Lesson of the day 1353

Ayahs of the day:
And whoever commits a sin only sins against his own soul; and God is most knowing, most wise. [4: 111]

Hadith of the day:
Whoever constantly prays for forgiveness, Allah will give him a way out of every difficulty and relief from every worry, and will grant him provision from where he did not expect. [Sunna Abi Dawood]

Wise quote of the day:
Know that it is not your family and friends, but rather your deen which truly looks after you. [Hasan radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the day:
It is a sunnah to fast six days in Shawwal, to bid farewell to Ramadan and compensate fro any other deficiency in one's fast, for supererogatory (nafl) devotions compensate for deficiencies in obligatory ones. It is meritorious to fast the Day of 'Arafat, which is the day of Hajj, the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah'. Then comes the Day of 'Ashura', which is the tenth day of Muharram. 

It is strongly recommended to fast three days every month. It is better and more meritorious for the person wishing to fast to make them the White days -- these are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of every month, and should be given priority. However, to fast any other three days is also good, even if not consecutively. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]

Food for thought:
The grave wherever found, preaches a short and pithy sermon to the soul. How small a portion of earth will hold us when we are dead, who ambitiously seek after the whole world while we are living. We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven.