Ayahs of the Day:
And what We have revealed to you by inspiration from the Book is the truth, verifying what preceded it; for God knows and sees everyone. We bequeathed scripture to those of Our servants We chose; but some of them oppress their own souls, while some of them are moderate, and some of them are in the forefront in good deeds, by God's leave; that is the great blessing. [35: 31,32]
Hadith of the Day:
It is sufficient to eat enough to enable you to stand on your feet. If you feel obliged to eat more, reserve one third of your stomach for food, one third for water, and one third for air. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The hypocrite looks for faults of others; the believer looks for excuses. [Imam al Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
The most dominant emotion today in our modern society is fear. We are afraid. Afraid of losing the things we have worked hard to buy, afraid of rejection and failure, afraid of certain parts of town, afraid of certain types of people, afraid of criticism, afraid of suffering and heartache, afraid of change, afraid to tell people how we really feel. . . We are afraid of so many things. We are even afraid to be ourselves.
Some of these fears we are consciously aware of, while others exist subconsciously. But these fears can play a very large role in directing the actions and activities of our lives. Fear has a tendency to imprison us. Fear stops more people from doing something with their lives than lack of ability, contacts, resources, or any other single variable. Fear paralyzes the human spirit.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the acquired ability to move beyond fear. Each day we must pass through the jungles of doubt and cross the valley of fear. For it is only then that we can live in the high places------on the peaks of courage. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The one important thing to be understood is the difference between taking one's work seriously, and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second is disastrous.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 943
Ayahs of the Day:
As for those who recite the Book of God and celebrate prayer and give of what We have provided them, secretly and openly, then intend an exchange that will not be fruitless, as God will pay them their due and more, from the bounty divine, for God is most forgiving, more appreciative. [35: 29,30]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who gambles is revolting against God and His messenger. It is as if his hands are covered by the guts and blood of swine. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Make mankind's looking at you disappear by being content with God's looking at you! Slip away from their approach to you by contemplating His approach to you! [Ibn Ata'Illah]
Guidance of the Day:
Rhythm or no rhythm, life isn't always easy. Sometimes I find myself desirously happy. Life isn't always lived on the mountain tops of the world. Sometimes we find ourselves in the valleys of fear and doubt or in the abyss of suffering and loneliness. At those times it is easy to become discouraged, to abandon the way, to let the critics get you down.
Everything in life requires courage. Whether it is playing football or coaching football; starting a new business, battling a potentially fatal disease, getting married, struggling to overcome an addiction, or coming humbly before your God in prayer----life takes courage. Courage is essential to the human experience. Courage animates us, brings us to life, and makes everything else possible. Yet courage is the rarest quality in a human person. Be certain of one thing: The measure of your life will be the measure of your courage. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The decision to do right lives fresh and fragrant in our memory. It is a story we will be proud to tell our friends and grandchildren. When deed speaks, words are nothing. A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.
As for those who recite the Book of God and celebrate prayer and give of what We have provided them, secretly and openly, then intend an exchange that will not be fruitless, as God will pay them their due and more, from the bounty divine, for God is most forgiving, more appreciative. [35: 29,30]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who gambles is revolting against God and His messenger. It is as if his hands are covered by the guts and blood of swine. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Make mankind's looking at you disappear by being content with God's looking at you! Slip away from their approach to you by contemplating His approach to you! [Ibn Ata'Illah]
Guidance of the Day:
Rhythm or no rhythm, life isn't always easy. Sometimes I find myself desirously happy. Life isn't always lived on the mountain tops of the world. Sometimes we find ourselves in the valleys of fear and doubt or in the abyss of suffering and loneliness. At those times it is easy to become discouraged, to abandon the way, to let the critics get you down.
Everything in life requires courage. Whether it is playing football or coaching football; starting a new business, battling a potentially fatal disease, getting married, struggling to overcome an addiction, or coming humbly before your God in prayer----life takes courage. Courage is essential to the human experience. Courage animates us, brings us to life, and makes everything else possible. Yet courage is the rarest quality in a human person. Be certain of one thing: The measure of your life will be the measure of your courage. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The decision to do right lives fresh and fragrant in our memory. It is a story we will be proud to tell our friends and grandchildren. When deed speaks, words are nothing. A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.
Friday, October 26, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 942
Ayahs of the Day:
Haven't they seen that God sends rain from the sky? We then produce thereby fruits of various colors. And in the mountains are streaks of white and red, varying in their hue, and deepest black. And among humans, and the creatures that crawl, and animals-----they differ in their colors, in the same way. The one's among God's servants who are in awe of God are the knowledgeable; for God is almighty, forgiving. [35: 27,28]
Hadith of the Day:
Do not frighten your brother in faith in any way. To cause stress for your brother incurs serious blame. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Be fearful lest the existence of His generosity towards you and the permanence of your bad behavior towards Him not lead you step by step to ruin. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
What holds our lives together? Rhythm. Rest and pauses are as important in great lives as activity. It is natural for us to want a better world for our children to grow up in. We must recognize that achieving great change for the common good takes a long time. Those working for the good are not in a hurry. They are patient, they are wise. They do all they can to bring on this good without losing the rhythm of life themselves. They never sacrifice the rhythm.
You must find the rhythm, your rhythm. The rhythm that connects you with the rest of creation in harmony and peace. The rhythm that most effectively allows the grace of God to work within your life. The rhythm that allows you to find that sacred balance that gives you strength, courage, and confidence to be yourself. The rhythm that leads you along the path of growth and perfection. The rhythm of life that unveils and fulfills you legitimate needs. The rhythm of life is a powerful thing. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
There is only one way to bring up a child in a way he should go, and that is to travel that way yourself. It is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.
Haven't they seen that God sends rain from the sky? We then produce thereby fruits of various colors. And in the mountains are streaks of white and red, varying in their hue, and deepest black. And among humans, and the creatures that crawl, and animals-----they differ in their colors, in the same way. The one's among God's servants who are in awe of God are the knowledgeable; for God is almighty, forgiving. [35: 27,28]
Hadith of the Day:
Do not frighten your brother in faith in any way. To cause stress for your brother incurs serious blame. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Be fearful lest the existence of His generosity towards you and the permanence of your bad behavior towards Him not lead you step by step to ruin. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
What holds our lives together? Rhythm. Rest and pauses are as important in great lives as activity. It is natural for us to want a better world for our children to grow up in. We must recognize that achieving great change for the common good takes a long time. Those working for the good are not in a hurry. They are patient, they are wise. They do all they can to bring on this good without losing the rhythm of life themselves. They never sacrifice the rhythm.
You must find the rhythm, your rhythm. The rhythm that connects you with the rest of creation in harmony and peace. The rhythm that most effectively allows the grace of God to work within your life. The rhythm that allows you to find that sacred balance that gives you strength, courage, and confidence to be yourself. The rhythm that leads you along the path of growth and perfection. The rhythm of life that unveils and fulfills you legitimate needs. The rhythm of life is a powerful thing. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
There is only one way to bring up a child in a way he should go, and that is to travel that way yourself. It is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 941
Ayahs of the Day:
You are only a warner; for We sent you with the truth, as a herald and a warner. And there was never a people among whom a warner never passed. [35: 23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
The beauty of Islam shows in the face of one who keeps silent about things he does not know and that do not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Pondering over the Qur'an, du'a at the time of dawn and abstention from sins is the key for reviving the heart. [Allama Ibn al-Qayyim]
Guidance of the Day:
Tell me what you love and I will tell you who you are. What you fall in love with determines everything. Our desire to love and be loved never rests. Though we may sleep, our desire to love never does. It is as constant as our very breathing-------and as necessary. Our true identity is deeply intertwined with this desire and ability to love.
We cannot live without love. Without love there is no joy, excitement, passion, or satisfaction in life. You cannot live without love for yourself. You cannot live without love for your God. You cannot live without love for your neighbor. You can try, but you will end up bitter and miserable. And the bitterness and misery will kill you in the end. You will appear to be alive, but in truth you will be dying. You cannot live without love. Love or perish; there is no other choice. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
What lies before us and what lies beyond us is tiny compared to what lies within us. The more faithfully we listen to the voice within us, the better we will hear what is sounding outside. Only he who listens can speak.
You are only a warner; for We sent you with the truth, as a herald and a warner. And there was never a people among whom a warner never passed. [35: 23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
The beauty of Islam shows in the face of one who keeps silent about things he does not know and that do not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Pondering over the Qur'an, du'a at the time of dawn and abstention from sins is the key for reviving the heart. [Allama Ibn al-Qayyim]
Guidance of the Day:
Tell me what you love and I will tell you who you are. What you fall in love with determines everything. Our desire to love and be loved never rests. Though we may sleep, our desire to love never does. It is as constant as our very breathing-------and as necessary. Our true identity is deeply intertwined with this desire and ability to love.
We cannot live without love. Without love there is no joy, excitement, passion, or satisfaction in life. You cannot live without love for yourself. You cannot live without love for your God. You cannot live without love for your neighbor. You can try, but you will end up bitter and miserable. And the bitterness and misery will kill you in the end. You will appear to be alive, but in truth you will be dying. You cannot live without love. Love or perish; there is no other choice. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
What lies before us and what lies beyond us is tiny compared to what lies within us. The more faithfully we listen to the voice within us, the better we will hear what is sounding outside. Only he who listens can speak.
Monday, October 22, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 940
Ayahs of the Day:
The blind and the seeing are not equal, nor are the darknesses and the light, nor are the cool and the heat. And the living and the dead are not the same: God may cause anyone to hear, at will, but you cannot cause those in the tombs to hear. [35: 19 to 22]
Hadith of the Day:
The fall one takes when one's tongue slips is much worse than the fall one takes when one's foot slips. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Perfecting one's intellect causes one to speak less, and those words spoken will be adorned with wisdom. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
The people you love will not always be near you. Love them. Seize the opportunity. The most wonderful thing about love is that it is highly contagious. Love demands a response. Love determines the response. Love begets love. Here's a simple example. If you are walking down the street and you smile at someone coming in the opposite direction, what will happen? Usually he smiles back. But in the event he does not smile back, and the next day you see him again and smile again, then what happens? Eventually he smiles back. Love demands a response. Your love sets off a reaction, a ripple effect. Love begets love.
