Monday, August 31, 2009

Pearls of Wisdom....183

1. If you would like to know God's view of the age, see how the blessings of nature are received.

2. Faith may be measured by the number of verses that softens one's heart.

3. Modernity-----------A way of drowning into nothingness.

4. Failing to pray for faith is a sign of lack of faith.

5. Modernity has not healed our pain, it has only dried our tears.

6. Preferring rida over riba is the choosing of milk over wine.

7. It is the Muslim, not Islam, that cries out to be reformed.

8. Islam is God's effort to give us the easiest possible way of being traditional.

9. It is time to rise from the emotional bath, and recall where we left the libas-al-taqwa.

10. Only when distant from God do we crave what is distant from God. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]

Thursday, August 27, 2009

LESSON OF THE DAY 1144

Ayahs of the Day:
Know that the life of the world is but diversion and distraction, and ostentation and boasting among yourselves, and striving for more and more property and children. It is like rain whose growth pleases the tillers then dies out and you see it turn yellow, and then it crumbles. In the hereafter there is severe agony, and forgiveness from God, and acceptance. So what is the life of the world but the stuff of deception? [57: 20]

Hadith of the Day:
The (Islamic) religion began as a stranger, and will become a stranger again as it was in the beginning, hence, blessed are the strangers.

Wise Quote of the Day:
Without a steady dose of knowledge, wisdom, and the advice from the sages, our hearts will wither away and die. [Fatah Musli]

Guidance of the Day:
Every one of us wants to make our life work, but this often turns into a frustrating project of trying to control the uncontrollable. We think to be in charge of our lives we need to control our world, and then suffer in frustration and perhaps despair.

Life is full of unexpected events, changes, losses, and ordeals beyond our control. We are doomed to suffer if all our attention is on trying to control what is not in our power to control. Instead, we will have so much more power over and satisfaction with our lives if we are open and awake to life's responsibilities. For whatever way we choose to confront it, life is sure to be full of surprises at every turn. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]

Food for Thought:
Know that anxiety and restlessness are of no use. Sometimes you should look at the level of hardship you are bearing and appreciate that things could have been worse. For every thing you have missed, you have gained something else.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Pearls of Wisdom....182

1. God gave us the Prophet because He loved what we might become.

2. We are punished because we don't know that we deserve to be punished.

3. Male and female cannot be equal, for they are mutually superior.

4. The breadth of the Garden is reached through the narrow door of humility.

5. Happiness consists in performing good tasks well.

6. Modernity deprives us of the most basic right of all----------the right to be traditional.

7. If you want to excel at your work, consecrate it to God.

8. Be attached to God, not to the fruits of your actions.

9. Despair of the self is the door into religion, despair of God is the door out of it.

10. Faith is not a given, it is given. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]

Monday, August 24, 2009

Mothers .........

From Surah al-Rahman are the glorious words of our Creator: "Then which of the favors of your Lord will your deny?"

Yet how often we deny the greatest of favors that the Bestower has granted us. This favor, in the form of a woman......

A woman who carried us within her for almost a whole year of her short life in this world, bearing every hardship and discomfort to protect and nurture our frail being as the Fashioner gently prepared us to come into this worldly realm....

A woman who braved death's door, embracing pain unimaginable to even the most stalwart of warriors, that our tiny form may chance to take its first breath, open its eyes to the light of a new home, and feel her warm, soft caress, as she forgets all that she went through, to make comfortable our awakening into a new world....

A woman who had forsaken rest, slumber, and dreams for far too many nights; to rise instead, and answer the pitiful wail of a helpless creature that always new she would be there to answer its plaintive cry, even as the whole world slumbered on into the dead of the night......

A woman who bore weakness to give forth from her being, a pure and heavenly nectar to nourish our growing bodies and our thirsty souls with sustenance to define our humanity ever onward......

A woman who watered and pruned our character with all the patience and care of a master gardener turning a wild shrub into a beautiful tree.......

A woman who was always there for us, no matter how many backs were turned to us, no matter how many doors closed in our face, to give us a shoulder to cry on, an ear to heed our complaint, a comforting bosom to embrace when there was no other.......

A woman who, even after all of our blunders, all of our impudence, all of our ungrateful gestures and insolent remarks, will not hesitate to say I forgive you when no one else in the world will....

A woman who we call Mother.

If we only knew her lofty station in the sight of He whose mercy is endless, a single portion of which He showered upon the world and it manifested itself as the undying compassion of the mother to her child.

