Family, place of forgiveness....

There is no perfect  family. We do not have perfect parents, we are not perfect,
we do not marry a perfect person or have perfect children. We have complaints
from each other. We disappoint each other.

As such there is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of
forgiveness.Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival.
Without forgiveness the family becomes an arena of conflict and a stronghold
of hurt.

Without forgiveness, the family becomes ill. Forgiveness is the strength of the soul,
the cleansing of the mind and the liberation of the heart. Whoever does not forgive
does not have peace in the soul nor communion with God. Hurt is poison that
intoxicates and kills.

Keeping heartache in the heart is a self destructive gesture. Those who do not
forgive are physically, emotionally and spiritually ill.

That is why the family must be a place of life, not of death; Territory of cure and
not of illness; Stage of forgiveness and not of guilt.

Forgiveness brings joy where sorrow has produced sadness; Healing, where sorrow
has caused disease.

Lesson of the day 1416

Ayahs of the day:
To God belongs the East and the West; and wheresoever you turn, there is the presence
of God. For God is omnipresent and omniscient. [2: 115]

Hadith of the day:
Anyone who shows the way to something good has the same reward as the person who
does it. [Muslim]

Wise quote of the day:
Give priority to the Hereafter over this world, because you will then gain both of them
together. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Guidance of the day:
God revealed religion out of His mercy, because we need it and cannot be truly human
without it. Only those who have passed through the trials of religious experience are
worthy of eternal happiness and will be distinguished in the Hereafter.

True religion is the assemblage of Divine Revelations and Divine Laws by which we can
know bliss in this world and the next. Our peace and happiness depend upon leading a
religious life, for only through religion can the Law be observed in all the inner and outer
spheres of our existence. Only religion makes it possible for us to deserve Paradise and
the vision of God. Such achievements are beyond the power of every human-made
civilization, regardless of how advanced they are. [M. Fethullah Gulen]

Food for thought:
So little done; so much to do. Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed,
nothing else can be managed. Don't simply retire from something, have something
to retire to.

Pearls of Wisdom 408

1. Live with heart, body, and soul for today only, without dwelling upon the past
and without being anxious for the future.

2. Being preoccupied with the past and dragging past woes into present -- these are
the signs of an unstable and unsound mind.

3. Idleness is destructive, and most people who suffer from worries and anxieties
are the same people who are idle and inactive.

4. Rumors and gossip are the only dividends for those that are bankrupt of
meaningful and fruitful work.

5. Do what is right, and turn your back to every vulgar criticism.

6. Forbearance buries the faults, tolerance is superior, silence conquers the
enemy, and forgiveness is honor for which we shall be rewarded.

7. When facing criticism or unjust rebuke, those who have sensitive feelings
must pour a certain amount of coolness into their nerves by force.

8. Forbearance in the times of distress is the path to both success and happiness.

9. Higher goals are not achieved through dreaming or fantasizing; they can only
be reached through dedication and commitment.

10. Hardships strengthen our heart, atones for our sins, and helps to suppress
an inclination towards pride and haughtiness.

Thanksgiving is the gratitude we need to develop....

1. "Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you." Eileen Caddy

2. "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

3. "Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude." Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. "Perhaps you went to bed last night thinking about the overdue bills, the lack of finances, the problematic people and situations you have to face. This morning you woke up. Did you give thanks? If you didn't, it is probably because you forgot that when praise goes up, the blessings come down. That should be enough to inspire you to be thankful." Iyanla Vanzant

5. "Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings." Elizabeth Gilbert

6. "Gratitude is like a magnet; the more grateful you are, the more you will receive to be grateful for."  Iyanla Vanzant

7. "The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” Neale Donald Walsch

8. "Real love is opening your heart to the unlovable. Real gratitude is giving thanks when things aren't perfect. Real generosity is sharing when you have very little. Real courage makes the 'impossible' --possible, with real faith." Bryant McGill

9. "I would like to thank every single person who has ever been unkind to me.  You taught me to be even kinder to others." Steven Aitchison

10."When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow." Shauna Niequist

11. "There will always be people in your life who treat you wrong. Be sure to thank them for making you strong."  Zig Ziglar

12. "Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life."Jack Canfield

13. "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."Marianne Williamson

14. "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." Meister Eckhart

15. "The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” -- Dalai Lama

16. "Happy are those who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things in life." Unknown Author

17. "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

18. "When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day." Paulo Coelho

19. "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” Maya Angelou

20. "The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” Henry Ward Beecher

Understanding Jihad....

1. Jihad is the struggle to remove all those things from one's life that incur Allah's displeasure, and to replace them with those things that will gain His acceptance.

