1. The part of your life that has gone by is irreplaceable, and that which has arrived is priceless.
2. Your obedience does not benefit Him, and your disobedience does not harm Him. It is only for your own good that He commanded the one and prohibited the other.
3. The best knowledge is the one accompanied by fear.
4. He only made affliction come at the hands of people so that you not repose them. He wants to drive you out of everything so that nothing would divert you from Him.
5. If you know that the devil does not forget you, then do not, for your part, forget Him who has your forelock in His hand.
6. So long as you have not contemplated the Creator, you belong to created beings; but when you have contemplated Him, created beings belong to you.
7. Meditation is the lamp of the heart; so when it goes away, the heart has no illumination.
8. Many a life is long in years but meager in fruits, and many a life is short in years but rich in fruits.
9. He who has been blessed in life attains, in a short time, to such gifts from God that no expression or symbolic allusion could describe.
10. For those who do good, finding the fruits of the acts of obedience in this world is glad tidings of their reward in the Hereafter. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1175
Ayah of the Day:
God is the one who created seven heavens, and their like of earth, with the order descending between them so that you may know God has power over every thing, and God has already encompassed every thing in knowledge. [65: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever gives mischief to another Muslim has given mischief to me, and whoever has given mischief to me has given mischief to Allah. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is said that only the ones who know Allah can fear Allah. By the same token, only the ones who fear Allah can know Him. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that when you enjoin or forbid something then this should be done sincerely for God, gently, wisely, and with compassion, for these attributes do not combine in one person who acts and refrains in accordance with his injunctions but that his words become effective and evoke reverence, a powerful response from the heart, and a sweetness in the ears; seldom shall his words be rejected.
Anyone who has true vigilance for God, reliance upon Him, and has acquired the attribute of mercy towards His servants cannot prevent himself from removing every evil that he sees except when prevented from doing so by means which he cannot overcome. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The love of God is the ultimate reality, the deepest and strongest force in the universe; and it is revealed to the man who resolutely girds himself to the conflict. In the triangle of love between ourselves, God and other people, is found the secret of existence, and the best foretaste, that we can have on earth of what heaven will probably be like.
God is the one who created seven heavens, and their like of earth, with the order descending between them so that you may know God has power over every thing, and God has already encompassed every thing in knowledge. [65: 12]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever gives mischief to another Muslim has given mischief to me, and whoever has given mischief to me has given mischief to Allah. [Tabarani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
It is said that only the ones who know Allah can fear Allah. By the same token, only the ones who fear Allah can know Him. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that when you enjoin or forbid something then this should be done sincerely for God, gently, wisely, and with compassion, for these attributes do not combine in one person who acts and refrains in accordance with his injunctions but that his words become effective and evoke reverence, a powerful response from the heart, and a sweetness in the ears; seldom shall his words be rejected.
Anyone who has true vigilance for God, reliance upon Him, and has acquired the attribute of mercy towards His servants cannot prevent himself from removing every evil that he sees except when prevented from doing so by means which he cannot overcome. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The love of God is the ultimate reality, the deepest and strongest force in the universe; and it is revealed to the man who resolutely girds himself to the conflict. In the triangle of love between ourselves, God and other people, is found the secret of existence, and the best foretaste, that we can have on earth of what heaven will probably be like.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....213
1. If you want gifts to come your way, then perfect the spiritual poverty you have, "Alms are only for the poor."
2. Realize your attributes and He will help you with His Attributes.
3. Realize your lowliness and He will help you with His Sublimity.
4. Realize your impotence and He will help you with His Power.
5. Realize your weakness and He will help you with His Might and Force.
6. Sometimes a charisma is bestowed upon someone whose righteousness is not perfect.
7. He made the service of Him obligatory upon you, which is as much as to say that He made entry into His Paradise obligatory for you.
8. Sometimes darkness come over you in order that He make you aware of the value of His blessings upon you.
9. He who does not know the value of graces when they are present knows their value when they are absent.
10. Do not deem His giving to be slow; but rather, deem your approaching to be slow. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
2. Realize your attributes and He will help you with His Attributes.
3. Realize your lowliness and He will help you with His Sublimity.
4. Realize your impotence and He will help you with His Power.
5. Realize your weakness and He will help you with His Might and Force.
6. Sometimes a charisma is bestowed upon someone whose righteousness is not perfect.
7. He made the service of Him obligatory upon you, which is as much as to say that He made entry into His Paradise obligatory for you.
8. Sometimes darkness come over you in order that He make you aware of the value of His blessings upon you.
9. He who does not know the value of graces when they are present knows their value when they are absent.
10. Do not deem His giving to be slow; but rather, deem your approaching to be slow. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
Monday, December 28, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1174
Ayahs of the Day:
God has arranged intense agony for them; so be conscious of God, you with intelligence, who believe; God has sent you a reminder, a messenger reciting the clarifying signs of God to you, to bring those who believe and do good works out of darknesses into light. And any who believe in God and act with integrity God will admit to gardens where streams flow below, where they will dwell forever; God has made the best provision for them. [65: 10,11]
Hadith of the Day:
The best of you are those who, when you look at them, you remember Allah. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever forgets death will be punished in three ways: he will delay repentance, he will no longer be content with what is sufficient, and he will be lazy in worship. [Shaykh al-Daqaq]
Guidance of the Day:
When you become angry because you were wronged or insulted, and this shows on your face and you find that your loathing of that deed and the person who did it are more than your loathing of evil that you see or hear about, then know for certain that your faith is weak, and your honor and wealth are dearer to you than your religion.
You are permitted to remain silent if you know with certainty that if you enjoin good or forbid evil your words will neither be listened to nor accepted, or there will ensue obvious harm either to yourself or your property. This is when enjoining and forbidden change from being an obligation into being a tremendous virtue which indicates that the one who does them loves God and prefers Him to all else. And if you come to know that an evil will increase if forbidden, or that the harm will involve other Muslims in addition to yourself, then the silence is better and, in some cases, obligatory. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Forgive all who have offended you, not for them but for yourself. Forgiveness is the economy of the heart, it saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. When you forgive, you in no way change the past, but you do sure change the future.
God has arranged intense agony for them; so be conscious of God, you with intelligence, who believe; God has sent you a reminder, a messenger reciting the clarifying signs of God to you, to bring those who believe and do good works out of darknesses into light. And any who believe in God and act with integrity God will admit to gardens where streams flow below, where they will dwell forever; God has made the best provision for them. [65: 10,11]
Hadith of the Day:
The best of you are those who, when you look at them, you remember Allah. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever forgets death will be punished in three ways: he will delay repentance, he will no longer be content with what is sufficient, and he will be lazy in worship. [Shaykh al-Daqaq]
Guidance of the Day:
When you become angry because you were wronged or insulted, and this shows on your face and you find that your loathing of that deed and the person who did it are more than your loathing of evil that you see or hear about, then know for certain that your faith is weak, and your honor and wealth are dearer to you than your religion.
You are permitted to remain silent if you know with certainty that if you enjoin good or forbid evil your words will neither be listened to nor accepted, or there will ensue obvious harm either to yourself or your property. This is when enjoining and forbidden change from being an obligation into being a tremendous virtue which indicates that the one who does them loves God and prefers Him to all else. And if you come to know that an evil will increase if forbidden, or that the harm will involve other Muslims in addition to yourself, then the silence is better and, in some cases, obligatory. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Forgive all who have offended you, not for them but for yourself. Forgiveness is the economy of the heart, it saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. When you forgive, you in no way change the past, but you do sure change the future.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....212
1. Nothing pleads on your behalf like extreme need, nor does anything speed gifts to you quicker than lowliness and want.
2. People praise you for what they suppose is in you; but you must blame your soul for what you know is in it.
3. When He lets praise of you burst forth, and you are not worthy of it, praise Him for what He is worthy of.
4. Your desire that people know your particular distinction is a proof of insincerity in your servanthood.
5. Make mankind's looking at you disappear by being content with God's looking at you!
6. Slip away from people's approach to you by contemplating His approach to you.
7. He who knows God contemplates Him in everything.
8. He who is extinguished by Him is absent from everything.
9. He who loves Him prefers nothing to Him.
10. Sometimes you will find more benefit in states of need than you will find in fasting or ritual prayer. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
2. People praise you for what they suppose is in you; but you must blame your soul for what you know is in it.
3. When He lets praise of you burst forth, and you are not worthy of it, praise Him for what He is worthy of.
4. Your desire that people know your particular distinction is a proof of insincerity in your servanthood.
5. Make mankind's looking at you disappear by being content with God's looking at you!
6. Slip away from people's approach to you by contemplating His approach to you.
7. He who knows God contemplates Him in everything.
8. He who is extinguished by Him is absent from everything.
9. He who loves Him prefers nothing to Him.
10. Sometimes you will find more benefit in states of need than you will find in fasting or ritual prayer. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1173
Ayahs of the Day:
How many populations defied the decree of their Lord and the messengers! We called them to account with a severe reckoning, and We punished them with an unheard-of torment, and they experienced the unhealthiness of their action, as the outcome of their action was loss. [65: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
Every religion has a quality that is characteristic of that religion, and the characteristic of my religion is modesty. [Ibn Maja]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever remembers death frequently will benefit in three ways: he will hasten to repent, he will be content with what is sufficient, and he will be active in worship. [Shaykh al-Daqaq]
Guidance of the Day:
You must enjoin good and forbid evil, for this is the pivot around which religion revolves, and is the reason why God revealed His Books and sent His Messengers. It is considered a duty by the consensus of all Muslims, and a great many passages in the Book and sunna enjoin it and warn about its neglect.
Whenever you enjoin good or forbid evil and are not listened to, you must leave the place where evil is being committed and those who commit it until they return to God's ordinance. Like wise you must detest sins and those who persist in committing them, and abhor them for the sake of God; this being a duty of all Muslims. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything. For him who has no concentration, there is no tranquility. The secret to success in any human endeavor is total concentration. A straight path never leads anywhere except to the objective.
How many populations defied the decree of their Lord and the messengers! We called them to account with a severe reckoning, and We punished them with an unheard-of torment, and they experienced the unhealthiness of their action, as the outcome of their action was loss. [65: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
Every religion has a quality that is characteristic of that religion, and the characteristic of my religion is modesty. [Ibn Maja]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever remembers death frequently will benefit in three ways: he will hasten to repent, he will be content with what is sufficient, and he will be active in worship. [Shaykh al-Daqaq]
Guidance of the Day:
You must enjoin good and forbid evil, for this is the pivot around which religion revolves, and is the reason why God revealed His Books and sent His Messengers. It is considered a duty by the consensus of all Muslims, and a great many passages in the Book and sunna enjoin it and warn about its neglect.
Whenever you enjoin good or forbid evil and are not listened to, you must leave the place where evil is being committed and those who commit it until they return to God's ordinance. Like wise you must detest sins and those who persist in committing them, and abhor them for the sake of God; this being a duty of all Muslims. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything. For him who has no concentration, there is no tranquility. The secret to success in any human endeavor is total concentration. A straight path never leads anywhere except to the objective.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Five reasons why God uses problems
The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you - depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.
Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:
1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways."
2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags...if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot ever water! Has God tested your faith with a problem What do problems reveal about
you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience."
3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove.... But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something... health, money, a relationship. .. by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."
4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good...
5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady."
Here's the point:
God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it.
But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.
"Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way"
Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:
1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways."
2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags...if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot ever water! Has God tested your faith with a problem What do problems reveal about
you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience."
3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove.... But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something... health, money, a relationship. .. by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."
4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good...
5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady."
Here's the point:
God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it.
But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.
"Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way"
Monday, December 21, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1172
Ayahs of the Day:
So be conscious of God as much as you can, and listen and obey and contribute, for your own good. And those safeguarded from the avarice of their selves, they are the ones who thrive. If you advance God a loan, God will multiply it for you, and forgive you; for God is most appreciative, most clement, Knower of the invisible and the evident, the almighty, epitome of wisdom and justice. [64: 16,17,18]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of wrong doing, for wrong doing becomes manifold darknesses on the Day of Judgment. [Muslim & Ahmad]
Wise of the Day:
Keep to silence, bear with the annoyance of those who show ignorance against you, and forgive those who wrong you. [Muhammad ibn al Siddiq Ghumari]
Guidance of the Day:
You must scrupulously avoid prohibited and suspect things. Scrupulousness is the pillar of religion and it is the pivot emphasized by the practicing scholars. Know that those who acquire prohibited and suspect things are seldom granted success in performing good deeds, and when they appear to be doing so, these are inevitably inwardly tarnished with hidden things which spoil them, such as self-admiration and ostentation.