If you have bought into the modern definition of success---------"getting what you want out of life"------you have probably alienated yourself from the most important reality and truth of life. Love is a free gift. We sacrifice love for so-called progress. We sacrifice love for so-called success. We sacrifice love for so-called more important things-----no such things exist. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
The blind and the seeing are not equal, nor are the darknesses and the light, nor are the cool and the heat. And the living and the dead are not the same: God may cause anyone to hear, at will, but you cannot cause those in the tombs to hear. [35: 19 to 22]
Hadith of the Day:
The fall one takes when one's tongue slips is much worse than the fall one takes when one's foot slips. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Perfecting one's intellect causes one to speak less, and those words spoken will be adorned with wisdom. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
The people you love will not always be near you. Love them. Seize the opportunity. The most wonderful thing about love is that it is highly contagious. Love demands a response. Love determines the response. Love begets love. Here's a simple example. If you are walking down the street and you smile at someone coming in the opposite direction, what will happen? Usually he smiles back. But in the event he does not smile back, and the next day you see him again and smile again, then what happens? Eventually he smiles back. Love demands a response. Your love sets off a reaction, a ripple effect. Love begets love.
If you have bought into the modern definition of success---------"getting what you want out of life"------you have probably alienated yourself from the most important reality and truth of life. Love is a free gift. We sacrifice love for so-called progress. We sacrifice love for so-called success. We sacrifice love for so-called more important things-----no such things exist. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Friday, October 19, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 939
Ayah of the Day:
No one can bear the burden of another; even if one weighed down calls for help with his burden, nothing will be lifted from him, even be he a close relative. You can only warn those who inwardly fear their Lord and regularly pray. Yet whoever purifies himself purifies himself for his own soul alone; and the destination is to God. [35: 18]
Hadith of the Day:
The best of you are those who are slow to anger and swift to cool down. Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendents of Adam. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Your desire that people know your particular distinction is a proof of insincerity in your servanthood. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the Day:
The question is, "What do we love?"
You can choose not to love the right things, but you cannot choose not to love. We all love-------we cannot help but love, for that is what we were created for. Love is what gives meaning to our lives. Love is the direction of our lives. What you love and what captivates your imagination determines how you live your life. Love is our greatest desire, our greatest need, our greatest talent, and our greatest yearning. Love is our identity. Until we love, we never truly know who we are. Love is natural, original, and spontaneous. Love is power.
If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world. We hold back the infinite power of love because when it is released---------although it achieves all the good in the world-------it also makes us vulnerable and ushers in the possibility of suffering. We waste opportunities to love. To love deeply, you must let go of those illusions of perfection, that pretense of being completely in control, and open yourself to that mysterious gift, pleasure, power, and grace we call love. That surrender and openness creates a radical vulnerability. Love is to step beyond the comfort zone. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The doors of wisdom are never shut. The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of our own ignorance. Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.
No one can bear the burden of another; even if one weighed down calls for help with his burden, nothing will be lifted from him, even be he a close relative. You can only warn those who inwardly fear their Lord and regularly pray. Yet whoever purifies himself purifies himself for his own soul alone; and the destination is to God. [35: 18]
Hadith of the Day:
The best of you are those who are slow to anger and swift to cool down. Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendents of Adam. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Your desire that people know your particular distinction is a proof of insincerity in your servanthood. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the Day:
The question is, "What do we love?"
You can choose not to love the right things, but you cannot choose not to love. We all love-------we cannot help but love, for that is what we were created for. Love is what gives meaning to our lives. Love is the direction of our lives. What you love and what captivates your imagination determines how you live your life. Love is our greatest desire, our greatest need, our greatest talent, and our greatest yearning. Love is our identity. Until we love, we never truly know who we are. Love is natural, original, and spontaneous. Love is power.
If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world. We hold back the infinite power of love because when it is released---------although it achieves all the good in the world-------it also makes us vulnerable and ushers in the possibility of suffering. We waste opportunities to love. To love deeply, you must let go of those illusions of perfection, that pretense of being completely in control, and open yourself to that mysterious gift, pleasure, power, and grace we call love. That surrender and openness creates a radical vulnerability. Love is to step beyond the comfort zone. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The doors of wisdom are never shut. The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of our own ignorance. Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 938
Ayahs of the Day:
O humanity, you are in need of God, but God is independent of needs, worthy of all praise. If God willed, God would get rid of you and produce a new creation; and that would not be hard for God. [35: 15,26,17]
Hadith of the Day:
Accept the apology of your fellow Muslim if you wish to drink from the fountain of kawthar when you are thirsty on the Day of Judgment. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Persevere, have faith in His benevolence. Through afflictions God only tests your faith; He is completely aware of your condition. Have patience and wait for the divine decree. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Life comes down to two simple realities. People were made to be loved, and things were made to be used. Your problems, my problems, and indeed all the world's problems come from our misunderstanding of these two simple principles. You see . . . we love things and we use people. It would not be too much to dedicate one's whole life to the reversal of these simple realities.
Love is our great desire------to love and to be loved. We know how to love, because we know how we wish to be loved. It is the central precept and principle of every major religion. It is the answer to every question. It is the solution to every problem. The answer is never to love less. The answer is always to love more. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands----a mountain, a star, the turn of stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world.
O humanity, you are in need of God, but God is independent of needs, worthy of all praise. If God willed, God would get rid of you and produce a new creation; and that would not be hard for God. [35: 15,26,17]
Hadith of the Day:
Accept the apology of your fellow Muslim if you wish to drink from the fountain of kawthar when you are thirsty on the Day of Judgment. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Persevere, have faith in His benevolence. Through afflictions God only tests your faith; He is completely aware of your condition. Have patience and wait for the divine decree. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Life comes down to two simple realities. People were made to be loved, and things were made to be used. Your problems, my problems, and indeed all the world's problems come from our misunderstanding of these two simple principles. You see . . . we love things and we use people. It would not be too much to dedicate one's whole life to the reversal of these simple realities.
