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]
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
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]
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]
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
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]
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]
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
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]
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]
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
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.
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.
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