1. Capability is a condition for commanding good and forbidding evil. So its level of obligation on a particular person is proportional to his capability. [Ibn Taymiyyah]
2. None is to command good and forbid evil unless he understands what he is commanding and what he is forbidding, is gentle and is patient. [Ibn Taymiyyah].
3. The believer tries to find excuses for others, while the hypocrite looks out for mistakes. [Ibn al Mubarak]
4. Although today, we find ourselves without a khalifah, this is not the cause of our troubles; rather we as an Umma have become neglectful of our Deen and have become preoccupied with this life. [Aftab Ahmad Malik]
5. All the believers are the Friends of Allah (Awliya), and the noblest of them in the sight of Allah are those who are the most obedient and who most closely follow the Qur'an. [Imam Abu Hanifah]
6. The best form of speech is that in which a little removes the need to say more, and the meaning is self evident in the words. [Ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
7. People are warned to beware of indulging in talk on matters that are of no concern to them, or when there is no occasion for them to speak------for a person who speaks out of place has indulged in excess. [Ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
8. The real miracle occurs when the one who has broken the creational norms of his soul by taking its low customary nature to being attached to the values of the Shari'ah completely in all movements and stillness. [Shaykh Othman]
9. Engage yourself not in speech either with the learned or the fool. For the former is likely to defeat you, and the latter is likely to abuse you. [Ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
10. Mention your brother favorably in his absence, not in a way that you displease him, were he to hear you. [Ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1163
Ayahs of the Day:
Everything in the heavens and everything on earth praises God, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Almighty, the Wise: that is who sent the unlettered a messenger from among them to recite the signs of God to them, and purify them, and teach them scripture and wisdom----even if they had indeed been in evident error before-----and others of them when they join them. And God is the Almighty, the Epitome of wisdom. That is the grace of God, which God grants to whomever God will; and God is the holder of supreme grace. [62: 1 to 4]
Hadith of the Day:
The marriage which is most blessed is the one which is lightest in burden and expense. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The sincere person is safe, secure, and at peace in this world and the Hereafter. His actions find divine reward. Allah is pleased with him, and he is pleased with his Lord. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
You should have a wird of reading useful knowledge, which is that which increases your knowledge of the Essence of God, His Attributes, Acts and favors, makes you aware of His commands and prohibitions, leads you to renounce the things of this world and wish only for the hereafter, and brings your faults, the defects in your acts and the plots of your enemy to your notice.
You should have a wird of remembering God (dhikr), which you must define with either a determined time or number. Remembrance has fruits and consequences which those who persevere in it with good manners and attentiveness find. The least of these is to find it so sweet and pleasurable that every worldly pleasure that one knows becomes insignificant. The highest is to become extinct in the Remembered, to the remembrance, and to all else. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss. All life is an experiment. No great man complains of want of opportunity. Our greatest glory is not in never failing but rising up every time we fail.
Everything in the heavens and everything on earth praises God, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Almighty, the Wise: that is who sent the unlettered a messenger from among them to recite the signs of God to them, and purify them, and teach them scripture and wisdom----even if they had indeed been in evident error before-----and others of them when they join them. And God is the Almighty, the Epitome of wisdom. That is the grace of God, which God grants to whomever God will; and God is the holder of supreme grace. [62: 1 to 4]
Hadith of the Day:
The marriage which is most blessed is the one which is lightest in burden and expense. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The sincere person is safe, secure, and at peace in this world and the Hereafter. His actions find divine reward. Allah is pleased with him, and he is pleased with his Lord. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
You should have a wird of reading useful knowledge, which is that which increases your knowledge of the Essence of God, His Attributes, Acts and favors, makes you aware of His commands and prohibitions, leads you to renounce the things of this world and wish only for the hereafter, and brings your faults, the defects in your acts and the plots of your enemy to your notice.
You should have a wird of remembering God (dhikr), which you must define with either a determined time or number. Remembrance has fruits and consequences which those who persevere in it with good manners and attentiveness find. The least of these is to find it so sweet and pleasurable that every worldly pleasure that one knows becomes insignificant. The highest is to become extinct in the Remembered, to the remembrance, and to all else. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss. All life is an experiment. No great man complains of want of opportunity. Our greatest glory is not in never failing but rising up every time we fail.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....203
1. Break away from the lower self and lust, seek the help of God, for how excellent is the Master.
2. It is incumbent upon you to have real faith, and the sense of God's presence in well-doing. Hold fast to that with knowledge, and you will experience the increase in wisdom.
3. Cling to sincerity and godly piety, and forsake the abodes of evil, and you will attain the loftiest degrees.
4. Be not be heedless of God, neither consider yourself secure from His cunning. Look to no one except God, and you will acquire sciences, gifts, and understandings, and you will obtain from God an unceasing reward.
5. Serve your Lord wherever you may be with contentment, and you will enjoy what the people of beneficence have obtained.
6. Faith is increased by thanksgiving for graces, endurance under trial, and contentment with the Divine decree.
7. Remembrance of God is the light of the heart, and His presence is the key to the invisible.
8. The understanding man is one who has an understanding from God of His signs and whose occupation is dhikr of and reflection upon His favors.
9. The real significance of remembrance lies in one's being detached from remembrance and joined to the One remembered in the dhikr, and detached from everything except Him.
10. Whenever anyone of the jinn and men intimidates you, say, 'Our sufficiency is God, and He is an excellent Protector. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. It is incumbent upon you to have real faith, and the sense of God's presence in well-doing. Hold fast to that with knowledge, and you will experience the increase in wisdom.
3. Cling to sincerity and godly piety, and forsake the abodes of evil, and you will attain the loftiest degrees.
4. Be not be heedless of God, neither consider yourself secure from His cunning. Look to no one except God, and you will acquire sciences, gifts, and understandings, and you will obtain from God an unceasing reward.
5. Serve your Lord wherever you may be with contentment, and you will enjoy what the people of beneficence have obtained.
6. Faith is increased by thanksgiving for graces, endurance under trial, and contentment with the Divine decree.
7. Remembrance of God is the light of the heart, and His presence is the key to the invisible.
8. The understanding man is one who has an understanding from God of His signs and whose occupation is dhikr of and reflection upon His favors.
9. The real significance of remembrance lies in one's being detached from remembrance and joined to the One remembered in the dhikr, and detached from everything except Him.
10. Whenever anyone of the jinn and men intimidates you, say, 'Our sufficiency is God, and He is an excellent Protector. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Monday, November 09, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1162
Ayah of the Day:
Believers, be helpers of God, as Jesus Son of Mary said to the disciples, "Who will be my helpers to God?" The disciples said, "We will be helpers of God." And a part of the Israelites believed, while a part scoffed; We backed those who believed against their enemies, so they became victorious. [61: 14]
Hadith of the Day:
The excellence of a person's Islam includes leaving what does not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Servantship is strengthened by persisting in neediness, impotence, weakness and lowliness before God. [Shaykh Abul Hasan al-Shadhili]
Guidance of the Day:
You must fill up your time with acts of worship so that no period of time elapses, whether by night or by day, without being used in some act of goodness. This is how the baraka within time is manifest, the purpose of life fulfilled, and the approach to God the Exalted made constant.
You should allocate specific periods of time for your habitual activities such as eating, drinking, and working for livelihood. Know that no state can be sound in the presence of neglect, and no wealth useful in the presence of heedlessness. If you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as the cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to you at any time it happens to occur to you, most of your time will be wasted. Your time is your life, and your life is your capital; it is the basis of your transactions (with God), and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted. Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, and when it passes away it never returns. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
There are many fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is yours is the present. Don't wait until your time is almost up to call home and say, "I love you." Don't bring flowers to the grave; rather, bring them home or send them to the person who is precious to you today.
Believers, be helpers of God, as Jesus Son of Mary said to the disciples, "Who will be my helpers to God?" The disciples said, "We will be helpers of God." And a part of the Israelites believed, while a part scoffed; We backed those who believed against their enemies, so they became victorious. [61: 14]
Hadith of the Day:
The excellence of a person's Islam includes leaving what does not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Servantship is strengthened by persisting in neediness, impotence, weakness and lowliness before God. [Shaykh Abul Hasan al-Shadhili]
Guidance of the Day:
You must fill up your time with acts of worship so that no period of time elapses, whether by night or by day, without being used in some act of goodness. This is how the baraka within time is manifest, the purpose of life fulfilled, and the approach to God the Exalted made constant.
You should allocate specific periods of time for your habitual activities such as eating, drinking, and working for livelihood. Know that no state can be sound in the presence of neglect, and no wealth useful in the presence of heedlessness. If you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as the cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to you at any time it happens to occur to you, most of your time will be wasted. Your time is your life, and your life is your capital; it is the basis of your transactions (with God), and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted. Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, and when it passes away it never returns. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
There are many fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is yours is the present. Don't wait until your time is almost up to call home and say, "I love you." Don't bring flowers to the grave; rather, bring them home or send them to the person who is precious to you today.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....202
1. Whenever you desire to do a certain thing or abstain from doing it, flee to God, and call to Him for help. Accustom yourself to that.