Love is our great desire------to love and to be loved. We know how to love, because we know how we wish to be loved. It is the central precept and principle of every major religion. It is the answer to every question. It is the solution to every problem. The answer is never to love less. The answer is always to love more. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands----a mountain, a star, the turn of stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world.
Monday, October 15, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 937
Ayah of the Day:
God makes the night enter the day, and makes the day enter the night; and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a definite term. That is God for you, your Lord, to whom the dominion belongs; and those others to whom you pray instead haven't the slightest power. [35: 13]
Hadith of the Day:
I forbid you to wish for death when a catastrophe befalls you. If you are totally desperate, pray not for death, but ask Allah to make you live as long as He esteems it is good for you and to take you to Himself when it is best for you. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Fight against the ego with the four swords of training: eat little, sleep little, speak little, and be patient when people harm you. Then the ego will walk the paths of obedience, like a fleeting horseman in the field of battle. [Yahya ibn Mu'adh al Razi]
Guidance of the Day:
They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn. But the darkest hour gives birth to the greatest children of light. From the dark hours of history are born legends, heroes, champions, prophets, sages, leaders, stars, great teachers, and saints. The future will be what we make of it. Leadership is not an elite class. It is a role each of us is born into. It is a position of influence. Granted, some people exert more influence than others, but all of us exert some, and by our influence, people's lives are touched. People hear what you say, and they listen, and they are affected. People watch how you live, and they learn, and they are influenced.
Do not be afraid. Dare to live the life most people only fantasize about! Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Life is not a popularity contest. Those who wish to be free from criticism inevitably end up doing nothing worthwhile. Do the very best you know how-------the best you can; and mean to keep doing so until the end. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The real essence of work is concentrated energy. Do whatever you do intensely. The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.
Concentrate on finding your goal, then concentrate on reaching it.
God makes the night enter the day, and makes the day enter the night; and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a definite term. That is God for you, your Lord, to whom the dominion belongs; and those others to whom you pray instead haven't the slightest power. [35: 13]
Hadith of the Day:
I forbid you to wish for death when a catastrophe befalls you. If you are totally desperate, pray not for death, but ask Allah to make you live as long as He esteems it is good for you and to take you to Himself when it is best for you. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Fight against the ego with the four swords of training: eat little, sleep little, speak little, and be patient when people harm you. Then the ego will walk the paths of obedience, like a fleeting horseman in the field of battle. [Yahya ibn Mu'adh al Razi]
Guidance of the Day:
They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn. But the darkest hour gives birth to the greatest children of light. From the dark hours of history are born legends, heroes, champions, prophets, sages, leaders, stars, great teachers, and saints. The future will be what we make of it. Leadership is not an elite class. It is a role each of us is born into. It is a position of influence. Granted, some people exert more influence than others, but all of us exert some, and by our influence, people's lives are touched. People hear what you say, and they listen, and they are affected. People watch how you live, and they learn, and they are influenced.
Do not be afraid. Dare to live the life most people only fantasize about! Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Life is not a popularity contest. Those who wish to be free from criticism inevitably end up doing nothing worthwhile. Do the very best you know how-------the best you can; and mean to keep doing so until the end. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The real essence of work is concentrated energy. Do whatever you do intensely. The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.
Concentrate on finding your goal, then concentrate on reaching it.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Just a beautiful reminder for a very blessed eid!
Mothers
From Surah al-Rahman are the glorious words of our Creator: "Then which of the favors of your Lord will your deny?"
Yet how often we deny the greatest of favors that the Bestower has granted us. This favor, in the form of a woman......
A woman who carried us within her for almost a whole year of her short life in this world, bearing every hardship and discomfort to protect and nurture our frail being as the Fashioner gently prepared us to come into this worldly realm....
A woman who braved death's door, embracing pain unimaginable to even the most stalwart of warriors, that our tiny form may chance to take its first breath, open its eyes to the light of a new home, and feel her warm, soft caress, as she forgets all that she went through, to make comfortable our awakening into a new world....
A woman who had forsaken rest, slumber, and dreams for far too many nights; to rise instead, and answer the pitiful wail of a helpless creature that always new she would be there to answer its plaintive cry, even as the whole world slumbered on into the dead of the night......
A woman who bore weakness to give forth from her being, a pure and heavenly nectar to nourish our growing bodies and our thirsty souls with sustenance to define our humanity ever onward......
A woman who watered and pruned our character with all the patience and care of a master gardener turning a wild shrub into a beautiful tree.......
A woman who was always there for us, no matter how many backs were turned to us, no matter how many doors closed in our face, to give us a shoulder to cry on, an ear to heed our complaint, a comforting bosom to embrace when there was no other.......
A woman who, even after all of our blunders, all of our impudence, all of our ungrateful gestures and insolent remarks, will not hesitate to say I forgive you when no one else in the world will....
A woman who we call Mother.
If we only knew her lofty station in the sight of He whose mercy is endless, a single portion of which He showered upon the world and it manifested itself as the undying compassion of the mother to her child.
"THEN WHICH OF THE FAVORS OF YOUR LORD DO YOU DENY?"