In any case, the works of those who subsist on illicit (resources) are rejected, for God is Good and accepts only that which is good. The explanation of this is that acts can only be performed by using the body, and the body can only move by energy obtained from food. If that food is vile the energy it produces and the movements which result from it also will be vile. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food of the Day:
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversities. Building a relationship takes work. It is an ordeal and struggle because two people are giving birth to this new entity, and labor pains hurt. Build your relationships out of love and hold them together with a sense of humor.
So be conscious of God as much as you can, and listen and obey and contribute, for your own good. And those safeguarded from the avarice of their selves, they are the ones who thrive. If you advance God a loan, God will multiply it for you, and forgive you; for God is most appreciative, most clement, Knower of the invisible and the evident, the almighty, epitome of wisdom and justice. [64: 16,17,18]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of wrong doing, for wrong doing becomes manifold darknesses on the Day of Judgment. [Muslim & Ahmad]
Wise of the Day:
Keep to silence, bear with the annoyance of those who show ignorance against you, and forgive those who wrong you. [Muhammad ibn al Siddiq Ghumari]
Guidance of the Day:
You must scrupulously avoid prohibited and suspect things. Scrupulousness is the pillar of religion and it is the pivot emphasized by the practicing scholars. Know that those who acquire prohibited and suspect things are seldom granted success in performing good deeds, and when they appear to be doing so, these are inevitably inwardly tarnished with hidden things which spoil them, such as self-admiration and ostentation.
In any case, the works of those who subsist on illicit (resources) are rejected, for God is Good and accepts only that which is good. The explanation of this is that acts can only be performed by using the body, and the body can only move by energy obtained from food. If that food is vile the energy it produces and the movements which result from it also will be vile. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food of the Day:
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversities. Building a relationship takes work. It is an ordeal and struggle because two people are giving birth to this new entity, and labor pains hurt. Build your relationships out of love and hold them together with a sense of humor.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....211
1. The trials that arrive in this world are but reminders to you of what you ignore of indigence.
2. Your best moment is the one wherein you witness your actual indigence and, through it, reach the reality of your lowliness.
3. When He loosens your tongue with a request, then know that He wants to give you something.
4. Whoever supposes that His gentleness is separate from His Decree of Fate does so out of shortsightedness.
5. Do not press claims against your Lord because your request has been delayed; instead, press claims against yourself for slackening in your behavior.
6. When He makes you submissive to His commands outwardly and provide you with resignation to His power inwardly, then He has truly enhanced the favor accorded you.
7. He commanded you in this world to reflect upon His creations; but in the Hereafter He will reveal to you the perfection of His essence.
8. Ritual prayer is a purification for hearts and an opening-up of the door of the invisible domains.
9. Ritual prayer is the place of intimate conversations and a mine of reciprocal acts of purity wherein the regions of innermost being are expanded.
10. He knew the existence of weakness in you, so He made the number of ritual prayers small; and He knew of your need of His grace, so He multiplied their fruitful results. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata' Allah]
2. Your best moment is the one wherein you witness your actual indigence and, through it, reach the reality of your lowliness.
3. When He loosens your tongue with a request, then know that He wants to give you something.
4. Whoever supposes that His gentleness is separate from His Decree of Fate does so out of shortsightedness.
5. Do not press claims against your Lord because your request has been delayed; instead, press claims against yourself for slackening in your behavior.
6. When He makes you submissive to His commands outwardly and provide you with resignation to His power inwardly, then He has truly enhanced the favor accorded you.
7. He commanded you in this world to reflect upon His creations; but in the Hereafter He will reveal to you the perfection of His essence.
8. Ritual prayer is a purification for hearts and an opening-up of the door of the invisible domains.
9. Ritual prayer is the place of intimate conversations and a mine of reciprocal acts of purity wherein the regions of innermost being are expanded.
10. He knew the existence of weakness in you, so He made the number of ritual prayers small; and He knew of your need of His grace, so He multiplied their fruitful results. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata' Allah]
Thursday, December 17, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1171
Ayahs of the Day:
Believers, among your mates and your children are some inimical to you, so beware of them. But if you overlook and pardon and forgive, then God is indeed most forgiving, most merciful. Your possessions and your children are only a test, there is a greater reward in the presence of God. [64: 14,15]
Hadith of the Day:
Allah [Exalted is He] has said: "He who makes an enemy of a friend of Mine, I declare war against him. [Hadith al Qudsi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
You aspire to the heights, but you are stuck in the mud, you aspire to the Garden (Paradise), but you are not doing the work that must be done in order to gain entry to it. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
You must take care of your outward and inward cleanliness, for the one who is completely clean becomes inwardly and in his spirit a spiritual angel, although in his body and outward form he remains a physical human being. Inward cleanliness is achieved by purifying the soul from vile traits of character such as pride, ostentation, envy, love of the world, and other similar things, and by adorning it with noble traits of character such as humility, modesty, sincerity, generosity, and so forth.
As for outward cleanliness, this depends on avoiding transgressions, and keeping to obedience. The one who adorns his outward with perseverance in good works, and his inward with taking on praiseworthy attributes, has completed his cleanliness. Otherwise, he would only have a share of it proportionate to his remoteness from reprehensible traits and acts, and nearness to good ones. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
When God measures a man, He puts the tape around the heart instead of the head. A proud man has no God; the envious man has no neighbor; the angry man has not himself. What good then, is being a man, if one has neither himself nor a neighbor nor God.
Believers, among your mates and your children are some inimical to you, so beware of them. But if you overlook and pardon and forgive, then God is indeed most forgiving, most merciful. Your possessions and your children are only a test, there is a greater reward in the presence of God. [64: 14,15]
Hadith of the Day:
Allah [Exalted is He] has said: "He who makes an enemy of a friend of Mine, I declare war against him. [Hadith al Qudsi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
You aspire to the heights, but you are stuck in the mud, you aspire to the Garden (Paradise), but you are not doing the work that must be done in order to gain entry to it. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
You must take care of your outward and inward cleanliness, for the one who is completely clean becomes inwardly and in his spirit a spiritual angel, although in his body and outward form he remains a physical human being. Inward cleanliness is achieved by purifying the soul from vile traits of character such as pride, ostentation, envy, love of the world, and other similar things, and by adorning it with noble traits of character such as humility, modesty, sincerity, generosity, and so forth.