2. Jihad is the struggle against one's inner self and it's bestial inclinations. It is this struggle, in fact, which the Prophet of Islam (Allah's blessings and peace upon him) dubbed "the greater jihad."

3. Jihad is the struggles against the villains in our hearts which include: arrogance, avarice, pettiness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, self-delusions, and vain passions.

4. Jihad is the struggle to replace the villains in our hearts with goodly traits, such as mercy, honor, humbleness, generosity, gentleness, dignity, love, and other qualities that are aptly described as "heavenly."

5. Jihad is the struggle to fulfill the rights and responsibilities of one's family as well as those who are close, such as neighbors and relatives, to make sure that one does not harm them either with his hand or tongue.

6. Jihad is the struggle to forgive the wrongs of others, to overlook their misgivings, and hide their faults.

7. Jihad is the struggle to help the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless by sacrificing our wealth.

8. Jihad is to show love and gentleness to our young ones, and respect and dignity to our elders.

9. Jihad is to protect the honor and property of every single member of society, whether man or woman.

10. Jihad is the struggle to speak out against injustice, to help the victims of oppressions, to ensure that everyone is given just measure, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.

11. Jihad is to submit our will to Our Creator, thereby achieving peace and unity with the rest of the cosmos in celebrating His Majesty and Glory.

12. Jihad is ultimately that struggle in which we are willing to give our lives in the name of Allah so that these ideals will endure and bring peace and justice to countless others, thus truly bringing the harmony of the heavens down the earth.

Lesson of the day 1415

Ayahs of the day:
And do not insult what they pray to besides God, lest they revile God in a hostile way, without knowledge. Thus do We make every people's actions seem charming to them; but then their return will be to their Lord, who will inform them of what they had been doing. [6: 108]

Hadith of the day:
Whoever desires that Allah increase his provision and extend his life, let him maintain his family ties. [Bukhari]

Wise quote of the day:
O my people prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Guidance of the day:
The essence of gratitude is for the servant to know that all the favors in his possession, outward as well as inward, are from God and by His grace and munificence. It is part of gratitude to rejoice and to thank in the presence of favors because they are the means to work in God's obedience and attain to His proximity.

It is part of gratitude to busy oneself with God's obedience, use His favors as a help in doing so, and use them as God likes them to be used - this is the utmost gratitude. One should not become arrogant, boast before others of the blessings he has been granted, transgress, wrong others, or overstep the limits in dealing with them. He who does so has not been thankful, but has denied God's favors. Denial leads to dispossession and to one's blessings being changed into afflictions. He who shows gratitude deserves goodness and increase. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]

Food for thought:
Marriage, like money is still with us, and, like money, progressively devalued. In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.The bonds of matrimony are like any other bond -- they come slowly.

Wonderfully described definitions...

*CIGARETTE:*
A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other!

*MARRIAGE:*
It's an agreement wherein a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman
gains her master

*LECTURE:*
An art of transmitting Information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes
of students
without passing through the minds of either

*CONFERENCE:* 
The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present

*COMPROMISE:*
The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes
he got the biggest piece

*TEARS:*
The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine
water-power!

*DICTIONARY:*
A place where divorce comes before marriage and success before work.

*CONFERENCE ROOM:*
A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees
later on

*CLASSIC:*
A book which people praise, but never read

*SMILE:*
A curve that can set a lot of things straight!

*ETC:* 
A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do

*COMMITTEE:* 
Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing
can be done together

*EXPERIENCE:*
The name men give to their Mistakes

*ATOM BOMB:* 
An invention to bring an end to all inventions

*DIPLOMAT:*
A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look
 forward to the trip

*OPPORTUNIST:*
A person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river

*MISER:*
A person who lives poor so that he can die RICH!

*FATHER:*
A banker provided by nature

*CRIMINAL:*
A guy no different from the other, unless he gets caught

*BOSS:*
Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early

*POLITICIAN:* 
One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence
Later

*DOCTOR:* 
A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by his bills!

What we can learn from a donkey....

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries – Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have - Avoid "Israf" (extravagance, waste).
4. Give more - Charity purifies the soul.
5. Expect less from people but more from yourself -  Practice "Ihsan" (perfect goodness).
____
Source: haqislam.org

Pearls of Wisdom 407

1. There is a big difference between having a good time, and having time to be good.

2. A credit card adds to your credit; but adds even more to your creditors.

3. A truth told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent.

4. Friendship is a living thing that lasts as long as it is nourished with kindness, sympathy,
and understanding.

5. True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.

6. Discussion is an exchange of knowledge. Argument is an exchange of ignorance.

7. Tell your child to lie for you, and your child will learn to lie to you.

8. A good leader takes a little more than his share of blame, and a little less than his share
of credit.

9. The pursuit of happiness is the wrong goal. You don't become happy by pursuing
happiness. You become happy by living a life that means something.

