Pearls of wisdom 286

1. Do not fear anything except your sins.

2. Do not long for anything other than your Lord.

3. Let no one of you lacking knowledge be too shy to ask until he learns.

4. Do not delight in wealth, and do not be overwhelmed with grief when you are afflicted with poverty

5. Do not be saddened by tribulations.

6. Succeed with knowledge and live energetically forever.

7. Beware of the flight of blessings (because of ingratitude and abuse), for nothing that runs away is returned.

8. Islam is such a set of principles and beliefs that it will satisfy every seeker of truth.

9. Be a good man to Allah -- obedient slave, and a bad man to yourself -- desires, and be one of the commoners among the people.

10. Had there not been five bad qualities, all the people would have been righteous -- contentment with ignorance, love for worldly life, miserliness, ostentation in good deeds and pride in their own intelligence. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1254

Ayahs of the Day:
And We showed him (man) the two highways: but he has not braved the steep road. And what will convey to you what the steep road is? Emancipation of a slave, or feeding on a day of hunger an orphaned relative or a destitute pauper. Then one will be of those who believe and practice patience and practice kindness. They are the company of the right. And as for those who scoff at Our signs, they are the company of the left: there will be fire enclosing them. [90: 10 to 20]

Hadith of the Day:
Faith wears out in the hearts of anyone of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your heart. [Tabarani]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Taqwa is not praying during the night and fasting during the day and mixing between permissible and impermissible. But Taqwa is to fulfill what Allah has obligated and to avoid what Allah has forbidden. If in addition to that, there are some (good voluntary) deeds, it is goodness upon goodness. [Omar ibn Abdul Azeez]

Guidance of the Day:
Don't sweat the little quirks. In some ways, it's no wonder that the people you live with can drive you crazy with their little quirks. You know, the way someone eats, uses utensils, breathes, flits her hair, jiggles his legs or whatever. Let's face it. There isn't a person alive who doesn't have his or her share of irritating quirks. And if you were really honest, I'll bet you'd admit to having a few of your own. But despite these innocent quirks, I'll bet you're really a nice person. The point is we are all human. To be human is to have quirks. Big deal!

You really have two options when it comes to dealing with quirks. You can continue to be critical of, and be bothered by the little quirks that exist in your household. Or you can choose to see the innocence and humor that is inherent in virtually all quirks. After all, no one wants annoying quirks to be part of his or her personal makeup -- we certainly don't set to create them! They develop unintentionally and continue out of pure habit.

Why not make the decision to make those little quirks a little less relevant? Doing so is huge relief. You will no longer have to spend mental energy reminding yourself how irritated you are -- therefore feeling the effects of that irritation. And you'll find that when you're more forgiving and accepting of everyone else, it's far easier to be easier on yourself. So, starting today, whatever "small stuff" around the house bugs you, see if you can let it go! You will be so much happier as a result. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Marriage was instituted by God Himself for the purpose of preventing promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and security of children. The sanctity of marriage and the family relation make the corner-stone of our society. One should believe in marriage as in the immortality of the soul. Where there is marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

Pearls of wisdom 285

1. Opportunities do not repeat themselves.

2. Postpone evil deeds as long as possible because you can commit them whenever you so desire.

3. Do not introduce ridiculous topics in your talk even if you have to repeat sayings of others.

4. Your souls are precious and can only be equal the price of Paradise, therefore sell them only for that.

5. One who is mild rather than forceful has a greater capacity for outreach.

6. How many lessons there are; and how little we learn!!!

7. Whoever desires Paradise proceeds towards goodness.

8. Whoever fears Hell refrains from the impulses of passions.

9. Whoever believes firmly in death detests worldly life.

10. Whoever recognizes worldly life, the trials and tribulations of life become slight for him. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1253

Ayahs of the Day:
I swear by this city -- and you are a freeman in this city -- and by the one who begets, and the one he begets, We have indeed made man in distress. Does he assume no one has power over him? He says, "I have used up much money!" Does he assume no one sees him? Have We not made two eyes for him, and a tongue and two lips? [90: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:
Rights will be given to those whom they are owed on the Day of Judgment, even the hornless sheep will have retaliation from the horned sheep. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
No one is a companion of yours except the one who, while knowing your defects, is your companion, and that is only your generous Lord. The best one to take as a companion is He who does not seek you out for the sake of something coming from you to Him. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:
Appreciate your In-laws! It's easy to forget, yet if you love your spouse, you owe your in-laws an enormous debt of gratitude! If not for their bringing your spouse into the world, you would be with someone else, or alone. In most instances, it took your in-laws (or one of them) to raise your spouse. So, regardless of what you may think, they played a significant role in your spouse's upbringing.

Before you sarcastically think something like "That explains why my spouse has certain problems," keep in mind that the opposite is equally true. If you blame your in-laws for any issues your spouse struggles with, it's only fair to give them credit for his or her strengths as well. In addition, if you have children, their genes -- their physical makeup -- come, in part, from your in-laws. Without their contribution, your children would not be the people they are. If you think your kids are cute, and who doesn't think so, some of that cuteness, whether you want to believe it or not, comes from your in-laws.

I realize that all in-laws have certain difficult qualities. However, what choice do you have? You can continue to complain about your in-laws, make mean-spirited jokes about how difficult it is to have them, and wish that they were different -- or you can begin to focus less on their irritating quirks and characteristics and instead focus on that which you have to be grateful for. I believe the decision is an easy one. Stay focused on gratitude and my guess is that you'll be able to improve your existing relationships in a significant way. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
As you think, you travel, and as you love, you attract. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. Our best friends and our worst enemies are our thoughts. A thought can do us more good than a doctor or a banker or a faithful friend. It can also do us more harm than a brick. God will help you if your try, and you can if you think you can.

Pearls of wisdom 284

1. Do not run after him who tries to avoid you.

2. Do not get too worried and depressed over oppressions and cruelties, because whoever oppresses you is in reality doing himself harm.

3. Do not be like those on whom advice has no effect and who require punishment to correct themselves.

4. A sensible and reasonable man acquires education and culture through advice, and brutes and beasts always accept correction through punishment and chastisement.

5. A true friend is one who speaks well of his friend even behind his back -- be a true friend.

6. Inordinate desires have close relations with misfortunes and calamities.

7. He who wants to retain his prestige and position, through contentment and honesty, will find them lasting assets.

8. Weaknesses and shortcomings are not the things to talk about.

9. The greatest achievement of your character is that the enmity of your brother against you dare not overcome the consideration and friendship you feel toward him, and his ill-treatment of you cannot over balance your kind treatment to him.