As for outward cleanliness, this depends on avoiding transgressions, and keeping to obedience. The one who adorns his outward with perseverance in good works, and his inward with taking on praiseworthy attributes, has completed his cleanliness. Otherwise, he would only have a share of it proportionate to his remoteness from reprehensible traits and acts, and nearness to good ones. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
When God measures a man, He puts the tape around the heart instead of the head. A proud man has no God; the envious man has no neighbor; the angry man has not himself. What good then, is being a man, if one has neither himself nor a neighbor nor God.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....210
1. He made Hereafter an abode to reward His believing servants only because this world cannot contain what He wishes to bestow upon them and because He deemed their worth too high to reward them in a world without permanence.
2. If you want to know your standing with Him, look at the state He has put you in now.
3. Hope goes hand in hand with deeds; otherwise, it is just wishful thinking.
4. If you want a glory that does not vanish, then do not glory in a glory that vanishes.
5. The real journey is when the world dimensions are rolled away from you so that you see the Hereafter closer to you than yourself.
6. Suffice it as a recompense to you for obedience that He has judged you worthy of obedience.
7. When He gives, He shows you His kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power; and in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness.
8. Deprivation hurts you only because of your incomprehension of God in it.
9. A disobedience that bequeaths humiliation and extreme need is better than an obedience that bequeaths self-infatuation and pride.
10. There are two graces that no being can do without and that are necessary for every creature: the grace of existence, and the grace of sustenance. He bestowed His grace upon you, first, through giving you existence, and , second, through uninterrupted sustenance. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
2. If you want to know your standing with Him, look at the state He has put you in now.
3. Hope goes hand in hand with deeds; otherwise, it is just wishful thinking.
4. If you want a glory that does not vanish, then do not glory in a glory that vanishes.
5. The real journey is when the world dimensions are rolled away from you so that you see the Hereafter closer to you than yourself.
6. Suffice it as a recompense to you for obedience that He has judged you worthy of obedience.
7. When He gives, He shows you His kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power; and in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness.
8. Deprivation hurts you only because of your incomprehension of God in it.
9. A disobedience that bequeaths humiliation and extreme need is better than an obedience that bequeaths self-infatuation and pride.
10. There are two graces that no being can do without and that are necessary for every creature: the grace of existence, and the grace of sustenance. He bestowed His grace upon you, first, through giving you existence, and , second, through uninterrupted sustenance. [Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
Monday, December 14, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1170
Ayahs of the Day:
No disaster can occur except with leave of God; and whoever believes in God, God guides his heart. And God has perfect knowledge of everything. So obey God, and obey the messenger. But if you turn away, the only obligation of Our messenger is clear communication. There is no deity but God so let it be in God that the believers trust. [64: 11,12,13]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who holds on to my sunna when corruption spreads in my community shall have the reward of a martyr. [Tabrani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The lover will sacrifice for the Beloved reason, logic, and interest, will obey the Beloved in perfect bondage, will be ready to sacrifice everything he has for the Beloved. One who cannot lay down his life for his beloved has no business pretending to the title of lover. [Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that you will never attain to the performing of the obligations, the avoiding of the prohibited things, and the performance of the supererogatory acts that He has laid down for you to draw nearer to Him, save through knowledge. Seek it then! Knowledge makes you aware of what is a duty, what is recommended, what is forbidden, how to perform your duties and recommended acts, and how to avoid what is prohibited.
Therefore, you must have knowledge and cannot dispense with it; for on the practice of it your happiness in this world and the hereafter depends. Know that those who worship but have no knowledge end up receiving more harm from their worship than benefit. How many a worshipper has tired himself out in worshipping while persistently committing a sin which he believed to be an act of obedience or (at any rate) not a sin! [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Give strength, give thought, give deeds, give wealth;
Give love, give tears, and give yourself.
Give, give, be always giving.
Who gives not is not living;
The more you give, the more you live.
No disaster can occur except with leave of God; and whoever believes in God, God guides his heart. And God has perfect knowledge of everything. So obey God, and obey the messenger. But if you turn away, the only obligation of Our messenger is clear communication. There is no deity but God so let it be in God that the believers trust. [64: 11,12,13]
Hadith of the Day:
The one who holds on to my sunna when corruption spreads in my community shall have the reward of a martyr. [Tabrani]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The lover will sacrifice for the Beloved reason, logic, and interest, will obey the Beloved in perfect bondage, will be ready to sacrifice everything he has for the Beloved. One who cannot lay down his life for his beloved has no business pretending to the title of lover. [Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that you will never attain to the performing of the obligations, the avoiding of the prohibited things, and the performance of the supererogatory acts that He has laid down for you to draw nearer to Him, save through knowledge. Seek it then! Knowledge makes you aware of what is a duty, what is recommended, what is forbidden, how to perform your duties and recommended acts, and how to avoid what is prohibited.
Therefore, you must have knowledge and cannot dispense with it; for on the practice of it your happiness in this world and the hereafter depends. Know that those who worship but have no knowledge end up receiving more harm from their worship than benefit. How many a worshipper has tired himself out in worshipping while persistently committing a sin which he believed to be an act of obedience or (at any rate) not a sin! [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Give strength, give thought, give deeds, give wealth;
Give love, give tears, and give yourself.
Give, give, be always giving.
Who gives not is not living;
The more you give, the more you live.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The five categories of people who pray
By Imam ibn al Qayyam al Jawzeeyah
The first: The category of the oppressor to himself, the negligent one, one who is deficient in performing ablution for it, negligent with its appointed time periods, its boundaries and its pillars.
The second: One who preserves it appointed time periods, its boundaries, its outward pillars and ablution for it. However, he forsakes striving against his own self from whisperings and thinking to himself, and so is preoccupied with whisperings and thoughts.
The third: One who preserves its appointed time periods, its pillars as well as strives against himself in repelling whisperings and distracting thoughts that overcome him, he is busy in striving against his enemy in order to prevent him from stealing his prayer, he is in prayer as well as Jihaad.