10. One human being is no human being. None of us can truly be human in isolation.
The qualities that make us human emerge only in the ways we relate to other people.

Lesson of the day 1414

Ayahs of the Day:
Say, "Travel the earth and see how those before you ended up; most of them were idolaters." so set your aim for true religion before there comes a day from God that cannot be averted -- on that day they will be divided. [30: 42,43]

Hadith of the Day:
The one who is unthankful for whatever little he gets will not become thankful when he is given a lot. [Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
You disobey Him using His favors, yet disobedience does not make Him withhold His favors. How can you love other than this Generous God? Or how could you disobey this Compassionate Lord? [Imam al-Haddad]

Guidance of the Day:
Are you dedicated to your development physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually? Dedicate yourself above all else to becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. It is the best thing you can do for your spouse, your children, your friends, your colleagues, your employees, your employer, your nation, your family, and yourself. The best thing you can do is to become the-best-version-of yourself, because it is doing with a purpose. Embrace your essential purpose. Celebrate your best self. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]

Food for Thought:
Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with the things that move us toward progress and peace. Think in terms of day's resolutions, not the year's. To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy -- is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them.

Acceptance and Surrender....

Acceptance

1. When we don't accept an undesired event, it becomes anger;
when we accept it, it becomes tolerance.

2. When we don't accept uncertainty, it becomes fear;
when we accept it, it becomes adventure.

3. When we don't accept bad behavior of others towards us, it becomes
hatred; when we accept it, it becomes forgiveness.

4. When we don't accept success of others, it becomes jealousy;
when we accept it, it becomes inspiration.

Surrender

1. When we are wrong and we surrender, it means we are
honest.

2. When we are in doubt and we surrender, it means we are
wise.

3. When we are right and we surrender, it means we value
our relations.

Worst Container....

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and a third for his breath.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

Eating and drinking is not the be all and end all of man’s life. The main purpose of our creation is to fulfill our oath of allegiance to Allah [Quran, Surah Al-A’raaf] and earn our place in Jannah. To do so a healthy body helps and a healthy body is maintained by keeping a part of our stomachs empty at meal times. We need to stop eating while we still feel a little hungry. To constantly keep eating till we feel satiated causes our stomachs to go bad. We would, therefore, be well advised to eat only as much as is necessary. [Daily Hadith]

Cure in forgiveness....

Watch "Forgiveness is medicine . according to scientists. .as indicated by our prophet Muhammad Peace and blessings upon him" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/7iMsYKCkKdg

Pearls of Wisdom 406

1. Other people may complicate our lives, but life without them would be unbearably desolate.

2. Don't just do what you feel like doing; instead do what the Lord asks of you.

3. Who is wealthy? He who is content with what he has.

4. The fear of God may indeed be the beginning of wisdom and the corner stone of proper living.

5. When we have learned how to live, life itself is a reward.

6. It is only when you are no longer afraid to die that you can say that you are truly alive.

7. It is a sign of maturity when we stop asking -- what does life have in store for me?
And start asking -- what am I doing with my life?

8. There is no way to prevent dying. But the cure for the fear of death is to make sure
that you have lived according to the commandments of the Lord Almighty.

9. Having an impact on another person, shaping his or her life in some small but vital way,
is one of the most enduring satisfactions we will know.

10. Life, if you will, is a work of art, and if we paid loving attention to its details, we will
be able to take pride in the finished product.

Incomplete Day.....

The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Fear Allah wherever you may be,

follow an evil deed with a good one and it will erase it, and treat people well.” [Tirmidhi]



Commentary: How many a person there is who has met a day he didn't complete! \

How many wait for tomorrow who don't find it!



Each one of us will meet a day that we will not complete. And none of us knows which

day it will be.

Therefore, don't procrastinate and stop playing around with your Akhirah. Fix your deeds

today. Do whatever good you can and drop evil today, just in case today is destined to be

your incomplete day.

Surely when Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala) wills good for a servant He puts his sins before his

two eyes. When He wills bad for a servant He makes him forget his sins.

Don't look at the smallness of the sin, rather look at the One you disobeyed!



Taking Minor Sins For Granted ᴴᴰ ┇ Thought Provoking ┇ By Sheikh Bilal Assad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNpC8UPGBW0
---

Time -- the most precious thing

1. We need to live mindful of how brief our life is -- there is but a step
between us and death.

2. Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank -- the highest value of time is found in the stewardship of time.

3. The most important thing in our lives is what we are doing now -- wasted time means wasted lives.

4. Know the true value of time -- no idleness, no laziness, no procrastination, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

5. Time is the most precious gift of God -- so precious that it's given to us moment by moment.

6. As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time -- spend it wisely.

7. Dollars cannot buy yesterday, lost time is never found -- time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.

8. Time is the substance of life -- when anyone asks you to give your time, they are really asking for a chunk of your life.

9. Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of -- one man gets only a week's value out of a year while another man gets a full year's value out of a week.

10. Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and  place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.

11. The one who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life.

Lesson of the day 1413

Ayah of the Day: 
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor; for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do. [4: 135]

Hadith of the Day: 
Leave those things which create doubts in your mind and adopt that which does not create any doubt in your mind. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
It was not the Muslims that had made Islam great, rather it was Islam that had made the Muslims great. [Mohammad Asad]

Guidance of the Day: 
Learn! for learning is an adornment for one who possesses it, a virtue and a prelude to every praiseworthy action. Profit each day by increasing (your) learning and swimming in the seas of beneficial knowledge.

Give yourself to the study of jurisprudence (fiqh), for the knowledge of jurisprudence is the best guide to piety and the fear of God, and it is the straightest path to the ultimate goal. It is the milestone leading to the ways of proper guidance; it is the fortress that saves (one) from all hardships. Indeed, one godly person versed in jurisprudence is more powerful against Satan than a thousand (ordinary) worshippers.

Likewise, knowledge has a bearing on all other human characters, such as generosity and avarice, cowardice and courage, arrogance and humility, chastity and debauchery, prodigality and parsimony, and so on. For arrogance, avarice, cowardice, and prodigality are illicit. Only through knowledge of them and their opposites is protection against them possible. Learning, then, is prescribed for all of us. [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al Zarnuji]

Food for Thought: 
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness, it is the sweetest revenge. The glory of Islam is to conquer by forgiveness. Forgiveness does not change the past but it changes the future. Forgiveness is a means letting go of the past.

Long for the heart of a bird....

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) said: “There will enter Jannah people whose hearts will be like the hearts of birds.” [Muslim]

This hadith sums up the qualities of the people worthy of Jannah.

Firstly, just as the hearts of birds are free of jealousy, the hearts of the people deserving Jannah are free of jealousy, rancor, and envy.

Secondly, just as birds are always alert (cautious of any danger), the hearts of the people of Jannah are also alert and wakeful. They worry about their Akhirah, they are alert to not stray off the Straight Path, they are vigilant against the whispering of Satan, and their hearts are active in the remembrance of Allah Most High.

Thirdly, just as birds trust in Allah for their food, the people of Jannah have complete trust in Allah Most High. Birds don’t store food for the next day, nor indeed for any contingency. They go out hungry from their nests every morning but return with full stomachs every evening. The people worthy of Jannah similarly have complete trust (Tawakkul) in Allah regarding not only their sustenance, but, their very existence.

May my heart become like the heart of a bird. Ameen.

Pearls of Wisdom 405

1. There's only one thing more contagious than the measles; and that's a good example.

2. The reason many people don't climb the ladder of success is that they are waiting for
the elevator.

3. The human soul is not made for jealousy and revenge.

4. "Today is my only day" is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of
happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

5. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable -- but
desire to be accepted by God.

6. This is the way of the noble: they face difficulties with firm resolution, and they wrestle
hardship to the ground.

7. Do not be preoccupied with matters that are insignificant. If you follow this advice, you
will find that most of your worries will have left you.

8. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love for
spreading goodness to all those that are connected to it.

9. If you seek happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find
anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.

10. Live every day as if it were the last day of your life -- with this frame of mind and
outlook toward life, you have no reason to allow sadness or anger to steal the little time
you have.

Lesson of the day 1412

Ayahs of the Day: 
If He wished, He could destroy you, O mankind, and create another race; for He has power to do this. Anyone who wants a worldly prize (should know) God holds the worldly prize plus another in the Hereafter. God is Alert, Observant. [4: 133,134]

Hadith of the Day: 
None of you should pray for (his own) death, because if he is a good person, it is possible that he might add to his virtuous deeds, and if he is not a good person he might get a chance to rectify his (evil) past. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
The action which is sincere and incorrect is not accepted, and the one which is correct and insincere is not accepted. It is only accepted when it is sincere and correct. [Shaykh Faraz Rabbani]

Guidance of the Day: 
The true ascetic is he who is careful to protect himself from dubious and unsanctioned practices in commerce. The same (attitude) applies to all other occupations and professions. Anyone who works in a given field is duty bound to learn how to guard against what is forbidden therein. This is also obligatory with knowledge of the conditions of the heart, such as complete reliance on God, repentance, fear, satisfaction (with God's decree)----for this applies to people of every walk of life.

