LESSON OF THE DAY 1279

Ayahs of the Day:

Say, "It is God, unique, God the eternal, not begetting or begotten, nor having any equal." [112: 1 to 4]

Hadith of the Day:

The best of you is one who learns the Quran and teaches it. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:

Our living in this world will inevitably bring us tests. Those tests are subtle and open, they occur in great and small things. Through these tests, God shows which of us truly believe, and which of us are empty claimants. [Imam Zaid Shakir]

Guidance of the Day:

Ignorance urges people to see only short-time relief as a blessing and to ignore the benefits of patience and temporary discomfort. Knowledge opens the eyes to the long term benefit, which lasts for ever. There is a necessary link between intelligence and morality, the willingness to put off a short-term gain for a long-term benefit that ultimately is greater and ever lasting. This kind of intelligence is conditioned by Islam.

Blessings are either roots or branches. The roots are things like iman, Islam, health, safety, and well-being. The branches are money, clothing, shelter, and so on. The best blessings are those connected with entering Paradise (which is the completion of blessings). Faith, patience, good character, swiftness in doing good, and promptness in worship are blessings of God and they are everlasting. Islam itself is the completion of God's blessings upon humanity.

The ornaments of this life are such things as a house, furnishings, and clothing. The more that one has of these blessings, the more he will be accountable for them. To be zahid (ascetic) does not always mean a lack of material possession. There is asceticism of the heart, in which one is not attached to the material world and is indifferent to it. In other words, a person's character and level of faith will not change if he loses his wealth. That's the sign of a zahid. But if one falls apart and plunges into despondency when losing something valuable, it shows an inordinate attachment to worldly life. [Hamza Yusuf, Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:

To be simple is to be great. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Simplicity is the exact medium between too little and too much. To be simple is the best thing in the world. Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough. Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.