Monday, December 20, 2004

LESSON OF THE DAY 64

Ayahs of the Day:
Let not the strutting about of the unbelievers through the land deceive you. Little is it for enjoyment, their ultimate abode is Hell, what an evil bed (to lie on). On the other hand for those who fear their Lord, are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath; therein are they to dwell (forever), A gift from the presence of Allah; and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best (bliss) for the righteous. [3: 196, 197, 198]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah will definitely enforce the settlement of all the dues entitled to receive them on the Day of Judgment; even the wrong done to a hornless goat by a horned goat, will be redressed. [Muslim]

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:
God never changes any blessing He has bestowed upon a people until they first change what is in themselves (Quran,8:53).
God will not take away a blessing unless people show ingratitude. A poet said, "If you are in a blessing, guard it, for disobedience shall snatch away." Gratitude to God protects one from having blessings removed.

There is an interesting concept called istidraj,in which God allows an ingrate to flaunt his blessings, while God does not diminish the ingrate's blessings in the least. In fact, He may increase it. The person then begins to think that God really loves him, and the only thing worse than a person who is misguided is the person who is astray but believes himself to be favored by God.

There is confusion in the way people interpret the blessings they receive. When they are the recipients of great wealth, they see themselves as especially pleased to God. And when their provision is restricted, they feel God is debasing them. But the reality people often miss is that wealth is a test: Will its recipient be generous or miserly? The same applies when wealth is restricted: Will a person be patient and content, or feel despair and bitterness? [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought:

We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears. We must not demean life by standing in awe of death. The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of our eternity.

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