The fourth: One whom when he stands for prayer perfects its rights, its pillars and its boundaries. His heart is occupied with preserving its boundaries and preventing anything of it being lost, rather all his attention is directed to performing it as it should be, in its most complete and perfect form, his heart is occupied with the prayer and worshiping his Lord the Elevated with it.
The fifth: One who performs the prayer like the previous person, but in addition to this, he has taken his heart and presented it to his Lord. He looks at his Lord with his heart, fully concerned with Him, in utmost obedience out of love and reverence for Him, it is as if he sees and witnesses his Lord. All distracting thoughts and whisperings fade away and the veil between him and his Lord is removed. The difference between this person in his prayer and others, is greater and better than all that is between the heavens and earth, he is fully occupied and overjoyed with his Lord in his prayer.
The first category is punished, the second is held accountable, the third is pardoned, the fourth is rewarded and the fifth is brought close to his Lord, because he gains a portion of what made the prayer a delight to him. For whoever is delighted with his prayer in the life of this world, will be delighted by being close to his Lord in the afterlife as well as being delighted with his Lord in this life, and whoever is delighted with Allaah, everything would be delighted with him, and whoever is not delighted with Allaah the Elevated, his soul will be torn apart for the life of this world in loss.
It is narrated that when a servant stands for prayer, Allaah the Glorified says; “Remove the veil.”, and if the servant turns away He says: “Replace it.”
This ‘turning away’ has been explained as the turning of the heart away from Allaah the Mighty to other than Him. So if he turns away, the veil is replaced between him and his Lord and Shaytaan enters and presents worldly affairs to him, he shows them to him in the image of a woman. But if he turns with his heart to Allaah and does not turn away, Shaytaan would not be able to come between Allaah and that heart, he only enters if the veil is replaced. If he returns to Allaah the Elevated with his heart, the Shaytaan would escape, and if he turns away, the Shaytaan would return, such is his state with his enemy in prayer.
The first: The category of the oppressor to himself, the negligent one, one who is deficient in performing ablution for it, negligent with its appointed time periods, its boundaries and its pillars.
The second: One who preserves it appointed time periods, its boundaries, its outward pillars and ablution for it. However, he forsakes striving against his own self from whisperings and thinking to himself, and so is preoccupied with whisperings and thoughts.
The third: One who preserves its appointed time periods, its pillars as well as strives against himself in repelling whisperings and distracting thoughts that overcome him, he is busy in striving against his enemy in order to prevent him from stealing his prayer, he is in prayer as well as Jihaad.
The fourth: One whom when he stands for prayer perfects its rights, its pillars and its boundaries. His heart is occupied with preserving its boundaries and preventing anything of it being lost, rather all his attention is directed to performing it as it should be, in its most complete and perfect form, his heart is occupied with the prayer and worshiping his Lord the Elevated with it.
The fifth: One who performs the prayer like the previous person, but in addition to this, he has taken his heart and presented it to his Lord. He looks at his Lord with his heart, fully concerned with Him, in utmost obedience out of love and reverence for Him, it is as if he sees and witnesses his Lord. All distracting thoughts and whisperings fade away and the veil between him and his Lord is removed. The difference between this person in his prayer and others, is greater and better than all that is between the heavens and earth, he is fully occupied and overjoyed with his Lord in his prayer.
The first category is punished, the second is held accountable, the third is pardoned, the fourth is rewarded and the fifth is brought close to his Lord, because he gains a portion of what made the prayer a delight to him. For whoever is delighted with his prayer in the life of this world, will be delighted by being close to his Lord in the afterlife as well as being delighted with his Lord in this life, and whoever is delighted with Allaah, everything would be delighted with him, and whoever is not delighted with Allaah the Elevated, his soul will be torn apart for the life of this world in loss.
It is narrated that when a servant stands for prayer, Allaah the Glorified says; “Remove the veil.”, and if the servant turns away He says: “Replace it.”
This ‘turning away’ has been explained as the turning of the heart away from Allaah the Mighty to other than Him. So if he turns away, the veil is replaced between him and his Lord and Shaytaan enters and presents worldly affairs to him, he shows them to him in the image of a woman. But if he turns with his heart to Allaah and does not turn away, Shaytaan would not be able to come between Allaah and that heart, he only enters if the veil is replaced. If he returns to Allaah the Elevated with his heart, the Shaytaan would escape, and if he turns away, the Shaytaan would return, such is his state with his enemy in prayer.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1169
Ayahs of the Day:
Believe in God and the messenger of God, and the light that We sent down, as God is aware of whatever you do. The day God assembles you for a day of gathering, that will be a day of outdoing----whoever believes in God and acts with integrity, God will efface their evils from them and admit them to gardens below which rivers flow, to abide therein forever: that is the great success. [64: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
The best jihad is to speak a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
We are designed to fall to our knees. The True king admits the beggar first, let's pray O Lord............. [Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
The one who performs the obligations, avoids the prohibited things, and does not add anything to this is better than him who performs acts of supererogation but neglects some obligations. Beware therefore, of neglecting any obligations while occupied with acts of supererogation, for you would thereby sin, and by abandoning your obligations your acts of supererogation will become unacceptable to God.
An example of this is the man who occupies himself with acquiring a kind of knowledge which is, for him, supererogatory, and neglects acquiring the kind which is, for him, obligatory, either outwardly, or inwardly. Another is the man who is able to but neglects working for a livelihood and busies himself with supererogatory devotions, leaving his children to beg from others. You can use these two examples to assess by analogy other similar situations. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
When a man begins to understand himself, he begins to live. A humble knowledge of oneself is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences. Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. The life which is unexamined is not worth living.
Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement.
Believe in God and the messenger of God, and the light that We sent down, as God is aware of whatever you do. The day God assembles you for a day of gathering, that will be a day of outdoing----whoever believes in God and acts with integrity, God will efface their evils from them and admit them to gardens below which rivers flow, to abide therein forever: that is the great success. [64: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
The best jihad is to speak a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
We are designed to fall to our knees. The True king admits the beggar first, let's pray O Lord............. [Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Guidance of the Day:
The one who performs the obligations, avoids the prohibited things, and does not add anything to this is better than him who performs acts of supererogation but neglects some obligations. Beware therefore, of neglecting any obligations while occupied with acts of supererogation, for you would thereby sin, and by abandoning your obligations your acts of supererogation will become unacceptable to God.
An example of this is the man who occupies himself with acquiring a kind of knowledge which is, for him, supererogatory, and neglects acquiring the kind which is, for him, obligatory, either outwardly, or inwardly. Another is the man who is able to but neglects working for a livelihood and busies himself with supererogatory devotions, leaving his children to beg from others. You can use these two examples to assess by analogy other similar situations. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
When a man begins to understand himself, he begins to live. A humble knowledge of oneself is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences. Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. The life which is unexamined is not worth living.
Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....209
1. Actions are lifeless forms, but the presence of an inner sincerity within them is what endows them with life-giving spirit.
2. So long as you are in this world, be not surprised at the existence of sorrows. For, truly, it manifests nothing but what is in keeping with its character or its inevitable nature.
3. Among the signs of success at the end is the turning to God at the beginning.
4. Do not keep company with anyone whose state does not inspire you and whose speech does not lead you to God.
5. You might be in a bad state; then, associating with one who is in a worse state, you see virtue in yourself.
6. There is no minor sin when His justice confronts you; and there is no major sin when His grace confronts you.
7. Let not obedience make you joyous because it comes from you; but rather, be joyous over it because it comes from God to you.
8. Whoever does not draw near to God as a result of the caresses of love is shackled to Him with the chains of misfortune.
9. Whoever is not thankful for graces runs the risk of losing them; and whoever is thankful, fetters them with their own cord.
10. Be fearful lest the existence of His generosity toward you and the persistence of your bad behavior toward Him not lead you step by step to ruin.
[Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
2. So long as you are in this world, be not surprised at the existence of sorrows. For, truly, it manifests nothing but what is in keeping with its character or its inevitable nature.
3. Among the signs of success at the end is the turning to God at the beginning.
4. Do not keep company with anyone whose state does not inspire you and whose speech does not lead you to God.
5. You might be in a bad state; then, associating with one who is in a worse state, you see virtue in yourself.
6. There is no minor sin when His justice confronts you; and there is no major sin when His grace confronts you.
7. Let not obedience make you joyous because it comes from you; but rather, be joyous over it because it comes from God to you.
8. Whoever does not draw near to God as a result of the caresses of love is shackled to Him with the chains of misfortune.
9. Whoever is not thankful for graces runs the risk of losing them; and whoever is thankful, fetters them with their own cord.
10. Be fearful lest the existence of His generosity toward you and the persistence of your bad behavior toward Him not lead you step by step to ruin.
[Above quotes by Ibn Ata'Allah]
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1168
Ayahs of the Day:
God created the heavens and the earth soundly, and formed you all, fashioning you expertly; and the destination is to God. God knows what is in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal. And God knows what is contained in hearts. [64: 3,4]
Hadith of the Day:
You will not believe as long as you do not love one another. (Muslim)
Wise Quote of the Day:
All buildings eventually crumble, all cars end up in scrap yards and our own bodies are doomed eventually to die. From all this, we may conclude that surrender and submission are deeper truths than planning and will power. [Joel Ibrahim Kreps]
Guidance of the Day:
You must observe the obligations and the prohibitions, and increase your supererogatory (nawafil) devotions. For if you do this purely for the sake of God you will attain to the utmost proximity of Him, the gift of love shall be bestowed upon you, and then all your movements and times of stillness will become for and by him. This is the bestowal of sainthood or even vice-regency (khilafa).
So make haste! Make haste, if you are determined to reach the degrees of perfection and wish to attain to the ranks of men. The path is now clear before you, and the radiance of realization has appeared to you. Know that God has put much good into supererogatory devotions, through His grace and mercy, for many imperfections occur in obligatory worship. However, imperfections in an obligatory act can only be redeemed by an act of supererogation of the same kind: prayer by prayer, and fasting by fasting. Obligations are the basis and acts of supererogation are dependent upon them. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Thank you God for this good life and forgive us if we don't love it enough. What power has love than forgiveness. One forgives to the degree one loves. Forgiveness is the final form of love. To err is human, to forgive is divine, to continue in sin is devilish. Forgiveness is the fragrance that violet sheds on the heel of the one that crushed it.
God created the heavens and the earth soundly, and formed you all, fashioning you expertly; and the destination is to God. God knows what is in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal. And God knows what is contained in hearts. [64: 3,4]
Hadith of the Day:
You will not believe as long as you do not love one another. (Muslim)
Wise Quote of the Day:
All buildings eventually crumble, all cars end up in scrap yards and our own bodies are doomed eventually to die. From all this, we may conclude that surrender and submission are deeper truths than planning and will power. [Joel Ibrahim Kreps]
Guidance of the Day:
You must observe the obligations and the prohibitions, and increase your supererogatory (nawafil) devotions. For if you do this purely for the sake of God you will attain to the utmost proximity of Him, the gift of love shall be bestowed upon you, and then all your movements and times of stillness will become for and by him. This is the bestowal of sainthood or even vice-regency (khilafa).
So make haste! Make haste, if you are determined to reach the degrees of perfection and wish to attain to the ranks of men. The path is now clear before you, and the radiance of realization has appeared to you. Know that God has put much good into supererogatory devotions, through His grace and mercy, for many imperfections occur in obligatory worship. However, imperfections in an obligatory act can only be redeemed by an act of supererogation of the same kind: prayer by prayer, and fasting by fasting. Obligations are the basis and acts of supererogation are dependent upon them. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Thank you God for this good life and forgive us if we don't love it enough. What power has love than forgiveness. One forgives to the degree one loves. Forgiveness is the final form of love. To err is human, to forgive is divine, to continue in sin is devilish. Forgiveness is the fragrance that violet sheds on the heel of the one that crushed it.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....208
1. How should God inflict pain on an innocent person? So know that your suffering is the result of some lapse; the blow was inflicted because of your sensuality.
2. The world is like a mountain---------what ever you say good or evil, will come back to you. If you imagine that you spoke beautifully, but the mountain returned an ugly echo, that is absurd.
3. God makes an unfortunate man suffer and he flees from Him in ingratitude. But when He sends suffering to a fortunate man, he moves closer to Him.
4. Tribulations and fear for one's life are touchstones----------through them the brave are distinguished from the coward.
5. O you who cannot bear to be without this despicable world! How can you bear to be without Him Who spread it as a carpet.
6. O you who cannot bear to be without luxuries and comforts! How can you bear to be without the Generous God.
7. Until copper becomes gold, it does not know it is copper. Until the heart becomes king, it does not know it is indigent.
8. Intellect is a man's wings and feathers. If he lacks intellect, then let him find the intellect of a guide.
9. You know the value of every merchandise; but you do not know your own value---------that is stupidity.
10. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'you have no more faithful companion than your works. If they are good, they will be your friends forever; but if they are bad, they will be the serpents in your grave.' [Spirtiual Teachings of Mawlana Rumi]
2. The world is like a mountain---------what ever you say good or evil, will come back to you. If you imagine that you spoke beautifully, but the mountain returned an ugly echo, that is absurd.
3. God makes an unfortunate man suffer and he flees from Him in ingratitude. But when He sends suffering to a fortunate man, he moves closer to Him.
4. Tribulations and fear for one's life are touchstones----------through them the brave are distinguished from the coward.
5. O you who cannot bear to be without this despicable world! How can you bear to be without Him Who spread it as a carpet.
6. O you who cannot bear to be without luxuries and comforts! How can you bear to be without the Generous God.
7. Until copper becomes gold, it does not know it is copper. Until the heart becomes king, it does not know it is indigent.
8. Intellect is a man's wings and feathers. If he lacks intellect, then let him find the intellect of a guide.
9. You know the value of every merchandise; but you do not know your own value---------that is stupidity.
10. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'you have no more faithful companion than your works. If they are good, they will be your friends forever; but if they are bad, they will be the serpents in your grave.' [Spirtiual Teachings of Mawlana Rumi]
Friday, December 04, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1167
Ayahs of the Day:
Everything in the heavens and everything on the earth glorifies God, to whom belongs the dominion and who deserves all praise; and who has power over all things. That is the one who created you all; but some of you deny, while some of you believe. And God sees whatever you do. [64: 1,2]
Hadith of the Day:
A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the Prophets, the upright, and the martyrs. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Faith leads to humility, avoidance of vanity in word and deed, charity, confidence, faithful observance of trusts and covenants, and devout approach to Allah-----surest steps to bliss. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that not everyone is capable of independently evaluating all affairs, outward and inward, against the Book and sunna, for only erudite scholars can do this. Should you ever find difficulty doing so, go to one of those whom God commanded you have recourse in His saying (Exalted is He): So ask the people of remembrance if you do not know. (16: 43)
The people of remembrance are those who have knowledge of God and His religion, practice what they know for His sake, have no desire for the world, are not distracted by commerce from His remembrance, summon to Him clear-sightedly, and to whom His secrets are unveiled. Those who seek them with sincerity and zeal will not, by God's Will, fail to find one of them. Sincerity is a sword that is never used against anything without cutting it. The earth is never without those who uphold the matter for God. These are the stars of the earth, the carriers of the Trust, the deputies of the Chosen One, and the heirs of the Prophets; God is well-pleased with them, and they are well-pleased with Him. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. The one thing worth living for is to keep one's soul pure. The proper function of man is to live-----not to exist. The purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is after all, to have made some difference that you lived at all.
Everything in the heavens and everything on the earth glorifies God, to whom belongs the dominion and who deserves all praise; and who has power over all things. That is the one who created you all; but some of you deny, while some of you believe. And God sees whatever you do. [64: 1,2]
Hadith of the Day:
A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the Prophets, the upright, and the martyrs. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Faith leads to humility, avoidance of vanity in word and deed, charity, confidence, faithful observance of trusts and covenants, and devout approach to Allah-----surest steps to bliss. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that not everyone is capable of independently evaluating all affairs, outward and inward, against the Book and sunna, for only erudite scholars can do this. Should you ever find difficulty doing so, go to one of those whom God commanded you have recourse in His saying (Exalted is He): So ask the people of remembrance if you do not know. (16: 43)
The people of remembrance are those who have knowledge of God and His religion, practice what they know for His sake, have no desire for the world, are not distracted by commerce from His remembrance, summon to Him clear-sightedly, and to whom His secrets are unveiled. Those who seek them with sincerity and zeal will not, by God's Will, fail to find one of them. Sincerity is a sword that is never used against anything without cutting it. The earth is never without those who uphold the matter for God. These are the stars of the earth, the carriers of the Trust, the deputies of the Chosen One, and the heirs of the Prophets; God is well-pleased with them, and they are well-pleased with Him. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. The one thing worth living for is to keep one's soul pure. The proper function of man is to live-----not to exist. The purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is after all, to have made some difference that you lived at all.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....207
1. Every thing is good and perfect in relation to God. For example, in a king's realm there are prisons, gallows, robes of honor, estates, retinue, banquets etc. In relation to the king, all is good.
2. Knowledge and wisdom exist to distinguish the right from the wrong; if everything were the right way, then wisdom would be useless.
3. Look at this: In spite of all the world's bitterness, you are passionately attached to it. Know that bitter tribulation is a mercy!
4. The cruelty of time and of every suffering that exists is easier than distance from God and heedlessness. For cruelty will pass, but distance from Him will not, no one possesses good fortune but he who takes to Him an aware spirit.
5. Religion cannot exist without unbelief, since religion is the abandonment of unbelief; therefore an unbelief must exist for us to abandon.
6. If man can pass beyond his own ego, his spirit can join its original state of purity and unity.
7. Those who are the elect of Adam's children breathe the breath of 'We have wronged ourselves.' Display your need for God-------do not argue like the impudent and accursed Iblis.
8. Hell is a dragon with seven heads; your greed is the bait, and hell is the snare.
9. Each and every part of the world is a snare for the fool and a means of deliverance for the wise. For one person it is candy, for another poison; for one it is gentleness, for another severity.
10. If we do not achieve the state of 'seeing things as they are' in this world, we will certainly achieve it in the next. However, that may well be too late for us to reap any benefit from it. [Spiritual Teachings of Mawlana Rumi]
2. Knowledge and wisdom exist to distinguish the right from the wrong; if everything were the right way, then wisdom would be useless.
3. Look at this: In spite of all the world's bitterness, you are passionately attached to it. Know that bitter tribulation is a mercy!
4. The cruelty of time and of every suffering that exists is easier than distance from God and heedlessness. For cruelty will pass, but distance from Him will not, no one possesses good fortune but he who takes to Him an aware spirit.
