stay physically fit? What is the least I can do and still get to heaven? The minimalist wants the fruit of a certain toil but does not want to toil. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To know what has to be done, then do it, comprises the whole of philosophy of practical life. The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. In putting off what one has to do, one runs the risk of never being able to do it. Procrastination is opportunity's assassin.
God is the one who created you in weakness, then put strength after weakness, then put frailty and old age after strength. God creates what God wills, being the Omniscient, the All-Powerful. [30: 54]
Hadith of the Day:
As your appointed time of death follows you all through your life, so does your God-allotted sustenance. [Ibn Hibban]
Wise Quote of the Day:
People praise you for what they suppose is in you, but you must blame your soul for what you know is in you. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Very often our old habits get in the way, and, to a certain extent, can prevent us from choosing happiness. These habits may manifest as eating too much, drinking too much, watching television instead of exercising, hanging out with the wrong crowd, or any number of behaviors that cause us to become a-lesser-version-of-ourselves. But they all begin as habits of the mind. If we want our lives to change, we must first examine and alter our mind habits.
The enemy of excellence is minimalism. One of the greatest obstacles to achieving our dreams, becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves, and embracing our destiny is minimalism. Consciously or unconsciously, the minimalist is always asking, "What is the least I can do?" Minimalism is a mind -set, a habit of the mind that can affect any area of our lives. The litany of the minimalist is never ending. What is the least I can do and still keep my job? What is the least I can do and still get reasonable grades in school? What is the least I can do to stay physically fit? What is the least I can do and still get to heaven? The minimalist wants the fruit of a certain toil but does not want to toil. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To know what has to be done, then do it, comprises the whole of philosophy of practical life. The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. In putting off what one has to do, one runs the risk of never being able to do it. Procrastination is opportunity's assassin.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 877
Ayahs of the Day:
You can't make the dead hear; and you cannot make the deaf hear the call when they turn away. And you cannot guide the blind out of their wandering astray. The only ones you can get to hear are those who believe in Our signs and who acquiesce. [30: 52,53]
Hadith of the Day:
If you truly believed and trusted God, He would feed you as He feeds the birds. The birds that are hungry in the morning are all fed by the evening: only God knows how. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Have courtesy with God, by hastening to fulfill His commands, and by being wary of the subtle encroachment of bad manner. [Imam al-Mawlud]
Guidance of the Day:
Visualize particular ways of acting in certain situations. Imagine a situation with a certain person where you are normally impatient. Visualize the perfect way to respond to that person, over and over again in the empty moments of the day, and before too long you will begin to respond to that person in the way you have imagined. All great change is first an idea in our minds. The first expression of every great achievement in history has been in the wonder of the imagination. Visualize the changes you wish to achieve. If you do not, you will not.
The being of something changeable consists not only of what it is, but also of what it still can be-------that is its potential. So, as a person you consist not only of who you are now, but also of who you are capable of becoming at any moment in the future. It is the vision of the potential within us that leads us to become-the-best-version-of-ourselves. Recognize your potential. You already have everything within you that you need to make this journey. Life is choices. Choose the best-version-of-yourself in each moment. Choose happiness. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
If you want to succeed, you must make your own opportunities as you go. A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. Every man is the architect of his own fortune. The brave man carves out his fortune, and every man is the sum of his own works. If a man wants his dreams to come true, he must wake up.
You can't make the dead hear; and you cannot make the deaf hear the call when they turn away. And you cannot guide the blind out of their wandering astray. The only ones you can get to hear are those who believe in Our signs and who acquiesce. [30: 52,53]
Hadith of the Day:
If you truly believed and trusted God, He would feed you as He feeds the birds. The birds that are hungry in the morning are all fed by the evening: only God knows how. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Have courtesy with God, by hastening to fulfill His commands, and by being wary of the subtle encroachment of bad manner. [Imam al-Mawlud]
Guidance of the Day:
Visualize particular ways of acting in certain situations. Imagine a situation with a certain person where you are normally impatient. Visualize the perfect way to respond to that person, over and over again in the empty moments of the day, and before too long you will begin to respond to that person in the way you have imagined. All great change is first an idea in our minds. The first expression of every great achievement in history has been in the wonder of the imagination. Visualize the changes you wish to achieve. If you do not, you will not.
The being of something changeable consists not only of what it is, but also of what it still can be-------that is its potential. So, as a person you consist not only of who you are now, but also of who you are capable of becoming at any moment in the future. It is the vision of the potential within us that leads us to become-the-best-version-of-ourselves. Recognize your potential. You already have everything within you that you need to make this journey. Life is choices. Choose the best-version-of-yourself in each moment. Choose happiness. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
If you want to succeed, you must make your own opportunities as you go. A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. Every man is the architect of his own fortune. The brave man carves out his fortune, and every man is the sum of his own works. If a man wants his dreams to come true, he must wake up.
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