10. The past and almost all that was in your possession during the past is not with you now; you may thus rationally come to the conclusion that the present and all that is in your possession will also leave you -- make the most of it. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1252

Ayahs of the Day:
When the earth is flattened, demolished and devastated, and your Lord and angels come, row after row, and hell is brought forth that day, on that day man will take counsel, but how will advice avail him? He will say, "Oh, would that I had prepared for my life!" For no one can inflict the divine punishment that day, and no one can bind the divine bond that day. "O tranquil soul, return to your Lord, pleased and accepted: Enter the company of My servants; enter into My garden." [89: 21 to 30]

Hadith of the Day:
As you were to rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds -- they go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
It's about you, your Lord and the grave, nothing else matters. [Shaykh Nuh Keller]

Guidance of the Day:
Appreciate your in-laws! For many people, in-laws present quite a personal challenge, to say the least. And even if you like your in-laws, you do have to make certain sacrifices simply because of the nature of marriage. You will, for example, have to make trade-offs as to where you spend holidays. You will also have to deal with the almost unavoidable problems of conflicting backgrounds and upbringings -- different religious philosophies, differing views on parenting, discipline, spending, saving, the relative importance of spending time with family, and so forth.

Yet, despite the probable differences among you, I believe that most in-law relationships have the potential to be loving and filled with mutual respect. The trick to making the most of your relationship with your in-laws is to stay focused on gratitude. While there almost certainly will be differences you will have to deal with, gratitude will enable you to appreciate, rather than struggle against, those differences. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. But how many of these things truly have value, and how many are simply objects we have accumulated? If you were on the Titanic and had a life preserver in one hand and a bag of gold in the other, would you sink rather than let go of the gold? Let go of what is pulling you under or draining your energy so that you can keep your head above water.

Muharram Mubarak -- Happy new year!!!

Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.

Do you know why a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small?
Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. Look Ahead and Move on.

Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says,
"Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in Your Abilities.

A blind person asked a wise person "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

When you pray for others, God listens to you, blesses you and them. Sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

WORRYING does not take away tomorrows' TROUBLES, it takes away today’s' PEACE.

LESSON OF THE DAY 1251

Ayahs of the Day:
And as for man, whenever his Lord tests him by honoring him and pampering him, he says, "My Lord has honored me!" And when his Lord tests him by restricting his provision, he says, "My Lord has insulted me!" It's not that, but you are not generous to the orphan and don't encourage each other to feed the poor, and you consume inheritance with all-consuming voracity and you love wealth with concentrated love. [89: 15 to 20]

Hadith of the Day:
Anyone who shows the way to something good has the same reward as the person who does it. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
To return one sixth of a dirham (illegally gotten) is preferred to spending one thousand (dirhams) in the way of Allah. [Abdullah ibn Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Let go of your expectations -- In no way am I suggesting that you eliminate your preferences or all of your expectations. Certainly there will be times when you will want to insist on certain things or demand certain standards of behavior, and that's fine. But lessening your expectations is not the same thing as lowering your standards! It's entirely possible to have very high standards, yet still keep your perspective about your own expectations.

Keep in mind that our goal here is to improve the quality of our lives and to keep the little things from taking over our lives. It's ultimately in your best interest if you can see the importance of letting go of some of your expectations. That way, you can enjoy more of your life the way it really is and struggle less with the way you would rather it be. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. The altar of sacrifice is the touchstone of character. To love is to know the sacrifices which eternity exacts from life. Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices. Self-preservation is the first law of nature; self-sacrifice the highest rule of grace.

Pearls of wisdom 284

1. Do not rely on vain hopes, because vain hopes are the assets of idiots and fools.

2. Wisdom is the name of the trait of remembering experiences and making use of them.

3. The best experience is the one that gives the best warning and advice.

4. Take advantage of opportunities before they turn their backs upon you.

5. The worst form of folly is to waste the opportunities of this life and to lose salvation.

6. For every action there is a reaction (watch out for your actions).

7. Take care and do not be fooled by flattery.

8. Do not disappoint a person who holds a good opinion of you, and do not make him change his opinion.

9. Keep complete control over your temper and anger -- for I have never found anything more beneficial at the end and more productive of good results than such control.

10. Grant favor and be considerate of your enemy -- you will thus gain one or the other of the two victories: One, rising above your enemy; the other, reducing the intensity of his enmity. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1250

Ayahs of the Day:
By the daybreak and ten nights and the even and the odd and the night when it passes: is there an oath in that for those of understanding? Haven't you seen how your Lord treated the 'Ad, of the pillared city Iram, the like of which was never made in any land; and the Thamud, who hollowed rock in the valley; and Pharaoh, Lord of stakes; the ones who were tyrannical in the lands and multiplied corruption therein, so your Lord poured a medley of punishment upon them; for your Lord is on the lookout. [89: 1 to 14]

Hadith of the Day:
Do not consider anything good insignificant, even meeting your brother with a happy face. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The worshippers of Allah do not worship in anyway better than avoiding what Allah has forbidden. [Hasan al-Basri]

Guidance of the Day:
Let go of your expectations. If ever there was a suggestion that was easier said than done, this would be it. Expectations are a part of life and seem to be ingrained into our thinking. However, if you ever lessen your expectations (even a little bit) about how things are supposed to be, and instead open your heart and acceptance to what is, you'll be well on your way to a calmer and much happier life.

The truth is, our expectations are responsible for a great deal of our grief and stress. We expect something to be a certain way or a person to behave in a certain way and it doesn't happen -- so we get upset, bothered, disappointed, and unhappy. Since life is rarely exactly the way we would like it to be, or the way we expect it should be, we end up spending a great deal of time let down or disappointed, constantly wishing life were different than it actually is. Then, rather than seeing our own part in the process, we continue to blame life and our circumstances for our stress and frustration. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. Every new adjustment is a crisis in self-esteem. All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy, for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another.

Eid Mubarak!!!

5 reasons why Allah SWT tests us

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 characer 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"


*taken from an e-mail

Pearls of wisdom 283

The superiority of amassing knowledge over wealth is that:

1. The knowledge will look after you, but you must look after the wealth.

2. While wealth is what was left behind by the likes of Fir'aun and Hamaan, knowledge is the inherited legacy of the Prophets themselves.

3. Spending wealth only diminishes it, whereas spending knowledge increases it.

4. Holding to the wealth over an extended period of time decreases its value, whereas no such harm can comes to knowledge.

5. There is always a fear that wealth might get stolen or lost, not so with knowledge.

6. The possessor of wealth may be known as a miser, whereas the possessor of knowledge can only be known as generous.

7. Wealth tends to create enemies, whereas knowledge tends to warm hearts.

8. Fir'aun's vast wealth caused him to say "Truly I am deserving of your worship." whereas the Prophet's (peace be upon him) vast knowledge caused him to say, " Truly we have not worshiped You (O'Allah) as you deserve to be worshiped.

9. Knowledge results in the heart's illumination, whereas wealth results in its agitation.

10. On the Day of Reckoning it is your wealth you will have to be answerable for not your knowledge. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1249

Ayahs of the Day:
Don't they see the camels, how they are made, and the sky, how it is raised, and the mountains, how they are set, and the earth, how it is spread? So remind; you are but one who reminds, not a ruler over them. But whoever turns away and scoffs God will punish him with the greatest torment. It is to Us that they'll return: then their reckoning is up to Us. [88: 17 to 26]

Hadith of the Day:
Part of excellence of a person's Islam is in leaving alone that what does not concern him. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Don't seek anything other than contentment because therein is the bliss and the comfort of your body. Then consider the case of a person who possesses the whole world, can he take with him in his grave more than cotton and a shroud. [A Poet]

Guidance of the Day:
When you refuse to engage in an argument, not out of stubbornness or righteousness, but out of love and kindness, you'll see how quickly issues naturally resolve themselves. When someone begins an argument or heated discussion, you are faced with an interesting (and sometimes difficult) decision that you must make very quickly. Do you jump in or do you back off? Do you try to prove yourself and your opinion, or can you allow the other person to win or make his or her point?

