LESSON OF THE DAY 655

Ayah of the Day:
Had it not been for a word that issued from your Lord before, the inevitable would have taken place; but their is an appointed term. [20: 129]

Hadith of the Day:
The most beloved of places in the sight of Allah are the masjids, and the most disliked of the places in the sight of Allah are the markets. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
May Allah exalt the rank of the one who grants me the gift of advising me on my faults. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
An ostentatious affection for the blessed Prophet can do little to create an authentic affinity with him. Real love between us and the Prophet is established when we follow the actions of his life: actions that made his life: actions that made his life truly the Last Messenger's life and a life that is worthy of imitation for all people until the end of the world. Following the sunnah is to submit to Allah, and to efface one's ego. In its comprehensive sense, sunnah is not just following the Prophet in one particular act, but adopting the way of the Prophet in the pursuit of meritorious acts and supererogatory practices and habits.

Allah created human beings pure and perfect, with no original sin. Sinners destroy this perfection with their own hands. Believers strive to preserve this perfection with their dedicated obedience. For all humanity, Allah has ordained a law and a way in conformity with His universal plan. The path of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encompasses the whole of human life. Undeterred by any worldly power, unmoved by any offer of worldly gain, he proclaimed the glory of Allah. All who come after him should endeavor to pursue this stoic frame of mind.

Man's greatest achievement is in possessing those qualities that make him truly human. These qualities are enshrined in the eternal names of Allah, the greatest manifestations of which are to be seen in our Prophet. This is why the Prophet told us that he was sent to complete the excellence of character. A believer can hope to attain some of the sweet qualities of the Prophet by following him in both the physical acts of the sunnah as well as the spiritual acts of the sunnah. His sunnah is the only means of drawing near to Allah. By emulating every act of the Prophet, every living moment of a believer becomes significant, every action full of meaning. By following his moral and spiritual teachings, we follow the best of human examples. There are no virtues other than his virtues; all virtues are subsumed under his virtues. [The Path of Muhammad by Imam Birgivi]

Food for Thought:
It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is what are we busy about? Whoever admits that he is too busy to improve his methods has acknowledged himself to be at the end of his rope. And that is always the saddest predicament which anyone can get into. What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.