To deny is to show ingratitude. To show ingratitude is to lose one's blessings......like sand flowing through one's fingers.
To show ingratitude to the all Merciful is to show ingratitude to the means He creates out of His endless mercy. WHAT OF THE MEANS WHICH BROUGHT US INTO THE WORLD?
If one's mother is alive, then cry out of thankfulness to Allah, go to her, sit at her feet, kiss her on the forehead, look her in the eyes and tell her how blessed you are for someone like her......
Tell her how much you love her.....
And never forget the immortal words of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace):
"Paradise is under the feet of the mother...."
From,
a son
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From Surah al-Rahman are the glorious words of our Creator: "Then which of the favors of your Lord will your deny?"
Yet how often we deny the greatest of favors that the Bestower has granted us. This favor, in the form of a woman......
A woman who carried us within her for almost a whole year of her short life in this world, bearing every hardship and discomfort to protect and nurture our frail being as the Fashioner gently prepared us to come into this worldly realm....
A woman who braved death's door, embracing pain unimaginable to even the most stalwart of warriors, that our tiny form may chance to take its first breath, open its eyes to the light of a new home, and feel her warm, soft caress, as she forgets all that she went through, to make comfortable our awakening into a new world....
A woman who had forsaken rest, slumber, and dreams for far too many nights; to rise instead, and answer the pitiful wail of a helpless creature that always new she would be there to answer its plaintive cry, even as the whole world slumbered on into the dead of the night......
A woman who bore weakness to give forth from her being, a pure and heavenly nectar to nourish our growing bodies and our thirsty souls with sustenance to define our humanity ever onward......
A woman who watered and pruned our character with all the patience and care of a master gardener turning a wild shrub into a beautiful tree.......
A woman who was always there for us, no matter how many backs were turned to us, no matter how many doors closed in our face, to give us a shoulder to cry on, an ear to heed our complaint, a comforting bosom to embrace when there was no other.......
A woman who, even after all of our blunders, all of our impudence, all of our ungrateful gestures and insolent remarks, will not hesitate to say I forgive you when no one else in the world will....
A woman who we call Mother.
If we only knew her lofty station in the sight of He whose mercy is endless, a single portion of which He showered upon the world and it manifested itself as the undying compassion of the mother to her child.
"THEN WHICH OF THE FAVORS OF YOUR LORD DO YOU DENY?"
To deny is to show ingratitude. To show ingratitude is to lose one's blessings......like sand flowing through one's fingers.
To show ingratitude to the all Merciful is to show ingratitude to the means He creates out of His endless mercy. WHAT OF THE MEANS WHICH BROUGHT US INTO THE WORLD?
If one's mother is alive, then cry out of thankfulness to Allah, go to her, sit at her feet, kiss her on the forehead, look her in the eyes and tell her how blessed you are for someone like her......
Tell her how much you love her.....
And never forget the immortal words of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace):
"Paradise is under the feet of the mother...."
From,
a son
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 936
Ayah of the Day:
Even the two bodies of water are not the same: one is fresh, sweet, and palatable, while the other is salty and bitter. Yet you eat fresh flesh from both, and you extract ornaments that you wear; and you see the ships thereon ploughing the waves so you may seek of God's bounty, and so that you may be grateful. [35: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
If someone succeeds in taking something that does not belong to him away from another believer, by swearing it is his, God closes the doors of Paradise for him and makes it lawful for Hell to take him. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sufism is a war with the self in which there is no peace. The Sufi is like the earth-----every kind of abomination is thrown upon it, but every kind of goodness grows from it. [al-Junayd]
Guidance of the Day:
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. First do what is necessary, then what is possible, and before long you will be doing the impossible. The good we do is never lost; it never dies. In other people, in other places, in other times------the good we do lives on forever. Be the difference that makes the difference!
The future belongs to the men and women of vision, courage, persistence, confidence, generosity, conscience, integrity, creativity, enthusiasm, character, and virtue. They have the extraordinary ability to ignore the chaos, confusion, troubles, and difficulties that surround them and to remain focused on the task at hand. They have the awe inspiring and profound ability to pierce through time into the future and envision how they wish, think, or believe, the future should be. Then they turn to the here and now and work tirelessly to make their vision a reality. Against all odds, doubts, and criticisms they are able to trust, follow, nurture, and share the goodness within them. They are the leaders. You rarely see them criticizing anything or anyone, because they are too busy getting the job done, ushering movement in history. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase. Contentment consists not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire; not in multiplying of wealth, but in subtracting of desires.
Even the two bodies of water are not the same: one is fresh, sweet, and palatable, while the other is salty and bitter. Yet you eat fresh flesh from both, and you extract ornaments that you wear; and you see the ships thereon ploughing the waves so you may seek of God's bounty, and so that you may be grateful. [35: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
If someone succeeds in taking something that does not belong to him away from another believer, by swearing it is his, God closes the doors of Paradise for him and makes it lawful for Hell to take him. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sufism is a war with the self in which there is no peace. The Sufi is like the earth-----every kind of abomination is thrown upon it, but every kind of goodness grows from it. [al-Junayd]
Guidance of the Day:
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. First do what is necessary, then what is possible, and before long you will be doing the impossible. The good we do is never lost; it never dies. In other people, in other places, in other times------the good we do lives on forever. Be the difference that makes the difference!
The future belongs to the men and women of vision, courage, persistence, confidence, generosity, conscience, integrity, creativity, enthusiasm, character, and virtue. They have the extraordinary ability to ignore the chaos, confusion, troubles, and difficulties that surround them and to remain focused on the task at hand. They have the awe inspiring and profound ability to pierce through time into the future and envision how they wish, think, or believe, the future should be. Then they turn to the here and now and work tirelessly to make their vision a reality. Against all odds, doubts, and criticisms they are able to trust, follow, nurture, and share the goodness within them. They are the leaders. You rarely see them criticizing anything or anyone, because they are too busy getting the job done, ushering movement in history. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase. Contentment consists not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire; not in multiplying of wealth, but in subtracting of desires.
Monday, October 08, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 935
Ayah of the Day:
God made you from dust, then from a drop, then made you in pairs. No female conceives or delivers except with God's knowledge. And no one whose life is prolonged is granted long life, or has his life shortened but is in a Writ; and that is easy for God. [35: 11]
Hadith of the Day:
There will come a time when there will be Muslim nations who will discuss their worldly affairs in mosques. God does not need them to enter His holy houses. [Ibn Hibban]
Wise Quote of the Day:
To be a Sufi means to abide continuously in God and to live at peace with men: whoever abides in God and deals rightly with men treating them with unfailing kindness, is a Sufi. [Imam al-Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
The enemies of making a difference are doubt, fear, discouragement, and selfishness. Some people never try to make a difference because they doubt they can. Some people fear to try in case they fail. Some people start to make a difference but compare the good they are doing with all the evil they can imagine in the world and become disabled by discouragement. Some people are so absorbed in themselves that they never think of anyone's needs but their own.
On the other hand, some people trust that they were put here on this earth to make a difference in some way, large or small. Those same people know the fear of failure as much as anyone, but they face that fear, immerse themselves in that emotion, and move forward bravely. They fight off discouragement by keeping things in perspective. When things get tough, they take life just one day at a time. When things get really tough, they take life one hour at a time. And when things get unbearably difficult------they take heart, hold firm, and take life moment by moment. One by one. Little by little. They are not strangers to doubt, but they find a focus in their lives and commit to that focus. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To be yourself, to use your own God given talent, and to stand up for what is right even in the midst of uncertainty, pain, fear, and persecution is the only true way to live. It's not how long a man lives, but how well he uses the time allotted to him.
God made you from dust, then from a drop, then made you in pairs. No female conceives or delivers except with God's knowledge. And no one whose life is prolonged is granted long life, or has his life shortened but is in a Writ; and that is easy for God. [35: 11]
Hadith of the Day:
There will come a time when there will be Muslim nations who will discuss their worldly affairs in mosques. God does not need them to enter His holy houses. [Ibn Hibban]
Wise Quote of the Day:
To be a Sufi means to abide continuously in God and to live at peace with men: whoever abides in God and deals rightly with men treating them with unfailing kindness, is a Sufi. [Imam al-Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
The enemies of making a difference are doubt, fear, discouragement, and selfishness. Some people never try to make a difference because they doubt they can. Some people fear to try in case they fail. Some people start to make a difference but compare the good they are doing with all the evil they can imagine in the world and become disabled by discouragement. Some people are so absorbed in themselves that they never think of anyone's needs but their own.
On the other hand, some people trust that they were put here on this earth to make a difference in some way, large or small. Those same people know the fear of failure as much as anyone, but they face that fear, immerse themselves in that emotion, and move forward bravely. They fight off discouragement by keeping things in perspective. When things get tough, they take life just one day at a time. When things get really tough, they take life one hour at a time. And when things get unbearably difficult------they take heart, hold firm, and take life moment by moment. One by one. Little by little. They are not strangers to doubt, but they find a focus in their lives and commit to that focus. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
To be yourself, to use your own God given talent, and to stand up for what is right even in the midst of uncertainty, pain, fear, and persecution is the only true way to live. It's not how long a man lives, but how well he uses the time allotted to him.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
May all our disputes come to an end this Ramadan
The Foundation for Eliminating Disputes
Disputes, in whatever manner they appear, should be resolved immediately. Human life being what it is, there is no guarantee as to who will be carried into the grave first. At the occasion of death, friends, enemies, all gather to mourn anyway. It is best that one’s heart be cleansed of all grudges regarding all Muslims. Soothe another’s angry heart and see how tranquil life becomes. The weightiness in one’s own heart is removed.Always act towards mending relationships. As a result, one will attain barakah in one’s time and provision.
Admission
The primary act which ends a dispute is admitting one’s fault. If it is your fault then admit it and take account of your faults. It is essential to recognize the excesses one has taken to transgress upon others. Ultimately, the greatest reality of life is recognition of one’s faults. The secret of all forms of betterment in life lies in this recognition, because man always errs. If he does not recognize his faults, then there is no other course for his betterment. Recognition is the door to all successes, but seldom it is that man is willing to subject himself to it. When such an occasion arises, it becomes a matter of ego. Instead of admitting his fault, he attempts to cover it up. The result is that this fault of his continues to grow unchecked.