2. Take heed not to lose confidence in God. Trust in God, for God loves the trustful.
3. Knock on the door of dhikr, seeking shelter with God and avowing your need of Him, if you desire to have spiritual sufficiency.
4. Sustenance is Divinely apportioned. It is not the piety of a pious man that increases it, nor it is the impiety of an impious man that diminishes it.
5. Display not your knowledge in order that men may consider you to be sincere, but display your knowledge in order that God may consider you to be sincere.
6. Act toward God with certainty. Stand fast where He has established you, abstain from forbidden where He has forbidden you, with true insight (basira) in the religious certainty, and be not one of heedless.
7. If a person loves God, and He loves him, his friendship is brought to perfection.
8. The lover in very truth is he over whose heart there is no authority belonging to any except his Beloved and in which there is no will other than His will.
9. He whose friendship in relation to God has been established for him feels no aversion in meeting with God (on the Day of Judgment).
10. The veritable friend (of God) is not averse to death if it comes to him, since one who has tasted of intimacy with his Master will love meeting with Him. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. Take heed not to lose confidence in God. Trust in God, for God loves the trustful.
3. Knock on the door of dhikr, seeking shelter with God and avowing your need of Him, if you desire to have spiritual sufficiency.
4. Sustenance is Divinely apportioned. It is not the piety of a pious man that increases it, nor it is the impiety of an impious man that diminishes it.
5. Display not your knowledge in order that men may consider you to be sincere, but display your knowledge in order that God may consider you to be sincere.
6. Act toward God with certainty. Stand fast where He has established you, abstain from forbidden where He has forbidden you, with true insight (basira) in the religious certainty, and be not one of heedless.
7. If a person loves God, and He loves him, his friendship is brought to perfection.
8. The lover in very truth is he over whose heart there is no authority belonging to any except his Beloved and in which there is no will other than His will.
9. He whose friendship in relation to God has been established for him feels no aversion in meeting with God (on the Day of Judgment).
10. The veritable friend (of God) is not averse to death if it comes to him, since one who has tasted of intimacy with his Master will love meeting with Him. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Thursday, October 29, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1161
Ayahs of the Day:
Believers, shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from intense agony-----you believe in God and the messenger of God and strive for the cause of God with your properties and your persons------that is best for you, if you knew: God will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens with streams flowing below, pleasant abodes in gardens of eternity-------that is the great success. And another you will like----help from God, and victory close at hand; so give the good news to the believers. [61: 10 to13]
Hadith of the Day:
The best (act of worship) in the sight of God is that which is done regularly. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
He is not a person of intelligence who does not strengthen himself by the strength of God. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that one who claims to have a thriving inward but whose outward has been corrupted by his abandoning outward acts of obedience is a pretender and a liar. The one who exerts himself in the reform of his outward aspect by caring about the way he dresses and appears, speaks, moves, sits, stands, and walks, but leaves his inward full of repellent attributes and vile traits, is one of the people of affectation and ostentation, who have turned away from the Lord.
Beware, O brother, of doing in secret that which if seen by people would make you ashamed and worried about being censured. If you cannot make your inward better than your outward, the least that you can do is to make them equal, so that you behave equally well privately and publicly in obeying God's injunctions, avoiding His prohibitions, respecting what He has made sacred, and hastening to please Him. This is the first step a servant takes on the path of special knowledge. Know this! Success is from God. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you----love, prayer and forgiveness. As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever will occupy rent free space in your mind. Resentment is one burden that is incompatible with your success, always be the first to forgive.
Believers, shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from intense agony-----you believe in God and the messenger of God and strive for the cause of God with your properties and your persons------that is best for you, if you knew: God will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens with streams flowing below, pleasant abodes in gardens of eternity-------that is the great success. And another you will like----help from God, and victory close at hand; so give the good news to the believers. [61: 10 to13]
Hadith of the Day:
The best (act of worship) in the sight of God is that which is done regularly. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
He is not a person of intelligence who does not strengthen himself by the strength of God. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
Know that one who claims to have a thriving inward but whose outward has been corrupted by his abandoning outward acts of obedience is a pretender and a liar. The one who exerts himself in the reform of his outward aspect by caring about the way he dresses and appears, speaks, moves, sits, stands, and walks, but leaves his inward full of repellent attributes and vile traits, is one of the people of affectation and ostentation, who have turned away from the Lord.
Beware, O brother, of doing in secret that which if seen by people would make you ashamed and worried about being censured. If you cannot make your inward better than your outward, the least that you can do is to make them equal, so that you behave equally well privately and publicly in obeying God's injunctions, avoiding His prohibitions, respecting what He has made sacred, and hastening to please Him. This is the first step a servant takes on the path of special knowledge. Know this! Success is from God. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you----love, prayer and forgiveness. As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever will occupy rent free space in your mind. Resentment is one burden that is incompatible with your success, always be the first to forgive.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....201
1. Take to yourself for armor ritual purification, fasting, worship, patience, performance of the dhikr, recitation of the Qur'an, and disclaiming the strength and power of God, and you will be in safety.
2. The increased blessings are actually the increases of religious knowledge, certainty, and intuitional knowledge (ma'rifa).
3. Every desire that summons you to long for the thing represented in the mind is the tool and weapon of Satan; and every desire that summons you to obey God and long to perform good deeds is praise worthy.
4. So long as your heart is attached to your knowledge and your striving, you are not as one going toward God, and you will not be such until you despair of everything, cleaving to hope in God with every breath---------then you will find help from God.
5. Whenever God honors a servant in his activities and moments of rest, He assigns to him service to perform (ubudiya) and conceals from him his personal gratifications.
6. Steadfastness before God with a clear consciousness of Him is the fairest of obedient acts.
7. He is described as niggardly and blame worthy who holds back his possessions on account of fear of poverty, wrong conjecture about God, contempt for the respect due to the believers.
8. Whenever you find pleasure in your outer or inner states, say: 'Whatever God wills, there is no force except with God.'
9. If we fear God with a fear that makes us secure from everything, then there is no sense at all in having fear of anything, since He is by everything, with everything, above everything, below everything, near everything, enveloping everything.
10. May your servant ship consist in resignation, contentment, acceptance of what is sent, good opinion of God in whatever you encounter, and being occupied with what is most worthy. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. The increased blessings are actually the increases of religious knowledge, certainty, and intuitional knowledge (ma'rifa).
3. Every desire that summons you to long for the thing represented in the mind is the tool and weapon of Satan; and every desire that summons you to obey God and long to perform good deeds is praise worthy.
4. So long as your heart is attached to your knowledge and your striving, you are not as one going toward God, and you will not be such until you despair of everything, cleaving to hope in God with every breath---------then you will find help from God.
5. Whenever God honors a servant in his activities and moments of rest, He assigns to him service to perform (ubudiya) and conceals from him his personal gratifications.
6. Steadfastness before God with a clear consciousness of Him is the fairest of obedient acts.
7. He is described as niggardly and blame worthy who holds back his possessions on account of fear of poverty, wrong conjecture about God, contempt for the respect due to the believers.
8. Whenever you find pleasure in your outer or inner states, say: 'Whatever God wills, there is no force except with God.'
9. If we fear God with a fear that makes us secure from everything, then there is no sense at all in having fear of anything, since He is by everything, with everything, above everything, below everything, near everything, enveloping everything.
10. May your servant ship consist in resignation, contentment, acceptance of what is sent, good opinion of God in whatever you encounter, and being occupied with what is most worthy. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Monday, October 26, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1160
Ayahs of the Day:
They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God will complete the divine illumination in spite of the hatred of the unbelievers. God is the one who sent the messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, to reveal it to all religion, even if polytheists object. [61: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
The onus of proof is upon the one who makes the claim. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Abstaining from the unlawful is the beginning of renunciation of the world, just as contentment with one's lot is a branch of satisfaction with the will of God. [Abul Qasim al-Qushayri]
Guidance of the Day:
You must, O my brother, improve your inward aspect until it becomes better than your virtuous outer appearance, for the former is the where the gaze of the Real obtains, while the latter is where the envious gaze of creation is to be found. God never mentioned the inward and the outward in His Book without beginning with the inward. And the Prophet used to pray, may blessings and peace be upon him: 'O God! Make my inward better than my outward, and make my outward virtuous.'