The nobility of learning is not foreign to anyone, since it is something peculiar to all mankind. With the exception of knowledge, humans as well as animals are associated with several virtues, such as valor, courage, strength, generosity, and compassion. Learning, however, is the exception. Through it, God revealed the preeminence of Adam (peace be upon him) over the angels whom He commanded to prostrate themselves before (this first human). Learning is indeed noble, for it leads to a fear of God which entitles (the believer to receive) God's benevolence and eternal bliss (in the Hereafter). [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al Zarnuji]

Food for Thought: 
Life is an adventure in forgiveness. It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every man has need to be forgiven.

Are We Brothers and Helpers?

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “All Muslims are sacred to Muslims: they are brothers and helpers to one another.” [Nasai]

Based on this hadith what I need to ask myself is:

Do I treat the honour and reputation of other Muslims as sacred and inviolable or do I backbite about them?

Do I treat the property and privacy of other Muslims as sacred and inviolable or do I steal, borrow without asking, or look through their private things?

Do I treat the life of other Muslims as sacred and inviolable or do I justify the actions of those who kill them?

Do I help other Muslims when they ask for help or do I withhold my time and resources from them?

Do I consider the problems of other Muslims as my problems or do I run away from them?
[Daily Hadith]

Most needed reminders.....

Ramadan Mubarak!!!

God says, concerning His Majestic Book: The Month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind, [containing] clear proofs of guidance, and the criterion of distinguishing right from wrong. Al-Qur’an 2:185

We encourage all of the believers to refrain from all of the ruinations of the tongue during Ramadan. In his seminal work, “Quickening the Religious Sciences,” Imam al-Ghazali mentions them as the following:

a) Speaking in matters that do not concern one.

b) Excessive speech.

c) Speaking about sinful matters.

d) Disputation and contestation.

e) Argumentation.

f) Excessively embellished speech.

g) Lewd, insulting, or crude speech.

h) Invoking the Curse of God on someone.

i) Singing indecent songs, or relating immoral poetry.

j) Excessive joking.

k) Sarcasm and ridicule.

l) Revealing secrets.

m) False promises.

n) Lying and false oaths.

o) Backbiting and slander.

p) Instigating tense relations between people.

q) Being two-faced.

r) Praising someone who is either undeserving, or unable to remain humble when praised.

s) Speaking about involved subjects and ideas one lacks the necessary knowledge or eloquence to adequately convey.

t) Ordinary folk speaking in subjects that are the domain of specialists.

May God spare us from these ruinations both during and after Ramadan.

The Prophet, Peace and Blessing of Almighty God be upon Him, said: “Whoever fails to leave off ruinous speech, and acting on it [during Ramadan], God does not need him to leave off eating and drinking.” Al-Bukahri

We encourage the believers to avoid all arguments, disputes, and unnecessary worldly entanglements during this blessed month. This is a time for deep devotion and dedication to Allah.

We encourage the believers to work to restore any severed relations or kinship ties they may be experiencing. This is a time when the gentle breezes of Divine Facilitation are blowing. Any good we endeavor during this blessed month will come to bear its proper fruits, Insha Allah.

We encourage all of the believers to eat simply during this month. One should try to make a vow to give up unnecessary, and generally unhealthy fare during this blessed month. Pizza, ice cream, fast food, pastries, and soda should all go. We should make our solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in other lands real, and not something confined to speeches and pamphlets.

If one is in the habit of watching television, or listening to commercial music, one should also try to give these things up for Ramadan. They are things that divert us from the remembrance of God in any case. During this special month when every letter we recite from the Majestic Qur’an is tremendously rewarded, we should busy ourselves with recitation, and drop other pastimes.

Married believers should encourage their wives to engage in spiritual pursuits during this month, i.e. reciting the Qur’an, attending Tarawih, etc. They should especially avoid burdening their wives with long hours in the kitchen in order to host extravagant Iftars. While it is certainly virtuous to provide the wherewithal for the believers to break their fast, dates, water, and simple dishes suffice in that regard.

These are some of the things we wanted to convey to you. Hopefully, they will prove of benefit. Again, we wish you a very successful Ramadan and would like to thank all of you for past, present, and future support. May Allah bless us to serve you better in the future.

On behalf of the Zaytuna Staff,

Your Brother in Islam,

Imam Zaid Shakir

Pearls of Wisdom 404

1. There's only one thing more contagious than the measles; and that's a good example.

2. The reason many people don't climb the ladder of success is that they are waiting for the elevator.

3. The human soul is not made for jealousy and revenge.

4. "Today is my only day" is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

5. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable--But desire to be accepted by God.

6. This is the way of the noble: they face difficulties with firm resolution, and they wrestle hardship to the ground.

7. Do not be preoccupied with matters that are insignificant. If you follow this advice, you will find that most of your worries will have left you.

8. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love for spreading goodness to all those that are connected to it.

9. If you seek happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.

10. Live every day as if it were the last day of your life -- with this frame of mind and outlook toward life, you have no reason to allow sadness or anger to steal the little time you have.

If you see an afflicted person....

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever unexpectedly comes across a person suffering a calamity, and says, ‘Al-hamdu Lillahil-ladhi ‘afaani mim-mabtalaaka bihi, wa faddalani ‘ala katheerin mimman khalaqa tafdeela,’ will be kept safe from that calamity, no matter what it is.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

The meaning of this Dua is: “Praise is to Allah Who has kept me safe from that which He has afflicted you with and preferred me over many of those whom He has created.”

If you see anyone suffering any kind of trial, calamity or difficulty, recite this Dua. If you don’t know it in Arabic just say its meaning in whatever language you know. The point is to feel grateful to Allah (subhana wa ta' ala) for keeping you safe and well.

This Dua should be recited quietly to oneself, so that the distressed person does not hear it and feel saddened by it. [Daily Hadith]

A real beautiful story....

A man married a very beautiful girl and he loved her very much. One day she developed a skin disease. And slowly she started to lose her beauty. It so happened that one day her husband left for a tour. While returning he met with an accident and lost his eyesight. However their married life continued as usual. But as days passed she lost her beauty gradually. Blind husband did not know this and there  was not any difference in their married life. He continued to love her and she also loved him very much.
Show original message
One day she died. Her death brought him great sorrow. He finished all her last rites and wanted to leave that town.
A man from behind called him and said, now how will you be able to walk all alone? All these days your wife used to help you.
He replied, I am not blind. I was acting,  because if she knew l could see her ugliness it would have pained her more than her disease. So I pretended to be blind. She was a very good wife. I only wanted to keep her happy.
Moral:- Some times it is good for us to act blind and ignore one another's short comings, in order to be happy.
No matter how many times the teeth bite the tongue, they still stay together in one mouth. That is the spirit of FORGIVENESS.

Even though the eyes don't see each other, they see things together, blink simultaneously and cry together. That's UNITY.
May God grant us all the spirit of forgiveness, unity and togetherness.
1. _Alone I can 'Say' but together we can 'Talk'.
2. _Alone I can 'Enjoy' but together we can Celebrate.
3.  _Alone I can 'Smile' but together we can 'Laugh'._

That is the BEAUTY of Human Relations. We are nothing without each other. THEREFORE, STAY CONNECTED..

 QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The razor blade is sharp but it cannot cut a tree; the ax is strong but it cannot cut the hair.
MORALS: Everyone is important according to his/her own unique purpose. Never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

Lesson of the day 1411

Ayahs of the Day: 
If He wished, He could destroy you, O mankind, and create another race; for He has power to do this. Anyone who wants a worldly prize (should know) God holds the worldly prize plus another in the Hereafter. God is Alert, Observant. [4: 133,134]

Hadith of the Day: 
None of you should pray for (his own) death, because if he is a good person, it is possible that he might add to his virtuous deeds, and if he is not a good person he might get a chance to rectify his (evil) past. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
The action which is sincere and incorrect is not accepted, and the one which is correct and insincere is not accepted. It is only accepted when it is sincere and correct. [Shaykh Faraz Rabbani]

Guidance of the Day:
The true ascetic is he who is careful to protect himself from dubious and unsanctioned practices in commerce. The same (attitude) applies to all other occupations and professions. Anyone who works in a given field is duty bound to learn how to guard against what is forbidden therein. This is also obligatory with knowledge of the conditions of the heart, such as complete reliance on God, repentance, fear, satisfaction (with God's decree)----for this applies to people of every walk of life.

The nobility of learning is not foreign to anyone, since it is something peculiar to all mankind. With the exception of knowledge, humans as well as animals are associated with several virtues, such as valor, courage, strength, generosity, and compassion. Learning, however, is the exception. Through it, God revealed the preeminence of Adam (peace be upon him) over the angels whom He commanded to prostrate themselves before (this first human). Learning is indeed noble, for it leads to a fear of God which entitles (the believer to receive) God's benevolence and eternal bliss (in the Hereafter). [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al Zarnuji]

Food for Thought:
Life is an adventure in forgiveness. It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every man has need to be forgiven.

The price of Paradise....

The price to enter paradise is you. You give away everything you have, down to your life, to get in.

From deep within your soul, give love and hope and prayers for others. Every moment of time spent
with your child, spouse, or loved one is you giving away that which is precious to someone you
hold dear.

When someone needs your help, don't say "no" even if you are tired. When someone needs some
of your wealth, don't say "no" even if you aren't rich.