5. Religion cannot exist without unbelief, since religion is the abandonment of unbelief; therefore an unbelief must exist for us to abandon.
6. If man can pass beyond his own ego, his spirit can join its original state of purity and unity.
7. Those who are the elect of Adam's children breathe the breath of 'We have wronged ourselves.' Display your need for God-------do not argue like the impudent and accursed Iblis.
8. Hell is a dragon with seven heads; your greed is the bait, and hell is the snare.
9. Each and every part of the world is a snare for the fool and a means of deliverance for the wise. For one person it is candy, for another poison; for one it is gentleness, for another severity.
10. If we do not achieve the state of 'seeing things as they are' in this world, we will certainly achieve it in the next. However, that may well be too late for us to reap any benefit from it. [Spiritual Teachings of Mawlana Rumi]
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1166
Ayahs of the Day:
Believers, don't let your properties or your children divert you from remembrance of God; any who do that will be the losers. And give of what We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says, "My Lord, why didn't You let me stay awhile-------I would have given charity, and would have been among the righteous." But God will not let a soul stay behind when its time has come; and God is fully aware of what you do. [63: 9,10,11]
Hadith of the Day:
There is no obedience to the created beings when it entails disobedience to the Creator. [Tirmidhi & Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Judge your worth in the Creator's sight by how much space He occupies in your heart, and your worth in people's eyes by how you treat them. Do not neglect the Truth even for a moment. [Fethullah Gulen]
Guidance of the Day:
You must hold fast to the Book and the sunna. Take refuge in them, for they are the upright religion of God, and His straight path. Those who adhere to them find safety, profit, guidance and protection, while those who deviate from them go astray, grieve, lose, and are broken. Let them govern you and control what you do, and consult them in your every affair, in obedience to the counsel of God and that of His Messenger.
If it pleases you to be well-guided along the white road in which there is neither crookedness nor curvature, then measure all your intentions, traits, acts, and words against the Book and sunna, then retain whatever conforms to them and abandon whatever does not. And always be cautious and follow the better alternative. Never innovate in religion, nor follow the ways of the non-believers, or else you will lose both this world and the hereafter, which thing is the manifest loss. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
We are all dust and clay until we find inspiration in our lives. When we are inspired, we change the world, not by changing others, but by changing ourselves. If everyone on this planet felt inspired and breathed life into each other, we would have a world of companionship and love. Inspire deeply for yourself and all those in your life.
Believers, don't let your properties or your children divert you from remembrance of God; any who do that will be the losers. And give of what We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says, "My Lord, why didn't You let me stay awhile-------I would have given charity, and would have been among the righteous." But God will not let a soul stay behind when its time has come; and God is fully aware of what you do. [63: 9,10,11]
Hadith of the Day:
There is no obedience to the created beings when it entails disobedience to the Creator. [Tirmidhi & Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Judge your worth in the Creator's sight by how much space He occupies in your heart, and your worth in people's eyes by how you treat them. Do not neglect the Truth even for a moment. [Fethullah Gulen]
Guidance of the Day:
You must hold fast to the Book and the sunna. Take refuge in them, for they are the upright religion of God, and His straight path. Those who adhere to them find safety, profit, guidance and protection, while those who deviate from them go astray, grieve, lose, and are broken. Let them govern you and control what you do, and consult them in your every affair, in obedience to the counsel of God and that of His Messenger.
If it pleases you to be well-guided along the white road in which there is neither crookedness nor curvature, then measure all your intentions, traits, acts, and words against the Book and sunna, then retain whatever conforms to them and abandon whatever does not. And always be cautious and follow the better alternative. Never innovate in religion, nor follow the ways of the non-believers, or else you will lose both this world and the hereafter, which thing is the manifest loss. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
We are all dust and clay until we find inspiration in our lives. When we are inspired, we change the world, not by changing others, but by changing ourselves. If everyone on this planet felt inspired and breathed life into each other, we would have a world of companionship and love. Inspire deeply for yourself and all those in your life.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....206
1. People look at secondary causes and think that they are the origin of everything that happens. But it has been revealed to the saints that secondary causes are no more than a veil.
2. Each and every part of the world is a snare for the fool and a means of deliverance for the wise.
3. When patience and intellect go, your ego incites to evil.
4. The sensual ego is blind and deaf to God.
5. All the disgraceful qualities derive from water and clay. Once the mirror of your heart becomes pure and clear, you will see pictures from beyond the domain of water and clay.
6. The saints have polished their breasts until cleansed of greed, cupidity, avarice, and hatred. Without doubt the pure mirror is the heart acting as a receptacle for infinite pictures.
7. Things become clear through their opposites. God created suffering and heartache so that joyful -heartedness might appear through its opposite.
8. No opposite can be known without its opposite. Having suffered a blow, you will know a caress.
9. There is no absolute evil in the world, for evil is relative-----know this also:
The snakes venom is life for the snake, but death in relation to man.
Creatures of water see the ocean as garden, creatures of earth see it as death and torment.
Nothing God has created is in vain, whether wrath, or forbearance, sincere council or guile.
None of these things is absolutely good, none absolutely evil.
The benefit and harm each depends upon the situation.
For this reason knowledge is necessary and useful. [Spiritual Teachings of Mawlana Rumi]
2. Each and every part of the world is a snare for the fool and a means of deliverance for the wise.
3. When patience and intellect go, your ego incites to evil.
4. The sensual ego is blind and deaf to God.
5. All the disgraceful qualities derive from water and clay. Once the mirror of your heart becomes pure and clear, you will see pictures from beyond the domain of water and clay.
6. The saints have polished their breasts until cleansed of greed, cupidity, avarice, and hatred. Without doubt the pure mirror is the heart acting as a receptacle for infinite pictures.
7. Things become clear through their opposites. God created suffering and heartache so that joyful -heartedness might appear through its opposite.
8. No opposite can be known without its opposite. Having suffered a blow, you will know a caress.
9. There is no absolute evil in the world, for evil is relative-----know this also:
The snakes venom is life for the snake, but death in relation to man.
Creatures of water see the ocean as garden, creatures of earth see it as death and torment.
Nothing God has created is in vain, whether wrath, or forbearance, sincere council or guile.
None of these things is absolutely good, none absolutely evil.
The benefit and harm each depends upon the situation.
For this reason knowledge is necessary and useful. [Spiritual Teachings of Mawlana Rumi]
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