When the inward is good the outward is also inevitably so, for the outward always follows the inward, whether for good or evil. The Messenger of God, may blessings and peace be upon him, has said: 'In the body there lies a small piece of flesh; when it is good the rest of the body is good also, and when it is corrupt the rest of the body becomes corrupt also: it is the heart.' [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
If we make religion our business, God will make it our blessedness. Nobody is anything except as he joins himself to something. You cannot be a whole unless you join a whole. This is religion. Religion-----that voice of the deepest human experience.
They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God will complete the divine illumination in spite of the hatred of the unbelievers. God is the one who sent the messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, to reveal it to all religion, even if polytheists object. [61: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
The onus of proof is upon the one who makes the claim. [Bayhaqi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Abstaining from the unlawful is the beginning of renunciation of the world, just as contentment with one's lot is a branch of satisfaction with the will of God. [Abul Qasim al-Qushayri]
Guidance of the Day:
You must, O my brother, improve your inward aspect until it becomes better than your virtuous outer appearance, for the former is the where the gaze of the Real obtains, while the latter is where the envious gaze of creation is to be found. God never mentioned the inward and the outward in His Book without beginning with the inward. And the Prophet used to pray, may blessings and peace be upon him: 'O God! Make my inward better than my outward, and make my outward virtuous.'
When the inward is good the outward is also inevitably so, for the outward always follows the inward, whether for good or evil. The Messenger of God, may blessings and peace be upon him, has said: 'In the body there lies a small piece of flesh; when it is good the rest of the body is good also, and when it is corrupt the rest of the body becomes corrupt also: it is the heart.' [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
If we make religion our business, God will make it our blessedness. Nobody is anything except as he joins himself to something. You cannot be a whole unless you join a whole. This is religion. Religion-----that voice of the deepest human experience.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....200
1. Some of the most sublime bestowals of God are contentment with the reliance upon God in hardships, and recourse to Him in reverses of fortune.
2. Love is a seizure that God grants to the heart of His servant and that distracts him from seeing everything save Him, so that you can see the soul inclining to obey Him.
3. If anyone would abide strictly by the command of God, let him do it by remembrance, reflection, promptness, and submission to the command of God.
4. Allow not your soul to be attached to anything, and you will be one of those well rooted in religious knowledge from whom no secret or knowledge is hidden.
5. If thoughts of disobedience and the world occur to your heart, caste them under your feet with disdain and indifference, and your heart will be filled with knowledge and the right guidance.
6. There is no guidance at all except for one who fears God, and there is no fear of God (taqwa) except who shuns the world.
7. He who neglects his heart despises his religion, and he who is preoccupied with his outer behavior is taking his religion as a jest.
8. The grace of God in the matter of contentment with His decree is that it causes you to forget your misfortunes by looking forward to the Day of Rendezvous.
9. Good intention in relation to matters between God and you means turning the heart respectfully toward God, with respect for the commanding of God, and with respect to what He has commanded.
10. The understanding man is one who has an understanding from God of His signs and whose occupation is dhikr and reflection upon His favors, taking refuge in and avowing dire need of Him, and seeking protection with Him. He appeals to God, and so God responds to him. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. Love is a seizure that God grants to the heart of His servant and that distracts him from seeing everything save Him, so that you can see the soul inclining to obey Him.
3. If anyone would abide strictly by the command of God, let him do it by remembrance, reflection, promptness, and submission to the command of God.
4. Allow not your soul to be attached to anything, and you will be one of those well rooted in religious knowledge from whom no secret or knowledge is hidden.
5. If thoughts of disobedience and the world occur to your heart, caste them under your feet with disdain and indifference, and your heart will be filled with knowledge and the right guidance.
6. There is no guidance at all except for one who fears God, and there is no fear of God (taqwa) except who shuns the world.
7. He who neglects his heart despises his religion, and he who is preoccupied with his outer behavior is taking his religion as a jest.
8. The grace of God in the matter of contentment with His decree is that it causes you to forget your misfortunes by looking forward to the Day of Rendezvous.
9. Good intention in relation to matters between God and you means turning the heart respectfully toward God, with respect for the commanding of God, and with respect to what He has commanded.
10. The understanding man is one who has an understanding from God of His signs and whose occupation is dhikr and reflection upon His favors, taking refuge in and avowing dire need of Him, and seeking protection with Him. He appeals to God, and so God responds to him. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1159
Ayahs of the Day:
God has not forbidden you to be charitable and just to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, for God loves the just. God only forbids you to befriend those who fight you over religion and drive you from your homes, and back your expulsion; and any who befriend them are themselves wrongdoers. [60: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
Let your tongue never cease to be moist with the remembrance of God. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The gates of salvation are only reached through struggle. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Whenever you notice in your soul any laziness in His worship or inclination to disobedience, remind it that God hears and sees you and knows your secrets and secret conversation. If this reminding does not benefit it because of inadequacy of its knowledge of the Majesty of God, remind it of the two noble angels who record good and evil deeds. If this reminding does not influence it, remind it of the proximity of death, that it is the nearest of all hidden and awaited things; frighten it of its sudden pouncing, whereby if it does come when it is in an unsatisfactory state it will end up in endless perdition.
If this threat is of no use, remind it of the immense reward which God has promised those who obey Him, and the painful torment with which He has threatened those who disobey Him. Say to it: 'O soul! After death there will be no opportunity to repent, and there will be, after this life, only the Garden or the Fire. Choose, if you will, obedience, the consequence of which is triumph, contentment, immortality in vast gardens, and looking at the Face of God, the Generous, the Beneficent; or else disobedience, the consequence of which is degradation, humiliation, mockery, deprivation, and imprisonment between layers of fire.' Endeavor to cure your soul through such reminders when it neglects obedience and inclines to rebellion, for they are useful medicines for the heart's diseases. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Motherhood: all love begins and ends there.
Thank her for it
And live your life with the love she bestowed on you, then share that love with all,
The gift of love is a mother's greatest gift.
Appreciate, respect, and acknowledge this.
God has not forbidden you to be charitable and just to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, for God loves the just. God only forbids you to befriend those who fight you over religion and drive you from your homes, and back your expulsion; and any who befriend them are themselves wrongdoers. [60: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
Let your tongue never cease to be moist with the remembrance of God. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The gates of salvation are only reached through struggle. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Whenever you notice in your soul any laziness in His worship or inclination to disobedience, remind it that God hears and sees you and knows your secrets and secret conversation. If this reminding does not benefit it because of inadequacy of its knowledge of the Majesty of God, remind it of the two noble angels who record good and evil deeds. If this reminding does not influence it, remind it of the proximity of death, that it is the nearest of all hidden and awaited things; frighten it of its sudden pouncing, whereby if it does come when it is in an unsatisfactory state it will end up in endless perdition.
If this threat is of no use, remind it of the immense reward which God has promised those who obey Him, and the painful torment with which He has threatened those who disobey Him. Say to it: 'O soul! After death there will be no opportunity to repent, and there will be, after this life, only the Garden or the Fire. Choose, if you will, obedience, the consequence of which is triumph, contentment, immortality in vast gardens, and looking at the Face of God, the Generous, the Beneficent; or else disobedience, the consequence of which is degradation, humiliation, mockery, deprivation, and imprisonment between layers of fire.' Endeavor to cure your soul through such reminders when it neglects obedience and inclines to rebellion, for they are useful medicines for the heart's diseases. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Motherhood: all love begins and ends there.
Thank her for it
And live your life with the love she bestowed on you, then share that love with all,
The gift of love is a mother's greatest gift.
Appreciate, respect, and acknowledge this.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....199
1. Mystical knowledge is that which has severed from everything except God and brought you back to Him.
2. Whenever He hinders you from attaining what you desire and makes you resort to what He desires, it is a sign of His love for you.
3. Serving God consists in reflecting upon God's commands and studying thoroughly the religion of God.
4. If anyone is entirely satisfied with his good works, he is bankrupt. But if anyone is completely satisfied with God, he has true satisfaction.
5. The sign of commitment (tafwid) to God is the lack of distress when distasteful things befall.
6. Whenever you come to see that in everything that exists you have no benefactor except Him, then you will be a thankful slave.
7. May your main concern be three things-------repentance, piety, and vigilance.
8. The work most indicative of love to Him is disdain of the world and despair of its people through living in harmony with them.
9. The Divine ordinances (fara'id) are well known, and the acts of disobedience are common knowledge, keep the Divine ordinances and shun the acts of disobedience.
10. Guard you heart from worldly desire, the love of high repute. In all of these, be content with what God has allotted to you. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. Whenever He hinders you from attaining what you desire and makes you resort to what He desires, it is a sign of His love for you.
3. Serving God consists in reflecting upon God's commands and studying thoroughly the religion of God.
4. If anyone is entirely satisfied with his good works, he is bankrupt. But if anyone is completely satisfied with God, he has true satisfaction.
5. The sign of commitment (tafwid) to God is the lack of distress when distasteful things befall.
6. Whenever you come to see that in everything that exists you have no benefactor except Him, then you will be a thankful slave.
7. May your main concern be three things-------repentance, piety, and vigilance.
8. The work most indicative of love to Him is disdain of the world and despair of its people through living in harmony with them.
9. The Divine ordinances (fara'id) are well known, and the acts of disobedience are common knowledge, keep the Divine ordinances and shun the acts of disobedience.
10. Guard you heart from worldly desire, the love of high repute. In all of these, be content with what God has allotted to you. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Monday, October 19, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1158
Ayahs of the Day:
Everything in the heavens and everything on the earth praises God, who is the almighty, the supremely wise. Believers, why do you say what you do not do? It is tremendously hateful to God that you say what you do not do. God loves those who fight for the sake of God in a battle line as though they were a solid building. [61: 1 to 4]
Hadith of the Day:
Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Invocations are a barrier between the servant and hellfire. If the remembrance is continuous and permanent, then the barrier is good and solid, if not, it is fragile and torn. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
If you find emerging in your heart, when you call to mind the fact that God observes you, a shyness that prevents you from disobeying Him and drives you to exert yourself in obeying Him, you are in possession of something of the realities of vigilance (muraqaba). Know that vigilance is one of the most noble stations, high positions, and lofty degrees. It is the station of excellence (ihsan).
Each believer has faith that nothing on earth or in heaven is concealed from God, that God is with him wherever he is, and that none of his movements or times of stillness are concealed from Him. But the important thing is that this awareness be permanent and that its results appear, the least of which is that he does nothing, when alone with God, that he would be ashamed of should a man of virtue see him. This is rare, and it eventually leads to that which is rarer still, whereby the servant is totally immersed in God, annihilated in Him and thus rendered unaware of all else, absent from creation through his contemplation of the True King. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
No matter how big or soft or warm your bed is, you still have to get out of it. Do not shorten the morning by getting up late; look upon it as the quintessence of life, and to a certain extent sacred. If God added another day to our life, let us receive it gladly. Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of living.
Everything in the heavens and everything on the earth praises God, who is the almighty, the supremely wise. Believers, why do you say what you do not do? It is tremendously hateful to God that you say what you do not do. God loves those who fight for the sake of God in a battle line as though they were a solid building. [61: 1 to 4]
Hadith of the Day:
Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Invocations are a barrier between the servant and hellfire. If the remembrance is continuous and permanent, then the barrier is good and solid, if not, it is fragile and torn. [Ibn Ata'Allah]
Guidance of the Day:
If you find emerging in your heart, when you call to mind the fact that God observes you, a shyness that prevents you from disobeying Him and drives you to exert yourself in obeying Him, you are in possession of something of the realities of vigilance (muraqaba). Know that vigilance is one of the most noble stations, high positions, and lofty degrees. It is the station of excellence (ihsan).
Each believer has faith that nothing on earth or in heaven is concealed from God, that God is with him wherever he is, and that none of his movements or times of stillness are concealed from Him. But the important thing is that this awareness be permanent and that its results appear, the least of which is that he does nothing, when alone with God, that he would be ashamed of should a man of virtue see him. This is rare, and it eventually leads to that which is rarer still, whereby the servant is totally immersed in God, annihilated in Him and thus rendered unaware of all else, absent from creation through his contemplation of the True King. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
No matter how big or soft or warm your bed is, you still have to get out of it. Do not shorten the morning by getting up late; look upon it as the quintessence of life, and to a certain extent sacred. If God added another day to our life, let us receive it gladly. Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of living.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....198
1. If anyone knows God, everything becomes of little importance for him.
2. If anyone loves God, everything becomes contemptible to him.
3. If anyone asserts the unity of God, he associates nothing with him.
4. If anyone has faith in God, he is safe from everything.
5. If anyone is resigned to God, rarely does he disobey Him.
6. If he does disobey Him, he begs Him to be excused; if he begs Him to be excused, his excuse is accepted.
7. If anyone has faith in the Divine apportionment, he should not dispute the Divine wisdom.
8. God does not afflict punishment for ease accompanied by humility, but He does inflict punishment for toil accompanied by pride.
9. Love is a fundamental principle for enabling one to understand. So, if anyone loves God, he has from Him an understanding of everything.
10. There are two virtues that facilitate the way to God------mystical knowledge and love. Your love for the material things renders you blind and deaf. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. If anyone loves God, everything becomes contemptible to him.
3. If anyone asserts the unity of God, he associates nothing with him.
4. If anyone has faith in God, he is safe from everything.
5. If anyone is resigned to God, rarely does he disobey Him.
6. If he does disobey Him, he begs Him to be excused; if he begs Him to be excused, his excuse is accepted.
7. If anyone has faith in the Divine apportionment, he should not dispute the Divine wisdom.
8. God does not afflict punishment for ease accompanied by humility, but He does inflict punishment for toil accompanied by pride.
9. Love is a fundamental principle for enabling one to understand. So, if anyone loves God, he has from Him an understanding of everything.
10. There are two virtues that facilitate the way to God------mystical knowledge and love. Your love for the material things renders you blind and deaf. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Thursday, October 15, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1157
Ayahs of the Day:
God has not forbidden you to be charitable and just to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, for God loves the just. God only forbids you to befriend those who fight you over religion and drive you from your homes, and back your expulsion; and any who befriend them are themselves wrongdoers. [60: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
Let your tongue never cease to be moist with the remembrance of God. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The gates of salvation are only reached through struggle. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Whenever you notice in your soul any laziness in His worship or inclination to disobedience, remind it that God hears and sees you and knows your secrets and secret conversation. If this reminding does not benefit it because of inadequacy of its knowledge of the Majesty of God, remind it of the two noble angels who record good and evil deeds. If this reminding does not influence it, remind it of the proximity of death, that it is the nearest of all hidden and awaited things; frighten it of its sudden pouncing, whereby if it does come when it is in an unsatisfactory state it will end up in endless perdition.
If this threat is of no use, remind it of the immense reward which God has promised those who obey Him, and the painful torment with which He has threatened those who disobey Him. Say to it: 'O soul! After death there will be no opportunity to repent, and there will be, after this life, only the Garden or the Fire. Choose, if you will, obedience, the consequence of which is triumph, contentment, immortality in vast gardens, and looking at the Face of God, the Generous, the Beneficent; or else disobedience, the consequence of which is degradation, humiliation, mockery, deprivation, and imprisonment between layers of fire.' Endeavor to cure your soul through such reminders when it neglects obedience and inclines to rebellion, for they are useful medicines for the heart's diseases. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Motherhood: all love begins and ends there.
Thank her for it
And live your life with the love she bestowed on you, then share that love with all,
The gift of love is a mother's greatest gift.
Appreciate, respect, and acknowledge this.
God has not forbidden you to be charitable and just to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, for God loves the just. God only forbids you to befriend those who fight you over religion and drive you from your homes, and back your expulsion; and any who befriend them are themselves wrongdoers. [60: 8,9]
Hadith of the Day:
Let your tongue never cease to be moist with the remembrance of God. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The gates of salvation are only reached through struggle. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Whenever you notice in your soul any laziness in His worship or inclination to disobedience, remind it that God hears and sees you and knows your secrets and secret conversation. If this reminding does not benefit it because of inadequacy of its knowledge of the Majesty of God, remind it of the two noble angels who record good and evil deeds. If this reminding does not influence it, remind it of the proximity of death, that it is the nearest of all hidden and awaited things; frighten it of its sudden pouncing, whereby if it does come when it is in an unsatisfactory state it will end up in endless perdition.
If this threat is of no use, remind it of the immense reward which God has promised those who obey Him, and the painful torment with which He has threatened those who disobey Him. Say to it: 'O soul! After death there will be no opportunity to repent, and there will be, after this life, only the Garden or the Fire. Choose, if you will, obedience, the consequence of which is triumph, contentment, immortality in vast gardens, and looking at the Face of God, the Generous, the Beneficent; or else disobedience, the consequence of which is degradation, humiliation, mockery, deprivation, and imprisonment between layers of fire.' Endeavor to cure your soul through such reminders when it neglects obedience and inclines to rebellion, for they are useful medicines for the heart's diseases. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Motherhood: all love begins and ends there.
Thank her for it
And live your life with the love she bestowed on you, then share that love with all,
The gift of love is a mother's greatest gift.
Appreciate, respect, and acknowledge this.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....197
1. There are two evils, having which, an abundance of good works is seldom profitable-----discontentment with God's decree and wronging God's servants.