Give from your skills and talents to make your community a better place. You are unique and someone
somewhere needs you.

Put your life on the line fighting for the good. Your life doesn't belong to you anyway; it belongs to Allah.

When you become so fatigued from giving everything away that the circles under your eyes have darkened
and your shoulders have become hunched with the weight of your work, take a moment of rest to nourish
your soul and strengthen your body. Then get up and give more.

The time for prolonged rest and sleep will come soon. Don't hoard yourself and your things, because at
the end you will not be asked: "How much did you accumulate?" Rather, you will be asked: "How much 
did you give away?"

Pearls of Wisdom 403

1. Whoever strives against himself for sadaqas, infaq (Charities) etc to conquer
stinginess and fear of poverty -- financial problems flee from him.

2. Darknesses come to us to make us realize and appreciate the blessings.

3. This world is remote and far from Allah Most High except for that which is just
for Him.

4. Every single evil pleasure that leads to desire like it, is a weapon of Satan.
Every single good  pleasure that leads to desire like it, is from Allah Most High.

5. Our entire life is one single breath, so we need to be avid and keen that it
be for us not against us.

6. Sign of a dying heart is that one feels no grief over the missed opportunities
to attain closeness to Allah Most High nor any regret for the sins one commits.

7. Be avid  and watchful for that which remains -- the remaining time is beyond
any  price, one can catch up with what one missed with the perpetual holding of
the Divine.

8. A single moment is worth the price of heavens and earth. The life lived without
purpose (i.e. striving to attain Paradise), is like the most precious jewel sold for
the lowest price.

9. The things that bring one closer to Allah Most High are fear of Allah, hope in
Allah, and love of Allah Most High.

10. Allah Most High has made the next world to reward His believing slaves -- a
reward which this world cannot contain, for ever and ever in quality and quantity.

Lesson of the day 1410

Ayah of the Day:
Say, "Do you see if God made the day last for you until the day of resurrection, what deity other
than God would give you night in which to rest? Won't you then observe?" [28: 72]

Hadith of the Day:
I bring good tidings to the one who holds back his anger, and to the one who does not say
what is not to be said, and to the knower who acts upon his knowledge. [Tabarani]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever reckons his words to be among his works (for which he will be requited), his words
are few except in what concerns him. [Fudhayl bin Iyad]

Guidance of the Day:
Have you ever noticed that lessons tend to repeat themselves? Lessons will be repeated to
you in various forms until you have learned them. Awareness is the process of becoming fully
conscious. Cultivating awareness is a lifelong process. Every moment presents you with an
opportunity to remain awake or to slip into unconscious behavior. The opportunity to learn
the lesson of awareness is presented each time you feel a sense of discontent in your life.

Simply noticing your behavior can bring you to awareness. When you observe your actions
as an objective spectator, you remove the filter of self-judgment and allow yourself to see
the patterns that you are repeating. As you watch yourself in a variety of situations and notice
similar actions and reactions, you bring to light the common thread attached to the necessary
lesson. Since lessons are repeated until learned, and since you cannot learn lessons until you
become aware of them, it makes sense that you will need to cultivate awareness if you are to
ever progress from where you are right now on your path.
[Scott, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules]

Food for Thought:
Time is the wisest of all counselors. Time and tide wait for no man. Lost time is never found
again. Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. As if
you could kill time without injuring eternity.

Perfect understanding....

Questions answered by Turkish Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi 

What Is Poison?
Rumi  - Any thing which is more than our necessity is Poison.
It may be Power, Wealth, Hunger, Ego, Greed, Laziness, Love,
Ambition, Hate or Anything.

What Is Fear?
Rumi - Non acceptance of Uncertainty.
If we accept that uncertainty,
it becomes Adventure.

What Is Envy?
Rumi - Non acceptance of Good in others.
If we accept that Good, it becomes Inspiration.

What Is Anger?
Rumi - Non acceptance of things which are beyond our control.
If we accept, it becomes Tolerance.

What Is Hatred?
Rumi - Non acceptance of person as he/she Is.
If we accept person unconditionally, it becomes Love.

Pearls of Wisdom 402

1. There's only one thing more contagious than the measles; and that's a good example.

2. The reason many people don't climb the ladder of success is that they are waiting for
the elevator.

3. The human soul is not made for jealousy and revenge.

4. "Today is my only day" is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of
happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

5. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable --
desire to be accepted by God.

6. This is the way of the noble: they face difficulties with firm resolution, and they
wrestle hardship to the ground.

7. Do not be preoccupied with matters that are insignificant. If you follow this advice,
you will find that most of your worries will have left you.

8. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love
for spreading goodness to all those that are connected to it.

9. If you seek happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will
find anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.

