Lesson of the day 1329

Ayahs of the day:
And those who remember God and seek forgiveness for their sins if they have done something shameful or wronged themselves -- and who forgives sins but God? -- and those who do not knowingly persist obstinately in what they have done. Their reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with rivers flowing below them, where they are to abide; and how gracious the reward for workers! [3: 135,136]

Hadith of the day:
The upper hand (the one that gives) is better than the lower (the one that receives). [Bukhari]

Wise quote of the day:
The bounty that comes from Allah to a believer due to his trials is greater than the bounty that comes from Allah during his times of ease.[Ibn Rajab]

Guidance of the day:
He who strives in earnest in good works, then depends on them, is guilty of self-admiration and impudence toward his Lord. He may very well be tried so that he may come to realize his powerlessness and inability to do anything good without God's favor and mercy.

It is now clear that two things are necessary -- the first is to make one's works good, while the second is to depend on God, not on one's works. Effort without God's favor is ineffective, yet effort is indispensable in submission to God's orders. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]

Food for thought:
True courage is like a kite -- a contrary wind raises it higher. One man with courage makes a majority. The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. "O God, give us the fortitude to endure the things which cannot be changed, and the courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to know one from the other."