LESSON OF THE DAY 1276

Ayahs of the Day:

Say, "O disbelievers, I don't serve what you serve, and you don't serve what I serve. And I won't serve what you serve, and you won't serve what I serve. You have your way, and I have my way." [109: 1 to 60

Hadith of the Day:

No man helps a Muslim at a time when his honor is being belittled or his rights are violated except that Allah will help him in a place in which he loves to have His help. [Abu Dawud & Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:

Be joyous only for an increase in your good works, for they are your companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind. [Imam al-Haddad]

Guidance of the Day:

Remind others to treasure life: Too often we take this incredible gift of life too much for granted. We rush around as if we have forever, respond out of habit instead of out of wisdom, and fail to attend to our highest stated priorities. We often fail to recognize and acknowledge not only what we have -- a home, family, friends, possessions, and health -- but life itself. Treasure life -- In fact, gratitude is one of, if not the most important, tool for living a peaceful life. Gratitude has a way of putting almost anything into its proper perspective.

I have found that when I do acknowledge the gift of life, much of the "small stuff" that used to bother me takes on far less relevance and significance. Appreciation puts things in perspective and allows me to be less uptight and reactive. In face, when I'm feeling really grateful, virtually nothing seems to get to me. Sometimes I can even see the humor in all the chaos.

When you remind others to treasure life, you can't help but do so yourself. Try it sometime. Remind your spouse or child, a friend, parent, neighbor, or someone else to treasure life, and observer what happens to you. You'll probably connect with the feeling of gratitude, of feeling blessed. The quality of your day -- and of your life -- will improve, as will the quality of life of those around you. Appreciation of life reminds you to be kind, humble, and generous and to take moments, frequently, to stop and smell the roses.

I encourage you to take this strategy to heart and implement it in your daily life. Remind others frequently to treasure life. Doing so will be a tremendous service to mankind and will help you as well. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Doing our duty and pursuing goals leads to happiness. Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. When we devote ourselves to the strict and unsparing performance of duty, then happiness comes of itself. He who never sacrificed a present to a future good, or a personal to a general one, can speak of happiness only as the blind speak of color.