"THEN WHICH OF THE FAVORS OF YOUR LORD DO YOU DENY?"

To deny is to show ingratitude. To show ingratitude is to lose one's blessings......like sand flowing through one's fingers.

To show ingratitude to the all Merciful is to show ingratitude to the means He creates out of His endless mercy. WHAT OF THE MEANS WHICH BROUGHT US INTO THE WORLD?

If one's mother is alive, then cry out of thankfulness to Allah, go to her, sit at her feet, kiss her on the forehead, look her in the eyes and tell her how blessed you are for someone like her......

Tell her how much you love her.....

And never forget the immortal words of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace):

"Paradise is under the feet of the mother...."

From a loving son

LESSON OF THE DAY 1143

Ayahs of the Day:
For the men who give charity and women who give charity, advancing a good loan to God, it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a generous reward. And those who believe in God and the messengers of God are the ones who are truly sincere, and the witnesses in the presence of their Lord; they will have their reward, and their light. But those who scoffed and denied Our signs, they will be inmates of blazes. [57: 18,19]

Hadith of the Day:
No one can be given a blessing better and greater than patience. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The very spirit of servanthood is trusting in God and completely resigning oneself toward God. How repugnant is the servant who has no tranquil resignation! [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:
We can commit ourselves to having our lives be great! Promises, tailored to our own needs or interests, can expand our satisfaction, stretch us, and be our personal standard for living successfully. Keeping our commitments supports us to live as the designer instead of the victim of our lives.

Not only can we generate renewed zest for life with promises, but we can also overcome anything that befalls us by committing ourselves to recovering from it. It's a funny thing about life: if you refuse to accept anything but the very best you will very often get it. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]

Food for Thought:
I can forgive but I cannot forget, is only one way of saying, "I will not forgive." Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note, torn into two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one. There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Pearls of Wisdom....181

1. Life is a vocation, not a vacation.

2. We are designed to fall on our knees.

3. That there is evil is good, but evil is not good.

4. Not every male superiority is female inferiority.

5. We are Muslims because we practice Islam not vice versa.

6. The ruin of the heart lies in denying the desire for obedience.

7. Tribalism flourishes when Truth is neglected.

8. Engage only in such leisure pursuits as may be offered to God.

9. Rida (contentment with the Divine destiny) is the true freedom.

10. For which is He more to be praised----------for His blessings, or for His forbearance in the face of our refusal to give thanks for them. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]

Thursday, August 13, 2009

LESSON OF THE DAY 1142

Ayah of the Day:
Know that God enlivens the earth after its death; We have made the signs clear to you, so that you may understand. [57: 17]

Hadith of the Day:
Modesty which is praiseworthy, is a character trait that leads one to avoid that which is religiously reprehensible. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Follow His commandments and bear every affliction with patience. Adhere consciously for this was the path chosen by the sages, the path that will lead you to the ultimate freedom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Guidance of the Day:
Promising to work out a particular relationship problem can transform a relationship. If we promise to stop getting angry or criticizing, or if we promise to stop taking someone else's lateness or silence as a personal attack, or if we promise to give more or to ask for more, we can truly alter our relationships with one another.

Likewise, we can have an impact on our work life by making promises to complete work or to start new projects or to behave in some new or more effective way. Making and keeping a promise in any area can enhance our daily lives immeasurably. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]

Food for Thought:
A day will never be any more than what you make of it. Practice being a "doer." Take the time to practice the skills and abilities you want to attain. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. You are all creators. Be an artist and create something today. Whether it is physical or spiritual matters little, but the process of creating matters a lot.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Pearls of Wisdom....180

1. Only five pillars hold up the sky.

2. 'Our Lord! Grant us to deal with others on the basis of thankfulness to You.'

3. Love of saints is the proof of religion and religiosity.

4. Without determination there can be no miracles.

5. Good architecture is to promote thankfulness.

6. The Law upholds the Ummah better than the Ummah upholds the law.

7. The True King admits the beggar first---------Let's pray 'O Lord'.

8. Nothing is difficult except in our thoughts.

9. Faith is not faith unless it seeks understanding.

10. It takes courage to bear the consequences of cowardice. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

LESSON OF THE DAY 1141

Ayah of the Day:
Has the time not come for those who believe that their hearts should humble themselves to remembrance of God and the truth that has come down, and that they should not be like those to whom scripture was given before but over a long period of time their hearts hardened and many of them became dissolute? [57: 16]

Hadith of the Day:
Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendents of Adam. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
A man of bad character punishes his own soul. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
Specific promises that we keep can make a major difference in our feeling good about ourselves and our lives, for this is one way we can surely strengthen and support ourselves. Notice how much satisfaction we feel when we can commit to being on time or keep our word or when we stay on a diet or complete a piece of work. This holds true of any promises or commitments we make and keep.