Making Excuses and Reconciling
Regardless of whose fault it is, when a dispute occurs, you will always share its blame to a certain extent. This being the case, you should rise to the occasion and apologize for that which is of your own doing. Consequently, the one with whom your are disputing will soften his attitude towards you. You should always have a positive attitude towards others. Keep a goodly opinion regarding others. A misunderstanding should be clarified by discussing it as soon as possible.Establish an attitude of selflessness and sacrifice. Save yourself from stubbornness and obstinacy. Suppress your anger. Adopt a manner which always seeks reconciliation. Pray for your friends, family, and those with whom you have disputes.
Shaytan struggles tirelessly to create disputes between Muslims. Truly the greatest weapon he wields to destroy this Ummah is to make Muslims fight each other over any excuse. Remember that non-Muslims CANNOT overcome Muslims under any circumstance. Thus, we are made to fight each other.
Leave behind obedience and slavery to Shaytan! Attain firmness in the virtues of admitting one’s faults, asking forgiveness, and forgiving!
Above and beyond this, strive to make peace between two Muslims, for this is a tremendous act of worship indeed!
By Muhammad Bashir Jumah(An excerpt from his work in Urdu, The Journey to Success on the Road of Life)
Disputes, in whatever manner they appear, should be resolved immediately. Human life being what it is, there is no guarantee as to who will be carried into the grave first. At the occasion of death, friends, enemies, all gather to mourn anyway. It is best that one’s heart be cleansed of all grudges regarding all Muslims. Soothe another’s angry heart and see how tranquil life becomes. The weightiness in one’s own heart is removed.Always act towards mending relationships. As a result, one will attain barakah in one’s time and provision.
Admission
The primary act which ends a dispute is admitting one’s fault. If it is your fault then admit it and take account of your faults. It is essential to recognize the excesses one has taken to transgress upon others. Ultimately, the greatest reality of life is recognition of one’s faults. The secret of all forms of betterment in life lies in this recognition, because man always errs. If he does not recognize his faults, then there is no other course for his betterment. Recognition is the door to all successes, but seldom it is that man is willing to subject himself to it. When such an occasion arises, it becomes a matter of ego. Instead of admitting his fault, he attempts to cover it up. The result is that this fault of his continues to grow unchecked.
Making Excuses and Reconciling
Regardless of whose fault it is, when a dispute occurs, you will always share its blame to a certain extent. This being the case, you should rise to the occasion and apologize for that which is of your own doing. Consequently, the one with whom your are disputing will soften his attitude towards you. You should always have a positive attitude towards others. Keep a goodly opinion regarding others. A misunderstanding should be clarified by discussing it as soon as possible.Establish an attitude of selflessness and sacrifice. Save yourself from stubbornness and obstinacy. Suppress your anger. Adopt a manner which always seeks reconciliation. Pray for your friends, family, and those with whom you have disputes.
Shaytan struggles tirelessly to create disputes between Muslims. Truly the greatest weapon he wields to destroy this Ummah is to make Muslims fight each other over any excuse. Remember that non-Muslims CANNOT overcome Muslims under any circumstance. Thus, we are made to fight each other.
Leave behind obedience and slavery to Shaytan! Attain firmness in the virtues of admitting one’s faults, asking forgiveness, and forgiving!
Above and beyond this, strive to make peace between two Muslims, for this is a tremendous act of worship indeed!
By Muhammad Bashir Jumah(An excerpt from his work in Urdu, The Journey to Success on the Road of Life)
Friday, October 05, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 934
Ayahs of the Day:
If anyone wants power, well, all power belongs to God, to whom ascends the good word, and who exalts the act of integrity. As for those who connive evil, there is a severe punishment for them, and their conniving is in vain. [35: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
A person who cannot be quiet and attentive while the sermon is delivered on Fridays is like a donkey carrying books on his back. As for the one who asks him to be quiet, his congregational prayer is imperfectly done. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Act towards this world as if it were not, and towards the world to come as if it would never cease to be. He is a wise man who regards this world as nothing, and so regarding it, seeks the other world. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the Day:
As time goes by, you realize that many of the things you once thought you needed, you don't really need. With this realization of your own abundance, you are able to give more. Have you noticed that although God is always giving. He is never without? God is not lack or limitation-------God is abundance. Let the giving become like breathing for you and for me, and our lives will be full of excitement, passion, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment.
Finding our place in the world, finding our place in our local community, and making a difference in our own way all give meaning, purpose, and a deep, deep sense of fulfillment to our lives. We must not only find it for ourselves, but help every individual to find the same. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can to praise God for and be glad about. What we steadily, consciously, habitually think we are, that we tend to become.
If anyone wants power, well, all power belongs to God, to whom ascends the good word, and who exalts the act of integrity. As for those who connive evil, there is a severe punishment for them, and their conniving is in vain. [35: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
A person who cannot be quiet and attentive while the sermon is delivered on Fridays is like a donkey carrying books on his back. As for the one who asks him to be quiet, his congregational prayer is imperfectly done. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Act towards this world as if it were not, and towards the world to come as if it would never cease to be. He is a wise man who regards this world as nothing, and so regarding it, seeks the other world. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the Day:
As time goes by, you realize that many of the things you once thought you needed, you don't really need. With this realization of your own abundance, you are able to give more. Have you noticed that although God is always giving. He is never without? God is not lack or limitation-------God is abundance. Let the giving become like breathing for you and for me, and our lives will be full of excitement, passion, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment.