2. Remembrance of God is the light of the heart, and His presence is the key to the invisible.
3. May God be your aim and death your desire, and indulge not in a long future hope.
4. Real asceticism (zuhd) is emptying the heart of whatever is other than the Lord.
5. Real prostration (sujud) is the yielding of the heart to the ordinance (ahkaam) of the Lord.
6. The perfect man is not one who lives in himself. The perfect man is only one through whom others live.
7. Sufism (tasawwuf) is training the self in servant hood and restoring it to the rules of Lordship.
8. The true Muslim is one who does not turn his attention to mankind, and who has relied on nothing except the promises of the True One.
9. There is no great sin greater than-------love of the world, and remaining in a state of ignorance with contentment.
10. Love of the world is the apex of all inequity, and remaining in ignorance is the root of every act of disobedience. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. Remembrance of God is the light of the heart, and His presence is the key to the invisible.
3. May God be your aim and death your desire, and indulge not in a long future hope.
4. Real asceticism (zuhd) is emptying the heart of whatever is other than the Lord.
5. Real prostration (sujud) is the yielding of the heart to the ordinance (ahkaam) of the Lord.
6. The perfect man is not one who lives in himself. The perfect man is only one through whom others live.
7. Sufism (tasawwuf) is training the self in servant hood and restoring it to the rules of Lordship.
8. The true Muslim is one who does not turn his attention to mankind, and who has relied on nothing except the promises of the True One.
9. There is no great sin greater than-------love of the world, and remaining in a state of ignorance with contentment.
10. Love of the world is the apex of all inequity, and remaining in ignorance is the root of every act of disobedience. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1156
Ayahs of the Day:
Perhaps God may establish friendship between you and those of them you regard as enemies: and God is able; and God is most forgiving, most merciful. [60: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
Procrastination in repaying debt by a wealthy person is oppression. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
With both eyes, see the beginning and the end!
Be not one eyed, like the accursed Iblis!
Close your Iblis-like eye for a moment.
After all how long will you gaze upon form?
How long? How long? [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
You must, O my brother, be mindful of God in all your movements and times of stillness, at every moment, with every blink of the eye, with every thought, wish or any other state. Feel His nearness to you! Know that He looks and is Aware of you, that nothing that you conceal is hidden from Him. He is with you wherever you are, with His knowledge, awareness and power. If you are righteous, He will guide, assist and protect you.
Have modesty before your Lord as you should; make sure that He never sees you in a situation which He has forbidden you, and never misses you where He has commanded you to be; worship Him as if you saw Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Maturity is humility. A mature person is able to say, "I was wrong." And when he is proved right, he does not have to say, "I told you so." Maturity means dependability, integrity, keeping one's word. Maturity is the ability to live in peace with things we cannot change.
Perhaps God may establish friendship between you and those of them you regard as enemies: and God is able; and God is most forgiving, most merciful. [60: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
Procrastination in repaying debt by a wealthy person is oppression. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
With both eyes, see the beginning and the end!
Be not one eyed, like the accursed Iblis!
Close your Iblis-like eye for a moment.
After all how long will you gaze upon form?
How long? How long? [Mawlana Rumi]
Guidance of the Day:
You must, O my brother, be mindful of God in all your movements and times of stillness, at every moment, with every blink of the eye, with every thought, wish or any other state. Feel His nearness to you! Know that He looks and is Aware of you, that nothing that you conceal is hidden from Him. He is with you wherever you are, with His knowledge, awareness and power. If you are righteous, He will guide, assist and protect you.
Have modesty before your Lord as you should; make sure that He never sees you in a situation which He has forbidden you, and never misses you where He has commanded you to be; worship Him as if you saw Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Maturity is humility. A mature person is able to say, "I was wrong." And when he is proved right, he does not have to say, "I told you so." Maturity means dependability, integrity, keeping one's word. Maturity is the ability to live in peace with things we cannot change.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....196
1. Do not stir your feet except where you expect the reward of Allah.
2. Do not sit except where you are likely to be safe from disobeying Allah.
3. Do not keep the company except of him you seek help from in obeying Allah.
4. Do not take as your friend except him through whom your certainty increases.
5. He who guides you to this world has cheated you; he who guides you to works has tired you; but he who guides you to Allah has truly counseled you.
6. To turn to people's acceptance is to turn away from Allah.
7. Faith is strengthened by thanksgiving for graces, endurance under trial, and contentment with the Divine decree.
8. Trust is strengthened by parting company with the lower self, forgetting men, depending on the True One, and persistence in invoking God in dhikr.
9. Servant ship is strengthened by persisting in neediness, impotence, weakness and lowliness before God.
10. The heart has four defenses against evil----------binding the heart to God; renouncing what is other than God; looking not with your eyes upon what God has forbidden; and moving not your feet where you do not expect God's reward. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
2. Do not sit except where you are likely to be safe from disobeying Allah.
3. Do not keep the company except of him you seek help from in obeying Allah.
4. Do not take as your friend except him through whom your certainty increases.
5. He who guides you to this world has cheated you; he who guides you to works has tired you; but he who guides you to Allah has truly counseled you.
6. To turn to people's acceptance is to turn away from Allah.
7. Faith is strengthened by thanksgiving for graces, endurance under trial, and contentment with the Divine decree.
8. Trust is strengthened by parting company with the lower self, forgetting men, depending on the True One, and persistence in invoking God in dhikr.
9. Servant ship is strengthened by persisting in neediness, impotence, weakness and lowliness before God.
10. The heart has four defenses against evil----------binding the heart to God; renouncing what is other than God; looking not with your eyes upon what God has forbidden; and moving not your feet where you do not expect God's reward. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili]
Friday, October 09, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1156
Ayah of the Day:
Our Lord, don't make us a test for those who scoff; and forgive us, our Lord, for You are the epitome of power and wisdom. [60: 5]
Hadith of the Day:
Every sin of a martyr is forgiven except debt. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not lose hope in adversity and complain that God singled you out for punishment, remitting others guilty of worse sins. Your present state could very well be His intent to elevate your spiritual station; or He could just be testing your faith. Everyday that you persevere, you grow closer to perfection. Thus your present despair may be beginning of an infinite blessing. [shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Intentions do not affect sins, just as purification does not affect that which is, by it very nature, impure. A man who goes along with another who is slandering a Muslim, then pretends that he only wanted to humor him, is himself a slanderer. A malicious intention attached to a good deed spoils it and renders it malicious; likewise when one performs good deeds for the sake of wealth and prestige. Strive always to intend that your obedience be solely for the sake of God, and that whatever licit things you may use are only to help you obey Him.
Know that many intentions can attach to a single act, and that each of them will attract its full reward. An example of this in devotional activities is when someone reads the Qur'an intending to commune with God, but also to extract from it different kinds of knowledge, to profit those who listen or just happen to hear, or any other good intention. And an example in licit matters is to eat with the intention of obeying the command of your Lord in His saying (Exalted is He!): O you who believe! Eat of the good things with which We have provided you, and give thanks to God. (2: 172) Intend by doing so to acquire strength for devotion, and to put yourself in a situation where you must thank your Lord. You can apply these two examples in an analogous fashion to all other devotional and licit activities. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Maturity is the ability to control anger, and settle differences without violence or destruction. Maturity is patience, the willingness to give up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain. Maturity is perseverance, sweating out a project despite setbacks. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and disappointment without becoming bitter.
Our Lord, don't make us a test for those who scoff; and forgive us, our Lord, for You are the epitome of power and wisdom. [60: 5]
Hadith of the Day:
Every sin of a martyr is forgiven except debt. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not lose hope in adversity and complain that God singled you out for punishment, remitting others guilty of worse sins. Your present state could very well be His intent to elevate your spiritual station; or He could just be testing your faith. Everyday that you persevere, you grow closer to perfection. Thus your present despair may be beginning of an infinite blessing. [shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Guidance of the Day:
Intentions do not affect sins, just as purification does not affect that which is, by it very nature, impure. A man who goes along with another who is slandering a Muslim, then pretends that he only wanted to humor him, is himself a slanderer. A malicious intention attached to a good deed spoils it and renders it malicious; likewise when one performs good deeds for the sake of wealth and prestige. Strive always to intend that your obedience be solely for the sake of God, and that whatever licit things you may use are only to help you obey Him.
Know that many intentions can attach to a single act, and that each of them will attract its full reward. An example of this in devotional activities is when someone reads the Qur'an intending to commune with God, but also to extract from it different kinds of knowledge, to profit those who listen or just happen to hear, or any other good intention. And an example in licit matters is to eat with the intention of obeying the command of your Lord in His saying (Exalted is He!): O you who believe! Eat of the good things with which We have provided you, and give thanks to God. (2: 172) Intend by doing so to acquire strength for devotion, and to put yourself in a situation where you must thank your Lord. You can apply these two examples in an analogous fashion to all other devotional and licit activities. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Maturity is the ability to control anger, and settle differences without violence or destruction. Maturity is patience, the willingness to give up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain. Maturity is perseverance, sweating out a project despite setbacks. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and disappointment without becoming bitter.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....195
1. Following the sunna is attained by caution and good character.
2. Indifference to others' acceptance or rejection is attained by patience and trust in Allah.
3. Satisfaction in Allah is attained by contentment with what one has and submission to the will of Allah.
4. Turning to Allah Most High is attained by praise and thanks to Him in happiness and taking refuge in Him in affliction.
5. Whoever's aspiration is high, his rank rises.
6. Whoever maintains respect for what Allah honors, his own respect is upheld.
7. Whoever gives goodly service is necessarily shown generosity.
8. Whoever carries out his spiritual resolutions continues to have guidance.
9. Whoever sees Allah's blessings as great gives thanks for them, and whoever gives thanks for them has necessitated their increase from the Bestower of Blessings, by virtue of His true promise. [Above quotes by Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]
2. Indifference to others' acceptance or rejection is attained by patience and trust in Allah.
3. Satisfaction in Allah is attained by contentment with what one has and submission to the will of Allah.
4. Turning to Allah Most High is attained by praise and thanks to Him in happiness and taking refuge in Him in affliction.
5. Whoever's aspiration is high, his rank rises.
6. Whoever maintains respect for what Allah honors, his own respect is upheld.
7. Whoever gives goodly service is necessarily shown generosity.
8. Whoever carries out his spiritual resolutions continues to have guidance.
9. Whoever sees Allah's blessings as great gives thanks for them, and whoever gives thanks for them has necessitated their increase from the Bestower of Blessings, by virtue of His true promise. [Above quotes by Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1155
Ayahs of the Day:
Neither your relatives nor your children will be of any avail to you on the day of resurrection. God will judge between you, seeing whatever you do. [60: 3]
Hadith of the Day:
Someone who sets forth in search of knowledge is busy in the cause of Allah until he returns from his quest. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not dispute with anyone in any matter as far as possible. For in argument lies much harm and its evil is greater than its benefit. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
You must improve the soundness and sincerity of your intentions, examine them, and reflect well before embarking on your actions. For intentions are the bases of deeds; according to them your deeds will either be good or ugly, sound or unsound. You must, therefore, utter no word, do no action, and decide no matter without the intention of drawing nearer thereby to God and seeking the reward He has assigned, through his beneficence and grace, to the intended act.
And know that drawing nearer to Him can only be done through the obligatory and supererogatory devotions that He has indicated through His Messenger, may blessings and peace be upon him. A sincere intention may change the merely licit into the devotional, for means are judged according to their ends. For example, one may eat to get strength to perform devotions. It is a condition of the sincere intention that behavior does not belie it. For instance, a man who seeks knowledge claiming that his intention is to practice and teach it will be proved insincere in his intention if, when he becomes able to, he does not do so. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the air plane takes off against the wind, not with it. Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.
Neither your relatives nor your children will be of any avail to you on the day of resurrection. God will judge between you, seeing whatever you do. [60: 3]
Hadith of the Day:
Someone who sets forth in search of knowledge is busy in the cause of Allah until he returns from his quest. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not dispute with anyone in any matter as far as possible. For in argument lies much harm and its evil is greater than its benefit. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
You must improve the soundness and sincerity of your intentions, examine them, and reflect well before embarking on your actions. For intentions are the bases of deeds; according to them your deeds will either be good or ugly, sound or unsound. You must, therefore, utter no word, do no action, and decide no matter without the intention of drawing nearer thereby to God and seeking the reward He has assigned, through his beneficence and grace, to the intended act.
And know that drawing nearer to Him can only be done through the obligatory and supererogatory devotions that He has indicated through His Messenger, may blessings and peace be upon him. A sincere intention may change the merely licit into the devotional, for means are judged according to their ends. For example, one may eat to get strength to perform devotions. It is a condition of the sincere intention that behavior does not belie it. For instance, a man who seeks knowledge claiming that his intention is to practice and teach it will be proved insincere in his intention if, when he becomes able to, he does not do so. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the air plane takes off against the wind, not with it. Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....194
1. The lovers of God derive their strength and spiritual energy from dhikr. They find happiness and glory in this world and in the Hereafter.
2. Lovers of God should be righteous, they must guard their hands, tongues, and loins from every act forbidden by their Beloved Lord.
3. Lovers should obey the Beloved and fulfill the demands of His obedience with affection, sincerity, and obedience.
4. Lovers strive to ensure that no harm comes to anyone as a result of what they do or say.
5. Lovers of Truth do not notice people's faults, for their own failings blind them to those of others.
6. Lovers of Truth do not curse nor do they wish harm to anyone at all.
7. Affection for those who love God, is in fact affection for God Himself.
8. Anyone who hopes to be together with those loved by God, and His faithful lovers, on the Day of Resurrection, should nourish love and affection toward them.
9. A heart without love for the Truth is the house of Satan.
10. A heart that is enlivened by the love of God, enlightened by the love of the Prophet (peace and blessings by upon him), polished and cleansed by ardent remembrance-------such is the heart called 'qalb saleem'. [Above quotes by Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
2. Lovers of God should be righteous, they must guard their hands, tongues, and loins from every act forbidden by their Beloved Lord.
3. Lovers should obey the Beloved and fulfill the demands of His obedience with affection, sincerity, and obedience.
4. Lovers strive to ensure that no harm comes to anyone as a result of what they do or say.
5. Lovers of Truth do not notice people's faults, for their own failings blind them to those of others.
6. Lovers of Truth do not curse nor do they wish harm to anyone at all.
7. Affection for those who love God, is in fact affection for God Himself.
8. Anyone who hopes to be together with those loved by God, and His faithful lovers, on the Day of Resurrection, should nourish love and affection toward them.
9. A heart without love for the Truth is the house of Satan.
10. A heart that is enlivened by the love of God, enlightened by the love of the Prophet (peace and blessings by upon him), polished and cleansed by ardent remembrance-------such is the heart called 'qalb saleem'. [Above quotes by Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Monday, October 05, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1154
Ayahs of the Day:
This is the God, other than which there is no deity: knower of the invisible and the evident, the Benevolent, the Merciful. This is the God,other than which there is no deity: the Sovereign, the Holy, Peace, the Giver of Safety, the Protector, the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Overwhelming; glory to God, beyond any association they attribute. This is God, the Originator, the Creator, the Shaper, to whom refer the most beautiful names, celebrated by everything in the heavens and on earth, being the Almighty, the Perfectly Wise. [59: 22,23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Judgment will be those who praise God (both) in prosperity and adversity. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Put your trust in God, the Truth;
And commit to Him all your affairs
So that you may find peace. [Ibrahim Haqqi]
Guidance of the Day:
Certainty derives its power and excellence from many things. The first, most essential and pivotal of these is that the servant listen attentively with his heart as well as his ears to verses and hadiths relating to God, His Majesty, Perfection, Magnitude, and Grandeur, His Uniqueness in creating and deciding, ruling and compelling: likewise to the truthfulness and perfection of the Messengers, the miracles they were aided with, and the sundry chastisements which befell those who opposed them.
The second is to learn from looking at the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and the wondrous and astounding creatures that God made them teem with. The third is to behave according to what one believes, outwardly and inwardly, zealously, and to the limit of one's resources. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The only sure way to take fear out of living is to keep a respectful fear of God in our lives, which means to maintain a reverent attitude toward His place and influence in the scheme of things. This brand of fear is a healthy ingredient, a deterrent to want, a spur to courage and confidence, an insurance against loss, a source of comfort and understanding at any age.
This is the God, other than which there is no deity: knower of the invisible and the evident, the Benevolent, the Merciful. This is the God,other than which there is no deity: the Sovereign, the Holy, Peace, the Giver of Safety, the Protector, the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Overwhelming; glory to God, beyond any association they attribute. This is God, the Originator, the Creator, the Shaper, to whom refer the most beautiful names, celebrated by everything in the heavens and on earth, being the Almighty, the Perfectly Wise. [59: 22,23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Judgment will be those who praise God (both) in prosperity and adversity. [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Put your trust in God, the Truth;
And commit to Him all your affairs
So that you may find peace. [Ibrahim Haqqi]
Guidance of the Day:
Certainty derives its power and excellence from many things. The first, most essential and pivotal of these is that the servant listen attentively with his heart as well as his ears to verses and hadiths relating to God, His Majesty, Perfection, Magnitude, and Grandeur, His Uniqueness in creating and deciding, ruling and compelling: likewise to the truthfulness and perfection of the Messengers, the miracles they were aided with, and the sundry chastisements which befell those who opposed them.