Giving our word in any area of our life can make a real difference in how we feel about ourselves and about our lives. We can promise to take care of ourselves in someway-------dieting, exercise--------and thus enhance our lives. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]

Food for Thought:
Devotion is just the promptitude, fervor, affection, and ability which we have in the service of God: and there is a difference between a good man and a devout man; for he is a good man who keeps the commandments of God, although it be without great promptitude or fervor; but he is devout who not only observes them but does so willingly, promptly, and with good heart.

Why Our Dua's are not answered....

Source: An-Noor
Ibrahim Bin Adham was asked as to why our dua’s do not get accepted even though Allah Ta`ala has said, “And ask of me; I shall grant you…"

So Ibrahim Bin Adham answered:

Your dua’s do not get answered because your hearts are dead.

They said, ‘why are our hearts dead?’

He answered,because of 8 things….

1- You know the rights of Allah upon you but you do not fulfill them.

2- You read the Qur’an but you do not act on its commandments.

3- You claim that you love the Prophet (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) but you don’t follow his way.

4- You say we fear death, but you don’t prepare for it.

5- Allah says, Indeed shaytan is your enemy, so take him as your enemy…” but you obey him in committing sins and disobeying Allah.

6- You claim that you fear the hell fire but you have thrown yourselves therein.

7- You claim that you love paradise but you don’t make an effort for it.

8- When you get up from your beds in the morning, you throw your deficiencies behind your backs and involve yourselves with other peoples’ faults.
Thus you have angered your Lord, so why would He answer your prayers?
(Taken from: Ihya Ulum al-Din; Kitab Sharh `Aja’ib al-Qalb)

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Pearls of Wisdom....179

1. In the measure that we accept prayer it is accepted by God.

2. Text without context is pretext.

3. The tawaf is about Ibrahim, the sa'ee is about Hajira, olny in Islam is a woman an initiator of a form of worship.

4. The hijab is indeed an amulet (ta'weez) which wards off the evil eye.

5. Guilt is a warning.

6. It's called the consumer society because it consumes us.

7. Islam is a hidden treasure to be known.

8. Courtesy and knowledge are like two hands washing each other.

9. Only in unity can suffering find no place.

10. Buying is more American than thinking. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

LESSON OF THE DAY 1140

Ayahs of the Day:
Who will advance a good loan to God, who will double it for him, so he will have a generous reward? One day you will see the believing men and the believing women with their light streaming before them and by their right hands: "Good news for you today: a garden with streams flowing below, to abide in forever." That is the greater success. [57: 11,12]

Hadith of the Day:
O people spread greetings of peace, feed (the poor and needy), behave kindly toward your relatives, offer prayer when others are asleep, and (then) enter Paradise in peace.

Wise Quote of the Day:
When He gives He shows you His kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power. And in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:
Life would be more satisfying for most of us if it were supported by any purpose that we deem worhwhile. It usually doesn't work to have another person be our only purpose in life, but there are times when we may give all of our attention to a relative or friend in need.

When all of our energies are tied up with just one other person-----a spouse, child, or parent------we are apt to end up feeling depleted or deprived. Most of us need more in order to feel satisfied. Also, people are transitory, while a purpose, if large enough, can inspire us indefinitely. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]

Food for Thought:
Men who have attained things worth having in this world have worked while others idled, have preserved when others gave up in despair, have practiced early in life the valuable habits of self-denial, industry, and singleness of purpose. As a result, they enjoy in later life the success so often erroneously attributed to good luck.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Pearls of Wisdom....178

1. To blame others for our misfortunes is always a victory for the nafs.

2. We should not do what we like, but we should like what we should do.

3. True religion invites you to become better people. False religion tells us that this has already occurred.

4. Trying to be loved is not the best way to be loveable.

5. We need less self-righteousness and more self-knowledge.

6. Television is hellish vision because it robs us of the sense of truth.

7. It is better that the injustices of others stand than our own injustices should stand.

8. It is better to appreciate what you do not have than to have what you do not appreciate.

9. The greatest achievement of the ego is to make virtue unattractive.

10. Salat is the Zakat of time. [Above quotes by Abdul Hakim Murad].