Thursday, September 27, 2018

Taqwa -- God Consciousness

What is Taqwa?

Taqwa is not just about manners.
Taqwa is not just about looking Islamic
Taqwa is not just about sporting a beard
or wearing a hijab.
Taqwa is not just about appearance

But

Taqwa is when we miss a prayer, we feel
uneasy the whole day.
Taqwa is when we speak a lie, we feel bad.
Taqwa is the guilt that follows when we hurt
someone knowingly or unknowingly.

Taqwa is the shame and regret that follows a
sin we committed knowing very well how it
stands in the sight of Allah.
Taqwa is when we cannot sleep after disobeying
or disrespecting our parents.
Taqwa is the cry in the depths of night fearing
none but the One about the Arsh (Throne).

Taqwa is the fear that refrains us from sinning
when nobody familiar is around.
Taqwa is the guts and the will to please Allah,
even when the whole world is bent on displeasing
Him.
Taqwa is to wear the beard and hijab for the sole
reason of pleasing the Creator and keep it on as
per the Sunnah.

Taqwa is to stay happy and smiling, knowing that
this world is a prison for the Believers.
Taqwa is the good manners and character we
practice for the sake of Creator.
Taqwa is the struggle to better ourselves according
to the teachings of Islam with consistency.

Taqwa is not just rising in Deen, but about falling,
and rising back again after every fall.

Taqwa is the commitment of the heart to make
everyday better than yesterday, in preparation
for the eternal life after death.

Monday, September 24, 2018

Pearls of Wisdom 414

1. The only way to have a friend is to be one.

2. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

3. It's not what you look at matters, it's what you see.

4. Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those we hold well.

5. The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

6. Life is like a coin, we can spend it any way we wish, but we can only
spend it once.

7. It is not the length of life, but the depth of life that matters.

8. The great use of life is to spend it for something that will out last it.

9. Life is not a sum of what we are but what we yearn to be.

10. Live everyday as if it were your last, because one of these days it will be.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Lesson of the day 1412

Ayah of the day
Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy; for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until Death faces one of them, and he says, "Now have I repented indeed; nor of those who die rejecting faith; for them We have prepared a punishment most grievous. [4:17, 18]

Hadith of the Day: 
Allah has forbidden you from the disobedience of your parents, stinginess, usurping the properties of others, and the burying alive of female infants; and has disapproved for you useless talking, excessive questioning and waste of property. [ Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Allah's generosity is connected to gratitude, and gratitude is linked to increase in His generosity. The generosity of Allah will not stop increasing unless the gratitude of the servant ceases. [Ali (radi Allahu anhu)]

Guidance of the Day: 
Companionship yields two kinds of impact: one that drags a person down to the compost of the world and the other that points toward God the Exalted and an existence that lasts for ever. A companion who tries to sell the ephemeral stuff of this life and makes it the substance of conversation and pursuit in dragging the soul earthward.

It is better, beyond compare, to seek out the company of those who help one achieve contentment with God. When one is content, little will suffice. But without contentment, nothing suffices.

Seeking refuge with God is the most efficacious treatment for all diseases of the heart, i.e., to go to God with complete unconditional imploring. What is meant here is urgently seeking refuge in God's protection and guidance, to seek this as if one were holding on to a thread over a canyon. It is begging, which before God is honorable. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance, it is a better safe guard of liberty than a standing army, it's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open mind.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Recipe for getting rid of disputes....

 The Foundation for Eliminating Disputes

Disputes, in whatever manner they appear, should be resolved immediately.  Human life being what it is, there is no guarantee as to who will be carried into the grave first. At the occasion of death, friends, enemies, all gather to mourn anyway.

It is best that one’s heart be cleansed of all grudges regarding all Muslims. Soothe the angry hearts of others, and see how tranquil life becomes.

The weightiness in one’s own heart is removed.Always act towards mending relationships. As a result, one will attain barakah in one’s time and provision.

Admission

The primary act which ends a dispute is admitting one’s fault.  If it is your fault then admit it and take account of your faults. It is essential to recognize the excesses one has taken to transgress upon others.

Ultimately, the greatest reality of life is recognition of one’s faults. The secret of all forms of betterment in life lies in this recognition, because man always errs.  If he does not recognize his faults, then there is no other course for his betterment.

Recognition is the door to all successes, but seldom it is that man is willing to subject himself to it.  When such an occasion arises, it becomes a matter of ego. Instead of admitting his fault, he
attempts to cover it up. The result is that this fault of his continues to grow unchecked.