I'm not suggesting that you stop defending your positions when they are truly important, or that you allow anyone to walk over, or take advantage of you. In fact, I think you'll agree that allowing someone else to win the argument, at least once in a while, is actually a sign of strength. It demonstrates that you are a person who can keep your bearings and sense of perspective. Not always, but usually, this opens the door for the other person to do the same. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Wisdom out weighs any wealth. Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time. Turn your wounds into wisdom. We are made wise not by the recollection of our past but by the responsibility of our future.

Pearls of wisdom 282

1. Go not near places of wickedness and indecency, for they are epicenters of Allah's wrath, and punishment.

2. The worst sin committed by one -- is the one not deemed so when it is done.

3. The best of the words is that which is confirmed by the best actions.

4. When a man's character becomes goodly, his actions become lofty.

5. What a tremendous gift has been given to the one who finds acts of disobedience difficult.

6. Perfecting one's intellect causes one to speak less, and those words spoken will be adorned with wisdom.

7. When fear of the Creator overcomes you then hasten into the embrace of His safety.

8. The noble scholar becomes humble in gaining knowledge, while the ignoble matches his increase in knowledge with an equal share of arrogance.

9. A friend cannot be considered a friend until he is tested on three occasions -- in time of need, behind your back, and after your death.

10. If your kindness or indulgence is going to bring forth cruel results, then severity or strictness is the real kindness. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1248

Ayahs of the Day:
Some faces will be happy that day, satisfied with their endeavor, in a lofty garden, where they'll hear no nonsense. There will be a running spring there, there'll be elevated couches there, and cups set out and cushions arrayed and rich carpets spread. [88: 8 to 16]

Hadith of the Day:
No child can repay his father unless he finds him enslaved and then buys him and sets him free. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not ask one who flees from your requests, but instead, ask the One Who has ordered you to ask of Him. [Ibn al-Samaak]

Guidance of the Day:
Let them win an argument for a change. "Them" can be anyone -- your kids, spouse, friends, or roommates. The premise of this strategy is to show that it's no big deal to let someone else be "right" or to win the argument. In fact, it's a stress reducer. When someone else "wins," it doesn't mean you "lose." In fact, allowing someone else to feel as though he or she has been listened to with genuine respect is, in many instances, far more satisfying than trying to cram your point of view down someone else's throat -- or spending mental energy trying to convince someone else that you are right and that he or she is wrong.

The truth is, from the perspective of quality living, no one really wins an argument. When there is friction between people, the interaction is far from ideal. An argument is nothing more than two or more people trying to prove a position. Invariably, it leaves all parties feeling bad. In an argument, rarely does anyone listen or learn anything. Feelings of resentment, anger, frustration, and stress often result from the confrontation. However, when you allow someone else to win an argument, it's often the case that you both end up winners. Your rapport is enhanced, and your relationship has a chance to grow. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed. The youth cannot have a sound development of character nor a fair chance in life without religion. Religion is the appreciation of life's spiritual values and the interpretation of life and its purpose.

Do not be ruled by lust; seek freedom by following the righteous. Mere claims of piety will not earn you inner freedom. Remain patient in adversity to attain peace, for adversity is the threshold to freedom. [Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Pearls of wisdom 281

1. A man's intellect becomes apparent from his speech; as does his character from the goodness of his action.

2. Always consider your intellect to be lacking; otherwise too much faith in it surely leads to error.

3. Seek Allah's refuge from the heedlessness which comes from prosperity; so deep it is -- it will take one very long to come out of it.

4. It is not in the make-up of a noble person to delay in rewarding not is it that of a generous one to exact revenge.

5. Even if Allah had not decreed to abstain from the foul and impure the man of intellect would still surely do so.

6. Do not consider admitting ignorance as a necessarily bad thing, for saying " I do not know" is itself half of knowledge.

7. Agreeing with everything one hears is from the habits of hypocrites and disputing with everything one hears is the breeding ground of enmity.

8. The sign that Allah is pleased with His servant is that His servant is pleased with His decree.

9. For those with spiritual insight, everything they lay eyes upon have within it a lofty message and a gentle reminder.

10. Slay your lowly desires with the sword of knowledge (Ilm); and your anger with the sword of forbearance (Hilm). [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1247

Ayahs of the Day:
Have you heard tale of the calamity? Some faces will be downcast that day, laboring, exhausted, roasting in a burning fire, given drink from a boiling spring. There will be no food for them but bitter thorn that neither nourishes nor satisfies hunger. [88: 1 to 7]

Hadith of the Day:
Be in the world as a stranger or a passerby. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children, and friends stay behind. [Imam al-Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
Obviously, only you can determine what's appropriate for you, but I can assure you that every single decision or demand you make involving a higher quality object, an increased standard of living, or more perfection on your part of someone else will be very easy to justify. It will always seem like "one more" thing or"one more" demand will do the trick -- then you will be happy. It takes a great deal of wisdom to say "More isn't always better," "More isn't going to make me happier," or " I have enough."

I'm confident that if you experiment with this strategy you will discover a route to contentment that you might never have considered. You can still have a wonderful life and all the things you need -- and most of what you want. However, your life will be far simpler and easier to manage. You will feel less stress and pressure, as though a better life is just around the corner. You will spend less time thinking about what you want, you'll be less consumption oriented, and you will be much more easily satisfied. You'll also be far less inclined to "sweat the small stuff" because you will have reduced your habit of thinking that things aren't good enough as they are. Not a bad list of benefits. I hope you'll give this strategy a try. It might change your perspective a great deal. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
If you are swept off your feet, it's time to get on your knees -- the problem of the world today is there are too many theologians and not enough kneeologians. Prayer is the pillow of religion. The best prayers have often more groans than words. Prayer is the most powerful form of energy one can generate -- it supplies us with a flow of sustaining power in our daily lives. Prayer is conversation with God, it is the very highest energy of which the mind is capable, it is the spiritual gymnasium in which we exercise and practice Godliness. It is not well for man to pray cream, and live skim milk.

Pearls of wisdom 280

1. The one to whom small calamities seem large, will certainly be afflicted by truly large calamities.

2. He whose thoughts are vile and low can have nothing but the worst opinion of others.

3. Thankfulness to the Creator in the form of service to His creation is the ultimate expression of gratitude.

4. The one who acts as if death will come tomorrow feels no sorrow when it finally comes.

5. The excellence of knowledge lies in its practice; and the excellence of kindness to others lies in mentioning it not.

6. Friendship with the ignorant and the heedless are as fickle as the changing times and as quick to disappear as the setting of sun.