The second is to learn from looking at the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and the wondrous and astounding creatures that God made them teem with. The third is to behave according to what one believes, outwardly and inwardly, zealously, and to the limit of one's resources. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
The only sure way to take fear out of living is to keep a respectful fear of God in our lives, which means to maintain a reverent attitude toward His place and influence in the scheme of things. This brand of fear is a healthy ingredient, a deterrent to want, a spur to courage and confidence, an insurance against loss, a source of comfort and understanding at any age.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....193
1. Love brings the servant near to God, Glorified and Exalted is He.
2. Love reminds the slave of his servitude and increases his devotion.
3. Love removes vanity and hypocrisy, increases truthfulness and sincerity.
4. Love solves all problems, opens all closed doors.
5. Love illumines the heart and delights the mind.
6. Love causes neither sleep nor hunger nor thirst.
7. Love makes us weep.
8. Love makes us speak.
9. Love makes us hear.
10. One who is a lover of God, Exalted is He, also remembers Him, always and everywhere. This is the duty and proof of love, this much does love demand. [Above quotes by Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
2. Love reminds the slave of his servitude and increases his devotion.
3. Love removes vanity and hypocrisy, increases truthfulness and sincerity.
4. Love solves all problems, opens all closed doors.
5. Love illumines the heart and delights the mind.
6. Love causes neither sleep nor hunger nor thirst.
7. Love makes us weep.
8. Love makes us speak.
9. Love makes us hear.
10. One who is a lover of God, Exalted is He, also remembers Him, always and everywhere. This is the duty and proof of love, this much does love demand. [Above quotes by Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Thursday, October 01, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1153
Ayahs of the Day:
The inmates of the fire and the inhabitants of the garden are not equal; the inhabitants of the garden are the ones who are triumphant. Had We sent this Recital down on a mountain, you would see it humbled, cracking in awe of God. And those are the examples We set forth to humanity, so that they might reflect. [59: 20,21]
Hadith of the Day:
A woman is married for her wealth, her reputation, her beauty, or her religion. Choose the religious one or you may be ruined. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
To advise is an easy matter, the difficulty is accepting advice, since it is bitter for those who follow their own inclinations and desires. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
You must strengthen and improve your certainty. For when certainty prevails in the heart and establishes itself therein the unseen becomes as if seen and the man aided by providence says, as Ali, may God ennoble his face, said: "Were the cover to be removed, I would not increase in certainty."
Certainty is power, firmness and stability of faith so great that it becomes as a towering mountain which no doubts can shake and no illusions rock. Rather, doubts and illusions disappear completely, and when they come from outside are neither listened to by the ear nor heeded by the heart. The Devil cannot approach the possessor of such certainty; he flees from him, fears from his shadow, and is content to keep at a safe distance. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Be charitable in your thoughts, in your speech, and in your actions. Give what you have to give. Small acts of care and grace can mean more than you ever dare to think. There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situation.
The inmates of the fire and the inhabitants of the garden are not equal; the inhabitants of the garden are the ones who are triumphant. Had We sent this Recital down on a mountain, you would see it humbled, cracking in awe of God. And those are the examples We set forth to humanity, so that they might reflect. [59: 20,21]
Hadith of the Day:
A woman is married for her wealth, her reputation, her beauty, or her religion. Choose the religious one or you may be ruined. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
To advise is an easy matter, the difficulty is accepting advice, since it is bitter for those who follow their own inclinations and desires. [Imam Ghazali]
Guidance of the Day:
You must strengthen and improve your certainty. For when certainty prevails in the heart and establishes itself therein the unseen becomes as if seen and the man aided by providence says, as Ali, may God ennoble his face, said: "Were the cover to be removed, I would not increase in certainty."
Certainty is power, firmness and stability of faith so great that it becomes as a towering mountain which no doubts can shake and no illusions rock. Rather, doubts and illusions disappear completely, and when they come from outside are neither listened to by the ear nor heeded by the heart. The Devil cannot approach the possessor of such certainty; he flees from him, fears from his shadow, and is content to keep at a safe distance. [Al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance]
Food for Thought:
Be charitable in your thoughts, in your speech, and in your actions. Give what you have to give. Small acts of care and grace can mean more than you ever dare to think. There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situation.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....192
1. One who has affection for Almighty God must sacrifice himself for the sake of his Beloved-----such is the symbol of affection.
2. One who is sincere in his love for his Beloved will be obedient to his Loved One.
3. Love and affection for God, is to expel and erase from the heart everything unwanted and unloved by God--------the Lord of Majesty and Perfection.
4. Love and affection for God, is to burn to ashes all bad qualities, attributes and desires for the sake of the command and will of the True Beloved.
5. Love and affection for God, is to cleanse the self in the ocean of spiritual knowledge, and to enlighten it with the radiance of affection.
6. The lover will sacrifice for the Beloved reason, logic, and interest, will obey the Beloved in perfect bondage.
7. The lover will be ready to sacrifice everything he has for the Beloved. One who cannot lay down his life for the Beloved has no business pretending to the title of lover.
8. If you really are a lover of Truth, you must always and everywhere prefer God's words to the words of men.
9. If you love God be with Him and find Him in yourself. Be ever in search of His pleasure and desirous of His beauty.
10. The shortest route by which to draw near to God is dhikr (remembrance), by dhikr alone would it be possible to attain Divine Approval. [Above quotes by Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
2. One who is sincere in his love for his Beloved will be obedient to his Loved One.
3. Love and affection for God, is to expel and erase from the heart everything unwanted and unloved by God--------the Lord of Majesty and Perfection.
4. Love and affection for God, is to burn to ashes all bad qualities, attributes and desires for the sake of the command and will of the True Beloved.
5. Love and affection for God, is to cleanse the self in the ocean of spiritual knowledge, and to enlighten it with the radiance of affection.
6. The lover will sacrifice for the Beloved reason, logic, and interest, will obey the Beloved in perfect bondage.
7. The lover will be ready to sacrifice everything he has for the Beloved. One who cannot lay down his life for the Beloved has no business pretending to the title of lover.
8. If you really are a lover of Truth, you must always and everywhere prefer God's words to the words of men.
9. If you love God be with Him and find Him in yourself. Be ever in search of His pleasure and desirous of His beauty.
10. The shortest route by which to draw near to God is dhikr (remembrance), by dhikr alone would it be possible to attain Divine Approval. [Above quotes by Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak]
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1152
Ayahs of the Day:
Believers, be conscious of God; and let every soul see what it has sent forth for the morrow. And be conscious of God, for God is aware of whatever you do. And don't be like those who have forgotten God, who therefore has made them forget their souls; they are the ones who are dissolute. [59: 18,19]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever wishes to be delivered from the Fire (of hell) and enter the Garden (of paradise) should treat people as he wishes to be treated by them. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A man's character is that of the company he keeps. Thus, if a man achieves any state, inevitably his companions will be affected by it. [Imam al-Mawlud]
Guidance of the Day:
Learning to forgive and forget is essential. Remembering pain keeps it alive, perpetuates it. Forgive and forget everything from the past, so that you are free to be fully alive to today. Complete everything. Forget the source of the pain, for it really doesn't matter anymore. It is never too late to forgive or to say goodbye to experiences or events or people from the past.
Say whatever you need to say and do whatever you need to do, but be sure you have no unfinished business with the past. In doing so, you will give yourself the enormous freedom to live fully present to today, and the possibility of living a great life. The willingness to be open and awake to life, to engage wholeheartedly in life, and to live with passion means that you will reach enormous depths and expanses of human experiences. And sometimes life will hurt. But know that you have what it takes to recover yourself quickly. You don't have to suffer. NOW ENJOY YOURSELF! [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Live everyday as if it were your last.
Do every job as if you were the boss.
Drive as if all other vehicles were police cars.
Treat everybody else as if he were you.
Believers, be conscious of God; and let every soul see what it has sent forth for the morrow. And be conscious of God, for God is aware of whatever you do. And don't be like those who have forgotten God, who therefore has made them forget their souls; they are the ones who are dissolute. [59: 18,19]
Hadith of the Day:
Whoever wishes to be delivered from the Fire (of hell) and enter the Garden (of paradise) should treat people as he wishes to be treated by them. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
A man's character is that of the company he keeps. Thus, if a man achieves any state, inevitably his companions will be affected by it. [Imam al-Mawlud]
Guidance of the Day:
Learning to forgive and forget is essential. Remembering pain keeps it alive, perpetuates it. Forgive and forget everything from the past, so that you are free to be fully alive to today. Complete everything. Forget the source of the pain, for it really doesn't matter anymore. It is never too late to forgive or to say goodbye to experiences or events or people from the past.
Say whatever you need to say and do whatever you need to do, but be sure you have no unfinished business with the past. In doing so, you will give yourself the enormous freedom to live fully present to today, and the possibility of living a great life. The willingness to be open and awake to life, to engage wholeheartedly in life, and to live with passion means that you will reach enormous depths and expanses of human experiences. And sometimes life will hurt. But know that you have what it takes to recover yourself quickly. You don't have to suffer. NOW ENJOY YOURSELF! [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Live everyday as if it were your last.
