LESSON OF THE DAY 1311

Ayahs of the day: 
If you reveal acts of charity, they are excellent in themselves, but if you conceal them and get them to the needy, that is better for you. It will expiate some of your evils. And God is aware of what you do. [2:271]

Hadith of the day: 
“When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation on Earth and extensive corruption.” [Al-Tirmidhi]

Wise quote of the day: 
Whoever desires to purify his heart then let him prefer Allah to his desires. [Ibn al Qayyim]

Guidance of the day: 
Beware of hardness, which is for the heart to become so coarse and callous that it is no longer affected by counselling, and neither softens nor is sensitive to the mention of death, of promises and threats, or of the events of the hereafter. Our predecessors have said, "four things are signs of wretchedness: hardness of the heart, dryness of the eye, avarice, and long hopes." So beware of these four. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]

Food for thought: 
Calamity is man's touchstone. Calamities are the perfect glass wherein we truly see and know ourselves. Calamity is the test of integrity. Calamity is a virtue's opportunity. It is only from the belief of the goodness and wisdom of a Supreme Being that our calamities can be borne in the manner which becomes a true man.

Peace of Mind.....

1. Peace of mind is that mental condition in which you have accepted the worst.

2. Forgiving those who hurt us is the key to personal peace.

3. When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves it is useless to seek elsewhere.

4. If we do not find peace in ourselves, we will never find it anywhere else.

5. If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.

6. Nothing can bring us peace but ourselves.

7. In a world filled with causes for worry and anxiety  -- we need the peace of God standing guard over our hearts.

8. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict.

9. There may be those on earth who dress better or eat better, but those who enjoy the peace of God sleep better.

10. A man's business is to do the will of God;  then God Himself takes on the care of that man; therefore that man ought never to be afraid of anything.

                              No God no peace -- Know God know peace

Pearls of Wisdom 341

1. With the divine solace "Be not afraid"
    all fear of oceans or waves or foam should
    be gone. Rejoice in Him and nothing else.
    He is the spring; everything else is desolate ice.

2. Seek self-discipline with all your soul.
    Devote yourself to worship and save your
    soul. Be grateful that God gave you the gift
   of self-discipline, for you had no power over it.
   He inspired it within you with the command "Be!"

3. Rejoice in sorrow; it will unite you with God.
    Bow down and reach the highest peak.
    Turn inward, toward the heart,
    and delight in the green shade of trees
    and many gushing springs.

4. The object of search is never withheld from
     the seeker. Thus the sun is paired with heat
    and the cloud with water. This present world
    is the Creator's prison. You chose to invite
    punishment, so suffer punishment! God said,
    "To whom We bestowed a particular disposition,
    We also sent the appropriate provision."

5. Beware! Do not let avarice waylay you!
    Do not let greed tear you up by the roots!
    For as you sleep,
    the stench of your spurious deeds
    is thundering on the azure sky. [Mawlana Rumi]

Lessons to be learned in patience and perseverance....

When you are hurt by the people who share blood relations with you, recall Yusuf [alayhi salaam] who was also betrayed by his brothers.

When you find your parents opposing you (in deen) recall Ibraheem [alayhi salaam] who was made to jump into a blazing fire by his father.

When you are mocked and abused by your own relatives just because you adopted deen over duniya, recall Rasul Allah [sallalhu... alaihi wa sallam] who faced the same.

When you are stuck into some problem and find no way out recall Yunus [alayhi salaam] who was stuck inside the belly of a whale.

When you fall ill and your whole body cries with pain, recall Ayoob [alayhi salaam] who was more ill than you.

Wh en someone slanders you, recall Ay'esha [radiallahu anha] who was also slandered throughout the city.

When you feel lonely recall how Adam [alayhi salaam] felt when he was created alone at first.

When you can't see any logic in what's going on and your heart asks why this is happening, recall Nooh [alayhi salaam] who built the biggest ship without questioning.

Subhan Allah! Allah put all those great personalities in trial so that the generations to follow may learn a lesson in patience and perseverance. May Allah swt include us among His patient and grateful servants. Ameen!

LESSON OF THE DAY 1310

Ayahs of the day:
God gives wisdom to whomever God wishes; and whoever is given wisdom has indeed been given much good. But no one takes heed except those with understanding. [2: 269]

Hadith of the day:
He is sagacious who brings his soul to reckoning and works for what comes after death; and he is inadequate who follows his passions and harbors (illusory) hopes in God. [Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja]

Wise quote of the day:
Meet people in such a manner that if you die, they should weep for you, and if you live they should long for you. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the day:
Do your very best to come to your Lord with a heart that is free of idolatry, hypocrisy, heresy, and reprehensible traits of character such as arrogance, ostentation, jealousy, deceitful behavior toward Muslims, and so on. Seek God's help and be patient. Strive in earnest and repeat often, "Our Lord, do not cause our hearts to swerve after You have guided us; and bestow upon us mercy from You, for You are the Bestower "(3:8). For this is how God has described those of His believing servants who are firmly steeped in knowledge. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]

Food for thought:
It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is what are we busy about? 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 diligence.

Gentle Reminders....

1. When the inward is good the outward is also inevitably so, for the outward follows the inward, whether for good or evil.

2. Prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it.

3. You must fill your time with worship so that no period of time elapses whether by night or by day, without being used in some act of goodness.

4. Good character consists in three traits: avoiding that which is forbidden, seeking that which is permitted, and being generous.

5. Whoever busies himself with that which does not concern him, then he misses out on much of that which does concern him.

6. If we spend our time paying attention to the wisdom of our heart rather than the wisdom of our head, we will benefit greatly.

7. Love is always the answer to every question and problem. We are here to love and be loved and learn a few things in the process.

8. To begin anew, we must say good-bye to who we once were.

9. Have the courage to begin the new life that each day brings you. No matter what changes and losses you have experience, step back and see where you need to begin.

10. How do we find joy in our lives? Too often it comes at a significant price. You learn that you are mortal and suddenly what used to seem important isn't. Things that used to bother you don't anymore. What then becomes significant are the people who you love and who love you.

Fear oppression, because oppression will be intense darkness on the Day of Resurrection. [al Hadith]