7. The difficulty wherein lies hope of reward is better than the comfort enjoyed thanklessly.

8. Consider not a man worthless until you have had a chance to converse with him.

9. Health and well-being on one hand and gluttony on the other are mutually exclusive.

10. Face off your difficulties with patience; and fence in your blessings with thankfulness. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1246

Ayahs of the Day:
But you prefer the life of the world though the hereafter is better and more lasting. This is, indeed, in the earlier books, in the books of Abraham and Moses. [87: 16 to 19]

Hadith of the Day:
Worldly things are sweet and seemingly, whoever takes them with permission will find them blessed, while whoever takes them with avidness shall not find any blessings in them and will be like those who eat and yet are not satiated. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
There are four characteristics that if one possesses them, Allah protects him from Satan: the one who controls himself in a state of craving, fearing, desiring (or lusting) and being angry. [Hasan al-Basri]

Guidance of the Day:
When you put a ceiling on your desires, what you are doing is reminding yourself that you can be happy -- now-- before you get everything you think you want and need. It also reminds you of the trap of never-ending desires, which encourages you to focus more on what you have and less on what you want, which is the basis of gratitude. And gratitude leads to happiness and contentment. A ceiling is a self-imposed, casual, flexible, nonlegal binding agreement you have with yourself that you won't spend your life always wanting life to be better!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with improving your standard of living, buying a new outfit, or moving to a larger apartment, or whatever. It's desirable to always do your best and to always be attempting to do even better. Again, however, there's an enormous distinction between doing your best and always demanding that life be better than it already is, or having a prerequisite that things be different or better before you allow yourself to feel satisfied -- with your life or with other people. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Prayer is the soul getting into contact with the God in Whom it believes. Prayer is a cry of hope. He who prays without confidence cannot hope that his prayers will be granted. Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.

Pearls of wisdom 279

1. The wise attain honor through their humbleness, while the fools bear humiliation through their haughtiness.

2. Regret over misdeeds erases them, and pride over good deeds ruins them.

3. Vain desires is a ruinous companion, and bad habits make up a formidable foe.

4. To panic during a calamity is itself a greater calamity.

5. Honor lies in hastening to forgive, dishonor lies in hastening to revenge.

6. The more worldly greed in one's heart, the less certainty in God.

7. An evil person will not hold a good opinion of others, for, the best he can do is to think that others are like him.

8. Time wasted in youth must be made up in later years, if what you seek is a solicitous end.

9. Remain silent about favors done by you, yet proclaim the favors others do for you.

10. Self satisfaction is a sure sign of lacking intellect. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1245

Ayahs of the Day:
So advise, if advice avails. Those who fear God will take a lesson, while the most wretched will turn away -- those who will roast in the greatest fire where they will neither die nor live. Happy are those who have purified themselves and remember the name of their Lord and pray. [87: 10 to 15]

Hadith of the Day:
The similitude of the one who makes remembrance of his Lord and the one who does not is like the living and the dead. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The sign that Allah has turned away from a servant is that He makes him busy with matters that are of no concern to him -- when a person reaches such a point, he must repent and ask Allah to guide him to those matters that are important and beneficial. [Hasan al-Basri]

Guidance of the Day:
Put a ceiling on your desires. This is one of the most important spiritual lessons I've ever been lucky enough to learn. I say "lucky" because, without this bit of wisdom to guide your life, happiness can be an elusive experience that is going to happen "someday" rather than something you experience "along the way."

A "ceiling on your desires" means you put an end to the never-ending, ever-increasing list of wants, needs, and preferences that seem to dominate our lives, the "I'll be happy when I get one more thing" trap. In virtually all cases, without a "ceiling" on your desires will be insatiable. As soon as one desire is fulfilled, another one magically takes its place. A rather typical example around the home might be: "I'll be happy when I get a larger apartment." That desire, once filled, is replaced with: "I'll be happy when we can afford to purchase a home." If you're not careful , you'll continue this process. The same principle applies to all material things -- cars, clothes, equipment, and everything else. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about? Who makes quick use of the moment, is a genius of prudence. Whoever admits that he is too busy to improve his methods has acknowledged himself to be at the end of the rope. And that is always the saddest predicament which anyone can get into. What we hope to do with ease, we must learn first to do with difficulty.

Pearls of wisdom 278

1. Shun long and wide desires for they drive off happiness of the bounties given by God.

2. He who hears backbiting is counted with the backbiter and the one who endorses evil acts is considered evil-doer.

3. Obedience to Allah Most High is not attainable without self-restraint.

4. One cannot taste the relish of blessedness prior to tasting pang of misfortune.

5. Sign of satisfaction with God is that the servant resigns to Divine destiny.

6. For the people of spiritual insight, there is admonition in every glance and lesson in every experience.

7. The best gratefulness is that you share with others the bounties and blessings of God conferred on you.

8. Beware of having long term expectations (for this world), for it makes one forget his true purpose.

9. Thankfulness for blessings is the condition for attaining more blessings, and ingratitude for blessings is the condition for losing them.

10. The heights of felicity is reached through the breaking of bad habits. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1244

Ayahs of the Day:
Extol the name of your Lord, the Highest, who has created and regulated and who has destined and guided and who has produced green pasture and made it brown waste. We will have you recite so you won't forget except what God wills, for God knows what is manifest and what is concealed. And We will ease you in the easiest way. [87: 1 to 8]

Hadith of the Day:
Leave the things that are doubtful and don't ever act on them. Act upon things you know without doubt to be just and true. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The one reckons his words as part of his actions speaks very little -- only about those things that are of concern to him. [Omar ibn Abdul Azeez]

Guidance of the Day:
"Start the day with love" means that when you wake up in the morning, you open your heart and remind yourself of your intent to be loving in every aspect of your life. "Live the day with love" means that your choices and actions stem from your decision to be loving, patient, kind, and gentle. It means you keep things in perspective and try not to take things personally or blow things out of proportion. It means you make allowances for the imperfections of others and of yourself, and that you make an effort to keep your criticisms and judgments from rising to the surface. Living the day with love suggests that, whenever possible, you will make an effort to be generous and complimentary, as well as humble and sincere.

"End the day with love" means that you take a moment at the close of your day to reflect and be grateful. Perhaps you say a prayer or do a quiet meditation. You might look back on your day and review how closely your goal of living with love matched up with your actions and choices. You do this not to keep score, or to be hard on yourself, but simply to experience the peace associated with loving intent and to see areas where you might act even more loving tomorrow. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. If your eyes are blinded with worries, you cannot see the beauty of the sunset. If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is. Bacteria and other microorganisms find it easier to infect people who worry and fret.

Pearls of wisdom 277

1. Silence will create respect and dignity.

2. Justice and fair play will bring more friends.

3. Benevolence and charity will enhance prestige and position.

4. Good words will overcome powerful enemies.

5. The best form of the devotion to the service of God is not to make a show of it.

6. To give up inordinate desires is the best kind of wealth and fortune.

7. He is the wisest and the most knowing who advises people not to lose hope and confidence in the Mercy of the Most Merciful

8. He is the wisest and the most knowing who advises people not to be too sure and overconfident of immunity from His wrath and punishment.