Finding our place in the world, finding our place in our local community, and making a difference in our own way all give meaning, purpose, and a deep, deep sense of fulfillment to our lives. We must not only find it for ourselves, but help every individual to find the same. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can to praise God for and be glad about. What we steadily, consciously, habitually think we are, that we tend to become.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 933
Ayah of the Day:
God is the one who sends the winds that raise the clouds: then We drive them to a land that is dead, and revive the earth thereby after its death. That is how the resurrection will be. [35: 9]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever shames his brother in faith and exposes his faults risks God's showing his own secret faults. Even if he hides in his house, he will be exposed-----disgraced and scorned by the world. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
You ought to know yourself as you really are, so that you may understand of what nature you are and whence you have come to this world and for what purpose you were created and in what your happiness and misery consist. [Imam al Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Give of your time, give of your talents, and give of your resources to make a difference in other people's lives. It is the way of greatness. This is the way of God. It is the way of legends, heroes, stars, champions, leaders, and saints. I hope and pray that it becomes your way, and mine.
Whatever you give to another will return to you ten times. You get what you give. When you refuse to give, holding on tightly to everything you have, you live in the realm of lack of limitation. When you give, you perform a significant and vital attitude change. By giving, you express abundance------and what you express in thought, word, and action will become reality of your life. Here, veiled mysteriously by the act of giving, we discover the abundant life. When you give to assist in someone else's need, you learn very quickly that the satisfaction of giving is greater than the satisfaction of having. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival. Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing, if you want to be remembered after your death.
God is the one who sends the winds that raise the clouds: then We drive them to a land that is dead, and revive the earth thereby after its death. That is how the resurrection will be. [35: 9]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever shames his brother in faith and exposes his faults risks God's showing his own secret faults. Even if he hides in his house, he will be exposed-----disgraced and scorned by the world. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
You ought to know yourself as you really are, so that you may understand of what nature you are and whence you have come to this world and for what purpose you were created and in what your happiness and misery consist. [Imam al Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
Give of your time, give of your talents, and give of your resources to make a difference in other people's lives. It is the way of greatness. This is the way of God. It is the way of legends, heroes, stars, champions, leaders, and saints. I hope and pray that it becomes your way, and mine.
Whatever you give to another will return to you ten times. You get what you give. When you refuse to give, holding on tightly to everything you have, you live in the realm of lack of limitation. When you give, you perform a significant and vital attitude change. By giving, you express abundance------and what you express in thought, word, and action will become reality of your life. Here, veiled mysteriously by the act of giving, we discover the abundant life. When you give to assist in someone else's need, you learn very quickly that the satisfaction of giving is greater than the satisfaction of having. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival. Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing, if you want to be remembered after your death.
Monday, October 01, 2007
LESSON OF THE DAY 932
Ayah of the Day:
For those who scoffed there is intense agony, while for those who believed and did good works there is forgiveness and tremendous reward. [35: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
If you see only the faults and errors of people and tell them harshly to their faces, even if your intentions are to free them of their faults, you may easily lead them deeper into mischief and sedition. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Allah's grace and mercy are always first, but His justice and wrath will seize those who defy His law. So, while we denounce sins openly, let us be gentle and kind, and adore and serve our Lord all our lives. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Ideas change the world. Good ideas change it for the better. Bad ideas change it for the worse. Men and women share their ideas through their words and actions. What ideas are you sharing with the world? Honesty, integrity, and goodness are more important to a person's happiness than money. Ideas change the world of today and form the world of tomorrow. Ideas are contagious. Make a difference. It is not that hard. Make a habit of making another person's day. Every day.
Spiritually, we strive to be patient because God is patient, we seek to be kind because God is kind, we try to be humble and gentle because they are the ways of God, we seek to love and be loved because God is love. Yet above everything else, beyond everything else, before everything else, after everything else, and during everything else------God is a giver. God always gives. He never takes. He only gives. Always giving. For God, giving is the perpetual motion of His being. That is why giving is an act of greatness. It is an act of greatness because it emerges from God. If all our actions could be performed with this disposition, we would be living life to the fullest. There is no faster, surer way to share in life, the power, and infinite joy than to give. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity. The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.
For those who scoffed there is intense agony, while for those who believed and did good works there is forgiveness and tremendous reward. [35: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
If you see only the faults and errors of people and tell them harshly to their faces, even if your intentions are to free them of their faults, you may easily lead them deeper into mischief and sedition. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Allah's grace and mercy are always first, but His justice and wrath will seize those who defy His law. So, while we denounce sins openly, let us be gentle and kind, and adore and serve our Lord all our lives. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Ideas change the world. Good ideas change it for the better. Bad ideas change it for the worse. Men and women share their ideas through their words and actions. What ideas are you sharing with the world? Honesty, integrity, and goodness are more important to a person's happiness than money. Ideas change the world of today and form the world of tomorrow. Ideas are contagious. Make a difference. It is not that hard. Make a habit of making another person's day. Every day.
Spiritually, we strive to be patient because God is patient, we seek to be kind because God is kind, we try to be humble and gentle because they are the ways of God, we seek to love and be loved because God is love. Yet above everything else, beyond everything else, before everything else, after everything else, and during everything else------God is a giver. God always gives. He never takes. He only gives. Always giving. For God, giving is the perpetual motion of His being. That is why giving is an act of greatness. It is an act of greatness because it emerges from God. If all our actions could be performed with this disposition, we would be living life to the fullest. There is no faster, surer way to share in life, the power, and infinite joy than to give. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]
Food for Thought:
The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity. The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.
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