Making Excuses and Reconciling

Regardless of whose fault it is, when a dispute occurs, you will always share its blame to a certain extent.  This being the case, you should rise to the occasion and apologize for that which is of your own doing.  Consequently, the one with whom your are disputing will soften his attitude towards you.
You should always have a positive attitude towards others. Keep a goodly opinion regarding
others. A misunderstanding should be clarified by discussing it as soon as possible.Establish an attitude of selflessness and sacrifice.

Save yourself from stubbornness and obstinacy. Suppress your anger. Adopt a manner which always seeks reconciliation. Pray for your friends, family, and those with whom you have disputes.

Satan struggles tirelessly to create disputes between Muslims. Truly the greatest weapon he wields to destroy this Ummah is to make Muslims fight each other over any excuse. Remember that non-Muslims CANNOT overcome Muslims under any circumstance.  Thus, we are made to fight each other.

Leave behind obedience and slavery to Satan! Attain firmness in the virtues of admitting one’s faults, asking forgiveness, and forgiving!

Above and beyond this, strive to make peace between two Muslims, for this is a tremendous act of worship indeed!

By Muhammad Bashir Jumah
(An excerpt from his work in Urdu,  The Journey to Success on the Road of Life)



Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Pearls of Wisdom 413

1. Science investigates, religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power,
religion gives man wisdom which is control.

2. Winners never quit and quitters never win.

3. It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

4. I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

5. Try not to be a man of success, but rather try to become a man of values.

6. Failure is a success if we learn from it.

7. No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both,
he is twice blessed indeed.

8. The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing to get
along with people.

9. Let him know who would enjoy a good future, waste none of his present.

10. Men talk about killing time, while time is quietly killing them.

Saturday, September 08, 2018

Lesson of the day 1411

Ayahs of the Day: 
O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of their dower you have given them--except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them it may be that you dislike
a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good. [4: 19]

Hadith of the Day: 
The noblest deed is that a person should be benevolent towards his father's friends. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Actions are but lifeless forms, whose soul is the secret of sincerity in them. [Ibn Ataillah]

Guidance of the Day: 
As for the action that is beneficial in purifying the heart, none is more effective than what is consistent, even if it is slight. It is important to know that "purification" is not a state, but an ongoing process. Just as we go through a day careful about our bodily cleanliness, we must similarly tend to our spiritual purity, for purification and sincerity do not survive a passive relationship. They are not qualities that are ignited and glow on without attendance. Left unattended, the heart becomes encrusted.

Unwholesome deeds accumulate and take away its purity. But with consistent work on self purification, the heart becomes cleansed and is kept that way. The Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were consistent with their actions once they commenced them, when they took on supererogatory rites of worship (nawafil) they did so for the duration of their lives.
It was something they embraced as a spiritual practice, and they did not abandon it.

This is not to say that this is an obligation. But if people wish to climb straight and climb right in their journey, their acts of worship should be regular and consistent. If a person sees himself inclined to a certain supererogatory worship rite, then he should follow it and be consistent. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Education is being able to differentiate between what you know and what you do not know. It is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self confidence.

Monday, September 03, 2018

Pearls from the khutba in Arafat....2

1. Our death and meeting with our Creator is approaching and yet our biggest
worries are about the petty things of this world.

2. Soon we will just be a memory for people, and a lesson for others. We need
to try our best to be a positive influence and a good lesson for people around us.

3. Just imagine how many people were here with us last year, but no longer with
us now. Our turn is soon approaching, may Allah allow us to prepare for it.

4. We walk with our heads high up in the sky, heedless that one day we will be
trapped six feet under the ground.

5. How do we expect to get the Paradise without working for it in this world.
That is like expecting to pass an exam we never took a class for.

6. A believer may be penniless, homeless, unemployed, sick and feel like
he has nothing, but he has One thing -- he has Allah.

7. Allah knows what we want, what we need, what we deserve. We need
to trust Him, and know that His decisions are best for His creation, He
knows while we don't.

8. We need to make Qur'an our companion and a part of our life. We shouldn't
become a stranger to it. It is like a friend, the longer the friendship the more
we will know of its secrets.

9. We wouldn't throw away a diamond to pick up a rock, then how can we
throw away the Paradise by chasing after the worldly.

10. We only appreciate blessings after we lose them. The time of this world
 is the most precious thing we have to earn our Paradise, we need to make
the most of our time and not waste it.