9. Best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.

10. Anxiety does not avert Divine destiny but wastes recompense and requital. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1243

Ayahs of the Day:
By the sky that revolves and the earth that opens this is indeed a discriminating word, and it is not spoken in jest. They are laying a plan, and I too am laying a plan: so give the scoffers time; ease up on them gently. [86: 11 to 17]

Hadith of the Day:
Three things are devastating: to believe in the good of avarice, to cater to one's lust, and to be an egoist. [Bayhaqi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
None in this age will amass wealth except those having five traits of character -- high hopes, abnormal greediness, excessive miserliness, lack of fearing Allah, and forgetfulness of the coming world. [Sufyan al-Thawri]

Guidance of the Day:
Start the day with love. Live the day with love. End the day with love. If any of us could master this strategy to its fullest, we would be among the great role models of humanity. Yet, as difficult as this strategy would be to master, it's worth every bit of effort you put into it.

Actually, the wisdom of this strategy is quite simple. The idea is to remind yourself frequently, throughout the day, of the importance of living your life with love as your absolute priority. Something magical happens to your life when nothing is seen as more important than love. "Small stuff" is kept in its proper perspective and consciousness opens to the beauty and joy of life. Our day-to-day living begins to take on an extraordinary quality and we begin to experience what's truly most important in life. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
How long, oh how long will it take us to learn that there are only two things in life that really count -- one is character and the other is human sympathy. Next to love, sympathy is the divinest passion of the human heart. The truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best strength that he may be able to bear the burden.

Pearls of wisdom 276

1. Blessings are for the one who humbles himself before God.

2. Blessings are for the one whose sources of income are honest.

3. Blessings are for the one whose habits are always honorable.

4. Blessings are for the one whose character is noble.

5. Blessings are for the one whose habits are sober.

6. Blessings are for the one who gives away in the name and in the cause of God his wealth.

7. Blessings are for the one who controls his tongue from vicious and useless talk.

8. Blessings are for the one who abstains from oppression and tyranny.

9. Blessings are for the one who cheerfully and faithfully follows the traditions of Holy Prophet (peace and blessings upon him). Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1242

Ayahs of the Day:
By the sky and the wayfarer: and what will let you know what the Wayfarer is? The penetrating star. There is no soul without a guardian over it. Now let man consider from what he was created: he was created from a liquid pouring forth, issuing from between the loins and the chest. Surely God is capable of restoring him the day that secrets will be known by trial and he will have no power and helper. [86: 1 to 10]

Hadith of the Day:
Surely you are no better than the one whose skin is black or red. It is only the one who is more righteous who is better than others. [Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How can the laws of nature be ruptured for you so that miracles result, while you, for your part, have yet to rupture your bad habits? [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:
Don't let money get you down. Most of us don't feel as though we have enough money to do the things we would really like to do -- travel, fix up our homes, or buy the things we want or need. To a large degree, the way we choose to look at this issue will affect the overall quality of our life at home. Whenever we think more of what we don't have or can't do than about what we do have or can do, we create a gap between what we have and what we want. So often, this gap is the source of a great deal of stress.

You can eliminate this source of stress by making the decision to stop using a lack of money to justify your unhappiness or boredom. This doesn't mean that you don't want or deserve more -- or that you shouldn't try to get more. It merely suggests that, in the meantime, you enjoy as much as possible that which you already have. You may be surprised. If you put more attention on what you can do than what you can't do, one thing's for sure -- you are going to have a lot more fun. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Every morning puts man on trial and each evening passes judgment. We should every night call ourselves to an account -- What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptations resisted? What virtue acquired? One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed.

I never saw anyone as just as the world. As long as you pursue the world it will pursue you, but when you turn away from it and seek God, it will leave you alone and its glamor shall no longer fascinate you. [Al Hujwiri]

Pearls of wisdom 275

1. People in this world are like travelers whose journey is going on though they are asleep.

2. Knowledge and wisdom are properties of the faithful.

3. Have hope in God and none else.

4. Be afraid of nothing but sins.

5. If you do not know a thing do not feel ashamed to admit ignorance.

6. If you do not know a thing never hesitate or feel ashamed to learn it.

7. Acquire patience and endurance, because their relation with true faith is that of a head to body.

8. Greed is permanent slavery.

9. Bear sorrows and calamities patiently otherwise you will never be happy.

10. The best form of the devotion to the service of God is not to make a show of it. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1241

Ayahs of the Day:
The power of your Lord is truly tremendous; for that is who begins and renews, and is most forgiving and loving, Lord of glorious Throne, independently acting at will. Has the story reached you of the troops of Pharaoh and Thamud? Those who scoff are still in denial, though God surrounds them from beyond. But this is a glorious Recital on a preserved tablet. [85: 12 to 22]

Hadith of the Day:
Anger comes from Satan and Satan is created from fire. Fire can only be put out by water. So whenever one of you is stricken by anger, make an ablution. [Abu Dawud]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Material good is nothing compared to the spiritual. In the Hereafter no plea 'that others misled' will avail.' Each soul must answer for itself. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]

Guidance of the Day:
Experience calm surrender. Calm surrender is a term I use to describe the process of "letting go" around the home and elsewhere. Simply put, it means surrendering, with grace and humility, to the chaos of life. It's a form of acceptance, of being okay with what is, of ending the struggle. Often, we struggle against aspects of life that are largely beyond our control -- noise, confusion, comments we don't approve of, lost items, rudeness, imperfections, broken pipes, clogged drains, whatever. We fight, get angry and annoyed, and wish things were different. We complain, fret, and commiserate. Yet, when you add up all this frustration, the end result is always the same: The things we are frustrated about remain as they are. In fact, it only adds fuel to the fire, often making things worse than they already are.

Calm surrender is not about giving up. Nor is it about being apathetic, lazy, or not caring. Instead, it's about appropriate acceptance, being willing to let go of our insistence that events in our lives be any certain way or different than they actually are. The wisdom of the strategy is simple: Although you might wish things were different (or demand it), they are not. They are exactly as they are. This doesn't mean you shouldn't make changes or encourage improvements -- you absolutely should do so in those instances where you feel it's important or necessary. What this strategy is suggesting is the frustration that comes from not having things go your way. If you are willing to give this strategy a try, you'll be amazed at the results. The calmer you become, the easier your life will be. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
To repent is to alter one's way of looking at life; it is to take God's point of view instead of one's own. True repentance is to cease from sin. To do it no more is truest repentance. God has promised pardon to him that repents, but he has not promised repentance to him that sins.

Pearls of wisdom 274

1. A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others.

2. Charity and alms are the best treatment for ailments and calamities.

3. One has to face in afterlife the deeds that one has done in this world.

4. Our affairs are hinged to the destiny decreed by the Lord; even our best thought out programs may lead us to death and destruction.