10. Live every day as if it were the last day of your life -- with this frame of mind and
outlook toward life, you have no reason to allow sadness or anger to steal the little time you have.

Lesson of the day 1409

Ayah of the Day:
And whoever accepts guidance only accepts guidance for the good of his own soul; but if anyone strays, then say, "I am only a warner. [27: 92]

Hadith of the Day:
Good news for those who are sincere! They are the lamps enlightening the path to truth. They uncover the darkness of all who cause mischief. [Bayhaqi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Among mankind the best protector of his heart is the one who is most in possession of his tongue. [Dhun nun al Misri]

Guidance of the Day:
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called "life." Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or hate them. The meaning of life is different for every individual. Each person has his or her own purpose and distinct path, unique and separate from anyone else's. As you travel your life path, you will be presented with numerous lessons that you will need to learn in order to fulfill that purpose. The lessons you are presented with are specific for you; learning these lessons is the key to discovering and fulfilling the meaning and relevance of your own life.

You will be presented with lessons in every circumstance that surfaces in your life. When you experience pain, you learn a lesson. When you feel joy, you learn a different lesson. For every action or event, there is an accompanying lesson that must be learned. There really is no way to avoid the lessons you are presented with, nor is there any chance that you will be able to skirt around the learning process. [If Life is a Game, These are the Rules by Cherie Carter-Scott]

Food for Thought:
Scoff not at the natural defects of any which are not in their power to amend. It is cruel to beat a cripple with his own crutches! Mockery is the weapon of those who have no other. Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools. It is the language of the devil. Jests that give pains are no jests.

I have learnt that....

By changing our thinking,
We change our beliefs;

When we change our beliefs,
We change our expectations;

When we change our expectations,
We change our attitude;

When we change our attitude,
We change our behavior;

When we change our behavior,
We change our performance;

When we change our performance,
We change our life;

Life is like a book of three pages -- first page is 'birth', last  page is 'death',
center page is 'empty', it is up to us how we fill our page.

Facts about Anger....

"The strong is not the one who is physically powerful, but indeed, the one who controls himself when angry." [Bukhari]

1. He who angers you controls you.

2. If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size.

3. Anger is a momentary madness, it is only one letter short of danger.

4. Anger begins with folly, and ends with regret -- how much more grievous are the consequences of
anger than the causes of it.

5. Consider how much more you suffer from your anger and grief, than from those things for which
you are angry and grieved.

6. Speak when you are angry -- and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.

7. For every minute you remain angry you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.

8. No man can think when his fists are clenched.

9. Anger is a killing thing -- it kills the angry man, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before it,
it takes something from him.

10. Holding to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing at someone else -- imagine what
it will do to the person's hand who is holding it.

11. Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.

12. Anger blows out the lamp of mind -- thus an angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason.

13. When a man is wrong and won't admit it, he always gets angry.

14. Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding.


15. Anyone can become angry -- that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the
right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way -- is something we all need to practice.

16. The best remedy for anger is delay.

Also repeating after ever salah seven times"Ya Subbooh, Ya Quddoos, Ya Ghafoor, Ya Wadood", will help us
control our anger, inshaAllah. 

Lesson of the day 1408

Ayahs of the Day: 
To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth. Verily We directed the People of the Book before you, and you (O Muslims) to fear Allah. But if you deny Him, to Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth, and Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise. To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth, and enough is Allah to carry through all affairs. [4: 131,132]

Hadith of the Day: 
You should not be envious of anyone save: One he upon whom Allah bestows the (knowledge of) Quran and he studies and practices it through the day and night; and the other whom Allah gives wealth and he spends it in the cause of Allah, throughout the night and day. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
A person's fear of Allah is equal to his knowledge of Him and his renouncing of this world is equal to his desire of the Hereafter. [Ibrahim al As'ath]

Guidance of the Day: 
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The quest of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim man and Muslim woman." But it is not obligatory for every Muslim to seek all (aspects) of learning, but only that in keeping one's standing. It is said that the most meritorious knowledge is that in keeping with one's standing, and the most meritorious action is to maintain one's standing (soundly).

It is necessary for the Muslim to strive for as much knowledge as he may need in his standing whatever this may be. Since one must perform prayers, he must know enough about the prayer ritual that will help him acquit himself of his obligation. Knowledge of his (other) religious obligations is likewise incumbent upon him, for whatever leads to the fulfillment of a duty is itself a duty and what leads to the establishment of an obligation is an obligation. This applies to fasting; paying zakat if one possesses wealth; and the pilgrimage when one is under obligation to perform it. It also applies to trading goods if one is engaged in commerce. [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al-Zarnuji]

Food for Thought: 
Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note, torn into two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one." I forgive but I cannot forget", is only one way of saying, "I will not forgive."