5. Optional prayers cannot attain the pleasure of God for you when compulsory daily prayers are left unattended.

6. Blessed is the man who always kept the life after death in his view.

7. Blessed is the man who remembered the Day of Reckoning through all his deeds.

8. Blessed is the man who led a contented life and who was happy with the lot that God had destined for him.

9. The sin which makes you sad and repented is liked better by the Lord than the good deed which turns you vain and conceited.

10. There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance, no greater friend and helpmate than consultation. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1240

Ayahs of the Day:
As for those who tortured the believing men and believing women and never repented, there is the torment of hell for them, for them the torment of burning. As for those who believe and do the right things, there are gardens for them with streams flowing below; that is the great attainment. [85: 10,11]

Hadith of the Day:
God Almighty does not pay greater attention than when He hears His words in the Qur'an beautifully recited. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Reckon yourself before you are reckoned and weigh yourself before you are weighed. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Set a good example. Whether you have children or not, this strategy is important one to keep in mind. The truth is, we are setting some kind of example, whether we know it or not. Our actions are seen by others and are factored into the consciousness of those around us. While any single action might not have much of an effect on another person, there is a cumulative effect. It's up to all of us to determine what type of example we want to set -- loving, positive, and helpful; or lazy, apathetic, and selfish.

The decision to set a good example in as many aspects of life as possible helps guide your behavior and your reactions to stress. I try, for example, not to get too uptight in traffic and while waiting in long lines. I do this not only because it's a less stressful way to experience life but also because I wish to send a message to those around me that life doesn't have to be perfect in order to be happy and peaceful.

Take a look at the examples you are setting for those around you. Are they the examples you wish to send -- or would you rather be sending different types? Whatever your answer, this is an important question to ask yourself. It can help you make behavioral and attitudinal adjustments that will make your life less stressful and more meaningful to yourself and to those around you. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom and he who increases in riches increases his cares, but a contented mind is a treasure hidden. Patience is the companion of wisdom. The doors of wisdom are never shut. In seeking wisdom you are wise, in imagining you have attained it, you are a fool.

Eid Mubarak!!!

Imam Ibn al-Jawzi (ra) in his letter of advice to his son, wrote:

Know, dear son, that days are but hours, and hours are but breaths, and every soul is a container, hence let not any breath pass without any benefit, such as on the Day of Judgment you find an empty container and feel regret! Be aware of every hour and how it passes, and only spend it in the best possible way; do not neglect yourself, but render it accustomed to the noblest and best of actions, and send to your grave that which will please you when you arrive to it."

This world is transitory and our life therein but a moment borrowed, our breaths numbered, yet our indifference reckless. [Abu Bakr al Siddiq]

Strive for Paradise. A small nook within its bliss is better than the whole world and all the riches within. [al Hadith]

A believer is never tired of hearing about good deeds until he enters Paradise. [al Hadith]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1239

Ayahs of the Day:
By the sky, with the constellations, and the promised day, and witness and witnessed, perish the keepers of the trench of fire with fuel: they sat by witness to what they were doing to the believers, whom they resented only because they believed in God, the Almighty, the Praiseworthy, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And God is witness to everything. [85: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:
Learn to lock up your tongue in the prison of your mouths. [Tabarani]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who is esteemed by people should deem himself worthy of no such honor or respect, so as not to fall into delusion. [Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak]

Guidance of the Day:
People have different preferences regarding the types of other people they choose to spend time with. For example, generally speaking, I'd rather not spend too much time around people who are irritable and easily annoyed. I also prefer to avoid people who like to commiserate and complain. Part of my preference has to do with the fact that I acknowledge that I'm affected by the people around me. So, if I spend time with complainers, I tend to do a little more complaining myself, and so forth.

This strategy has the potential to have a major influence on the quality of your life. The people around you, particularly those you choose to spend time with, have a great deal of influence on your attitude and state of well-being. If you choose to keep good company, your life will be easier and far less stressful. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
The purpose of life is a life of purpose. Life has a value only when it has something valuable as its object. Having a goal is a state of happiness. You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures. Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

Pearls of wisdom 273

1. The most noble of mankind in this world are the generous, and the most noble in the afterlife are the God-fearing.

2. Patience is a steed that never stumbles -- the relation of patience to faith is like that of the head to the body.

3. The human being is on a journey -- this world is an abode of passage, not an abode of rest.

4. The Divine word (Qur'an) is the infallible source of spiritual uplifting, it inspires joy and awe and leads to secret conversations with God -- for God reveals Himself to His servants in the holy Qur'an.

5. One who develops the trait of greediness and avarice invites degradation.

6. One who keeps on advertising his poverty and ill-luck will always be humiliated.

7. One who has no control over his tongue will often have to face embarrassment and discomfort.

8. Surrender and acceptance to the Will of God are the best companions.

9. Wisdom is the noblest heritage -- a wise man's mind is the safest custody of secrets.

10. Deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem -- patience and forbearance will hide and cover many defects. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1238

Ayahs of the Day:
Now what is the matter with them that they don't believe, and do not bow when the Qur'an is recited to them? Instead those who scoff repudiate truth; but God knows best what they keep inside. So inform them of a painful penalty, except those who believe and do the right things; for them there is a reward without diminution. [84: 20 to 25]

Hadith of the Day:
For whoever Allah desires good, He gives him understanding of the religion -- and, verily, knowledge comes through learning. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since each of them is irreplaceable and once gone, can never be retrieved. [Imam al-Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
Your time and energy are among your most precious and important assets. Therefore it's extremely important to make wise and well-thought-out choices about who you spend your time with. Do you spend time with people who are truly nourishing to you (and your family), or do you choose your company much more randomly? Is the person you are with helping you to grow? Is he or she a person you admire and respect? Do you nourish one another? Do you share similar values? If not, it doesn't mean you can't still be friends, only that you might want to make a decision to spend less time with that person, which will create the time and space to meet new people or to spend more time alone.

This suggestion has nothing to do with making judgments about other people. If you determine that there are people you'd rather not spend so much time with, it doesn't mean that you don't respect and honor them or that you don't think they are terrific people. It also doesn't mean that you think you are any better than them or that they don't have wonderful qualities. It simply means that, all things considered, you'd rather spend your available time either by yourself or with someone else. Keep in mind that each of us has only a certain amount of time to spend with other people, probably far less than we would like. It's up to us to make the best choices we can. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. If God slams one door, further down the corridor another will be opened. Being tough isn't being rough or rude but having the strength to meet any situation with an inner resource. Believe in yourself and see yourself as tough and able. You can if you think you can. Every time you think you can't, remove the t and you can. Then use that t to get tough.

Pearls of wisdom 272

1. Let your companionship be with Allah, and befriend others besides Allah within the scope of His companionship.

2. Give in charity every morning from your bread.

3. Be with Allah Most High as if there were no creatures -- that is when you will find Him and become extinct to all else.

4. Be with creatures as if there is no self -- that is when you will always act justly and be safe from bad consequences.

5. Leave everything at the door of your retreat and enter it alone -- then you will see your intimate friend (Allah) in your solitude with the eye of your inner most being.

6. Do not swear, whether truthfully or falsely, deliberately or absentmindedly -- this will bring about self-control.

7. Avoid lying, whether in jest or in earnest -- with this Allah will purify the mind.

8. Beware of promising something to someone and then failing to keep the promise -- breach of promise is tantamount to lying.

9. Avoid cursing anything in the realm of creation, or hurting anything from a mere atom upward -- this is one of the moral standards of the pious and the champions of truth.

10. Refrain from contemplating sinful offences, and restrain all limbs and organs from participating in them -- such efforts bring the quickest reward to heart and body in the present life of this world, as well as the good things in the hereafter. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1237

Ayahs of the Day:
As for the one who is given his record behind his back, he will cry for destruction as he roasts in a blaze for he used to be happy among his people: he assumed he'd never return. But no, his Lord was watching him. So I swear by the evening glow and the night and what it envelops and the moon when it's full -- you will surely mount from one level to another. [84: 10 to 19]

Hadith of the Day:
No one is truly faithful unless truth enters his heart, and truth does not penetrate the heart unless the tongue is truthful. [Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Happy the man who freed himself from his "self" and united himself with the Infinite. When you sought refuge in the Qur'an of God, you mingled yourself with the essence of the prophets. The Qur'an is a narrative of the states of the prophets who glory in the blessed ocean of His majesty. [Mawlana Rumi]

Guidance of the Day:
Keep good company. Most people acknowledge the fact that we are affected positively and negatively by the people we spend the most time around. Kids are affected by their parents and vice versa, and spouses are affected by one another, as are siblings. We are all affected by the people we work with and by our friends and neighbors.

There are times, of course, when we have little or no control over who we spend our time with -- at work, for example. In these instances, it's often the case that we simply have to make the best of it. The same is sometimes true with certain family members. You spend time with them not only because you love them, but simply because they are family -- you have no acceptable alternative.

There are other times, however, when we have absolute control over who we spend our time with. For example, our friends and people we invite into our homes and talk with on the telephone. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Prayer is the spiritual gymnasium in which we exercise and practice Godliness. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education. The highest prayer is not one of faith merely; it is demonstration. Such prayer heals sickness, and must destroy sin.

Pearls of wisdom 271

1. It is your duty to remember Allah in every circumstance, because this brings all that is good together.

2. You must cling to the lifeline of Allah, because it wards off harm and injury.

3. You must be prepared to meet the events decreed by destiny, because they are bound to happen.

4. Know that you will be held responsible for how you behave in action and at rest.

5. Attend to what is most appropriate at the moment, and beware of redundant physical activities.

6. It is your duty to to obey Allah and His Messenger and those who continue his work.

7. Offer prayers of supplication on every occasion.

8. It is your duty to think well of all the Muslims and to relate to them with good intentions, work hard to secure their general welfare.

9. Do not end your day with bad feeling, rancor or hatred for anyone still in your heart, pray for those who have wronged you.

10. You must eat only lawful food, and ask people versed in knowledge of Allah about things you do not know. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1236

Ayahs of the Day:
When the sky bursts open and hearkens to its Lord and is given its due, and when the earth is distended and throws up what is in it and becomes empty and hearkens to its Lord and is given its due: O man, you are striving toward your Lord, and you will meet your Lord; then the one who is given his record in his right hand will be called to account for an easy reckoning and return to his people delighted. [84: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:
Our Lord says: "Do not be misled by your egos, or you will be led away from the truth and into lies." [Hadith Qudsi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Three things destroy a person: Persisting in sins with false hopes of repentance; delaying repentance with the delusion of long life; and despairing of His mercy. [Shaqeeq al Balkhi]

Guidance of the Day:
Buying or leasing a simpler car saves money and possibly trips to the mechanics. Having fewer things means less things to take care of, insure, think about, worry about, and keep clean. Each item you purchase on credit is more to pay for you, but is also one more bill to pay each month. I can go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. Voluntary Simplicity is not about giving up everything you own. To the contrary, there are obviously certain instances when obtaining (rather than getting rid of) something makes your life easier and simpler. For example, I can't imagine giving up my computer or fax machine. To do so would clearly make my life far more complicated and difficult.

Voluntary Simplicity is not about any single decision, nor is it about voluntary poverty. It's more of a direction, a series of conscious decisions that you make because you want to improve the quality of your life. The key is to take an honest look at what's truly important in your life. If you'd like a little more time, a little more energy, and a little more peace of mind, I encourage you to explore this topic a little more carefully. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations. All that a man does outwardly is but the expression and completion of his inward thought. To work effectively -- he must think clearly; to act nobly -- he must think nobly. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts -- you cannot escape the results of your thoughts. You will become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration.

Pearls of wisdom 270

In the name of Allah the Compassionate, the Merciful

Tyranny of Trends
By Dr. Afzal Ahmad

We are slaves to social trends of all sorts, either because of our vain desires or our egotistical needs for self-satisfaction.

Be it the trend in eating out at the newest hip restaurant opened on the other side of the town or shopping when there is nothing better to do or acquiring lot of things just because they are new -- not that you need them. A lot of us have to have the latest trendy clothes and jewelry. Some of us have to have the latest gadgets like G3 network cell phones like the new iPhone 4, the ultra new Apple iPad, flat screen TV sets, latest video games console, 16 megapixel cameras and ultra light and thin laptop computers. Some have weakness for flashy and trendy cars loaded with everything except the kitchen sink and the chauffer. Most of us are guilty of acquiring big and lavish houses and second homes whether we need them or not or whether we can even afford them or not.

This slavery to trends and fashions of all sorts is the antithesis to sustainability, frugality, common sense and above all, the value system Islam espouses. A lot of us are so obsessed with fashion and glamour that we become oblivious to the double scourge of wastefulness and extravagance. Most of our economic and environmental problems stem from our desire to show off and impress others. Talk to any waste management experts and they will tell you about the crisis in finding ways to deal with disposal of these discarded products -- especially the ones that have non biodegradable and harmful components and chemicals. Go to any garbage dumping site and one can appreciate the old adage -- one's garbage is someone else's meal ticket. What to say about poor countries all around the world, even prosperous country like ours, some people make a living off the things discarded by others.

Simplicity and sustainability in everyday living, development, manufacturing and use of these products is paramount to the survival of the human race and it is the Islamic thing to do. Our narcissistic desire to self indulge when there are people, adults and children in the world who are going hungry, going bare feet, have no clothes and shelter, is the epitome of a gross egotistical behavior.

As Muslims we are enjoined by our Maker, Allah SWT to avoid excesses and observe and practice moderation in all aspects of life.

"Thus We have made you (to be) a nation of middle, that you may be witnesses over mankind and that the Messenger (PBUH) may be a witness over you" (Holy Qur'an, 2: 143)

The Arabic words used in the above ayah is "Umatan Wasatan" and is variously translated as "a nation of the middle", "the people of the middle path" or "people of the center position" -- a community that avoids all excesses and keeps an equitable balance between the extremes and a community that when they spend on others is neither wasteful nor stingy (Qur'an 25:67)

Children are very impressionable to what we say and what we do as parents. Any insincerity, hypocrisy and duplicity in our talk and walk are readily picked up by our children. If we want our children to be good citizens of the future and "a nation of middle" we need to lead by example. After parents, children are most influenced by their peers. Seeing and hearing their peers talk about how rich they are and how they have second homes in far away places and have fancy boats, cars or houses can lead to lot of uncomfortable questioning by our children. We should constantly talk to our children about the middle path -- the path of moderation. We need to display it ourselves as an example for our children to see. We need to continuously tell our children about things that are important than just material things. We need to talk to them about love, respect, simplicity, frugality and excellence in morality, behavior and acquisition of knowledge.

This upcoming Ramadan we should all pray that Allah SWT give us guidance to become "the people of the middle path"- Ameen.

Wish each one of you, a very blessed and meaningful Ramadan.

LESSON OF THE DAY 1235

Ayahs of the Day:
The sinners used to laugh at the believers, winking at each other when they passed them; and when they went back to their families they'd return jesting: and whenever they saw them they'd say, "They are sure misguided!" But they were not sent to be guards over them. And on this day the believers will laugh at the scoffers, observing from atop thrones; aren't the scoffers to be paid for what they have been doing? [83: 29 to 36]

Hadith of the Day:
All people pass a test in their life. The test of my people is what they do with the goods of this world. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who takes his wealth from unlawful means is deprived in trusting in Allah. [Abdullah ibn Mubarak]

Guidance of the Day:
Interestingly enough, this movement toward a slightly simpler life is not limited to the superwealthy. Instead, its wisdom is seen by a wide range of people from vastly different economic circumstances. Sometimes, simplifying your life can involve major shifts like choosing to live in a smaller, less expensive apartment rather than struggling to pay for a larger one. This decision can make your life less stressful because it will be far easier to pay your rent.

Other common decisions involve things like eating more simply, sharing and passing the clothes to others, or saying no to more opportunities to do things. The idea, of course, is to make decisions that enhance your life in the sense of making it a little easier, a little less complicated. I know a number of people with very limited incomes who have chosen to embrace this philosophy, and in every case, they claim it has paid handsome personal dividends. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Anger begins in folly, and ends with repentance. An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason. The greatest remedy for anger is delay. Anybody can become angry -- that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way -- that is not within everybody's power and is not easy -- but that is what everyone should strive for.

Ramadhaan Highway Code

(Courtesy of Haafidha Rayhaanah Omar)

LESSON OF THE DAY 1234

Ayahs of the Day:

As for the destiny of the righteous, they will be on high. And what will let you know what is high? An inscribed appointment for which those granted access to God will vouch. Indeed, the righteous will be in happiness, gazing from atop thrones. You will recognize a refulgence of felicity in their faces; they will be given sealed pure wine to drink, its seal being musk. So let those with longings long for that -- its blend will be from a fountain in paradise, a fountain from which those granted access to God will drink. [83: 18 to 28]

Hadith of the Day:

No one is truly a servant of God until he is able to watch his tongue. [Tabarani]

Wise Quote of the Day:

Someone who seeks to travel the path of Allah should begin with a sound repentance from all the sins. [Imam al-Haddad]

Guidance of the Day:

Many people have found that "keeping up with the Jones" and continuing to run on the proverbial treadmill is overwhelming and counterproductive, in addition to being stressful and time consuming. Many of us have fallen into the habit of ever-increasing wants, needs, and desires. It seems that most of us believe that more is better -- more stuff, things to do, experiences, and so forth. But is it really?

At some point, we get so busy that it prevents us from enjoying our lives. It seems that virtually every minute of every day is scheduled and accounted for. We rush from activity to activity, usually more interested in "what's next" than we are in what we're doing in the present. In addition, most of us want bigger apartments, a nicer car, more clothes, and more stuff. Whatever we have, it's never enough. Our appetite for more seems to be insatiable. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Until you value yourself; you won't value time, until you value time, you will not do anything with it. Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. Time is a coin of your life, it is the only coin you have and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest other people spent it for you. As if we could kill time without injuring eternity.

Ramadan Mubarak!!!

God says, concerning His Majestic Book: The Month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind, [containing] clear proofs of guidance, and the criterion of distinguishing right from wrong. Al-Qur’an 2:185

We encourage all of the believers to refrain from all of the ruinations of the tongue during Ramadan. In his seminal work, “Quickening the Religious Sciences,” Imam al-Ghazali mentions them as the following:

a) Speaking in matters that do not concern one.

b) Excessive speech.

c) Speaking about sinful matters.

d) Disputation and contestation.

e) Argumentation.

f) Excessively embellished speech.

g) Lewd, insulting, or crude speech.

h) Invoking the Curse of God on someone.

i) Singing indecent songs, or relating immoral poetry.

j) Excessive joking.

k) Sarcasm and ridicule.

l) Revealing secrets.

m) False promises.

n) Lying and false oaths.

o) Backbiting and slander.

p) Instigating tense relations between people.

q) Being two-faced.

r) Praising someone who is either undeserving, or unable to remain humble when praised.

s) Speaking about involved subjects and ideas one lacks the necessary knowledge or eloquence to adequately convey.

t) Ordinary folk speaking in subjects that are the domain of specialists.

May God spare us from these ruinations both during and after Ramadan.

The Prophet, Peace and Blessing of Almighty God be upon Him, said: “Whoever fails to leave off ruinous speech, and acting on it [during Ramadan], God does not need him to leave off eating and drinking.” Al-Bukahri

We encourage the believers to avoid all arguments, disputes, and unnecessary worldly entanglements during this blessed month. This is a time for deep devotion and dedication to Allah.

We encourage the believers to work to restore any severed relations or kinship ties they may be experiencing. This is a time when the gentle breezes of Divine Facilitation are blowing. Any good we endeavor during this blessed month will come to bear its proper fruits, Insha Allah.

We encourage all of the believers to eat simply during this month. One should try to make a vow to give up unnecessary, and generally unhealthy fare during this blessed month. Pizza, ice cream, fast food, pastries, and soda should all go. We should make our solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in other lands real, and not something confined to speeches and pamphlets.

If one is in the habit of watching television, or listening to commercial music, one should also try to give these things up for Ramadan. They are things that divert us from the remembrance of God in any case. During this special month when every letter we recite from the Majestic Qur’an is tremendously rewarded, we should busy ourselves with recitation, and drop other pastimes.

Married believers should encourage their wives to engage in spiritual pursuits during this month, i.e. reciting the Qur’an, attending Tarawih, etc. They should especially avoid burdening their wives with long hours in the kitchen in order to host extravagant Iftars. While it is certainly virtuous to provide the wherewithal for the believers to break their fast, dates, water, and simple dishes suffice in that regard.

These are some of the things we wanted to convey to you. Hopefully, they will prove of benefit. Again, we wish you a very successful Ramadan and would like to thank all of you for past, present, and future support. May Allah bless us to serve you better in the future.

On behalf of the Zaytuna Staff,

Your Brother in Islam,

Imam Zaid Shakir