Do every job as if you were the boss.
Drive as if all other vehicles were police cars.
Treat everybody else as if he were you.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....191
1. Silence is golden--------the unsaid is often more important and deeper than the said.
2. Human beings, despite all of the new technologies of the modern era, are essentially weak and helpless.
3. Terrorism is a symptom of an illness, rather than the illness itself.
4. The traditional religious viewpoint states that our major preoccupation in life should be our relationship with the Creator.
5. We are spirit, not matter. The spirit is equipped with a body in order to be able to operate in the material universe.
6. At death, the spirit dissociates from the body in order to operate in another world.
7. The essence of spirituality and religion is the cultivation of our relationship with the Absolute.
8. Exercising our will and insisting on our plans lead to stress and anxiety.
9. Most problems, when solved, are not solved by voluntary decisions, but rather as the result of a process. [Above quotes by Joel Ibrahim Kreps]
2. Human beings, despite all of the new technologies of the modern era, are essentially weak and helpless.
3. Terrorism is a symptom of an illness, rather than the illness itself.
4. The traditional religious viewpoint states that our major preoccupation in life should be our relationship with the Creator.
5. We are spirit, not matter. The spirit is equipped with a body in order to be able to operate in the material universe.
6. At death, the spirit dissociates from the body in order to operate in another world.
7. The essence of spirituality and religion is the cultivation of our relationship with the Absolute.
8. Exercising our will and insisting on our plans lead to stress and anxiety.
9. Most problems, when solved, are not solved by voluntary decisions, but rather as the result of a process. [Above quotes by Joel Ibrahim Kreps]
Friday, September 25, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1151
Ayahs of the Day:
God has decreed, "I will prevail I and My messengers." You won't find people who believe in God and the last day loving anyone who opposes God's messenger, even be it their fathers or their sons, or their brothers or their kin: God has written faith in their hearts, and supported them with spirit from divine. And God will admit them to gardens where streams flow below, to abide therein. God will be pleased with them, and they will be pleased with God. They are the partisans of God. Aren't the partisans of God the ones who succeed? [58: 21,22]
Hadith of the Day:
The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave (no monetary inheritance) only knowledge, and he who takes it, takes an abundant portion. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
When God desires good for a slave, He draws close to him by means of (the slave's) remembrance of Him and makes him worthy of Him by means of his thankfulness. [Shaykh Abu Madyan]
Guidance of the Day:
Be committed and willing to overcome whatever you are experiencing, whether you are facing an illness, a loss, a disturbing event, or whatever. That will give you a sense of power over your circumstances and will help you surmount whatever you have to confront. Remember that there is enormous power in taking the stand "I will" or "I can." Even if you don't believe these words right now, by starting to use them you can turn your life around.
Next you must be willing to let go of your pain and go on. Now that you know, it is your choice to let go of pain or not. You are not a victim, for you can choose how and how much you suffer. It is essential, then, that you examine any beliefs or ideas or history that keeps you from being willing to heal today. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
We must not.....ignore the small daily differences we can make which, overtime, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth. The distance doesn't matter only the first step is difficult.
God has decreed, "I will prevail I and My messengers." You won't find people who believe in God and the last day loving anyone who opposes God's messenger, even be it their fathers or their sons, or their brothers or their kin: God has written faith in their hearts, and supported them with spirit from divine. And God will admit them to gardens where streams flow below, to abide therein. God will be pleased with them, and they will be pleased with God. They are the partisans of God. Aren't the partisans of God the ones who succeed? [58: 21,22]
Hadith of the Day:
The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave (no monetary inheritance) only knowledge, and he who takes it, takes an abundant portion. [Abu Dawud]
Wise Quote of the Day:
When God desires good for a slave, He draws close to him by means of (the slave's) remembrance of Him and makes him worthy of Him by means of his thankfulness. [Shaykh Abu Madyan]
Guidance of the Day:
Be committed and willing to overcome whatever you are experiencing, whether you are facing an illness, a loss, a disturbing event, or whatever. That will give you a sense of power over your circumstances and will help you surmount whatever you have to confront. Remember that there is enormous power in taking the stand "I will" or "I can." Even if you don't believe these words right now, by starting to use them you can turn your life around.
Next you must be willing to let go of your pain and go on. Now that you know, it is your choice to let go of pain or not. You are not a victim, for you can choose how and how much you suffer. It is essential, then, that you examine any beliefs or ideas or history that keeps you from being willing to heal today. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
We must not.....ignore the small daily differences we can make which, overtime, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth. The distance doesn't matter only the first step is difficult.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....190
1. You will not open the Furqan before you open the Qur'an.
2. Miss Fajr will help you feel tired all day.
3. Those who sleep with Miss Fajr may catch a disease.
4. If you do not sanctify the dawn the day will not sanctify you.
5. Through selflessness we join the world.
5. Islam does not give you a full account of God, but it gives you the fullest account of God.
7. Govern the thoughts in your head, or else you will walk around dead.
8. You will only find yourself if only you live for others.
9. It is better to be tolerant than to be terminated.
10. Trying to be loved is not the best way of becoming lovable.
11. We need less self-righteousness and more self-knowledge. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Miss Fajr will help you feel tired all day.
3. Those who sleep with Miss Fajr may catch a disease.
4. If you do not sanctify the dawn the day will not sanctify you.
5. Through selflessness we join the world.
5. Islam does not give you a full account of God, but it gives you the fullest account of God.
7. Govern the thoughts in your head, or else you will walk around dead.
8. You will only find yourself if only you live for others.
9. It is better to be tolerant than to be terminated.
10. Trying to be loved is not the best way of becoming lovable.
11. We need less self-righteousness and more self-knowledge. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1150
Ayahs of the Day:
Secret conferences are from Satan, to grieve those who believe; but he cannot harm them at all, except by leave of God. So let the believers trust in God. [58: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
If a person has a standing in God's sight and he cannot reach that station through good works and piety, God afflicts him with such tribulations as illness until he does attain it. [Hakim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sincerity is realized through slaughtering one's ego by deeming even one's greatest works as unworthy. [Shaykh al-Jonayd]
Guidance of the Day:
The most important element in overcoming the pains and crises of life is the willingness to take on the challenge that life is, instead of being a victim of your experiences. Next, you need to be conscious enough that you do not keep putting salt into your own wounds by dramatizing or personalizing, by living in the past, by being right about suffering, by withholding yourself, and so on.
Finally, you need to be complete with your experiences and to forgive and forget as soon as possible to free yourself to go on with your life. There is no way you can end up feeling like a victim of your experiences in life if you manage them with this kind of awareness of what it takes to recover and heal. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
You are never so strong as when you forgive. Life is an adventure in forgiveness, it is the sweetest revenge. The weak can never forgive, forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every man has need to be forgiven.
Secret conferences are from Satan, to grieve those who believe; but he cannot harm them at all, except by leave of God. So let the believers trust in God. [58: 10]
Hadith of the Day:
If a person has a standing in God's sight and he cannot reach that station through good works and piety, God afflicts him with such tribulations as illness until he does attain it. [Hakim]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Sincerity is realized through slaughtering one's ego by deeming even one's greatest works as unworthy. [Shaykh al-Jonayd]
Guidance of the Day:
The most important element in overcoming the pains and crises of life is the willingness to take on the challenge that life is, instead of being a victim of your experiences. Next, you need to be conscious enough that you do not keep putting salt into your own wounds by dramatizing or personalizing, by living in the past, by being right about suffering, by withholding yourself, and so on.
Finally, you need to be complete with your experiences and to forgive and forget as soon as possible to free yourself to go on with your life. There is no way you can end up feeling like a victim of your experiences in life if you manage them with this kind of awareness of what it takes to recover and heal. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
You are never so strong as when you forgive. Life is an adventure in forgiveness, it is the sweetest revenge. The weak can never forgive, forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every man has need to be forgiven.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Spirit of Jihad -----by Syed Junaid Hasan
Ours is an age of intellectual shallowness where we suffice ourselves with what we hear from the news media and its parade of so called "experts". We lap up whatever is thrown to us in the way of crudely edited sound bites and sensationalist headlines under the delusion that being "informed" somehow makes us more enlightened than even the wisest men of old. Given this atmosphere, it goes without saying that our perception of reality has been seriously tampered with. Our perception of the Islamic concept of Jihad is no exception.
In order to get past this middle of hack journalism and stereo typical imagery, we will ask how Jihad, as a religious and spiritual reality, has been viewed by the vast majority of Muslim adherents through out the vast majority of their history.
The Islamic world view sees man as the appointed representative of God on earth. And just as there is perfect harmony in the heavens, so has man been charged with maintaining harmony and equilibrium here on earth to reflect that of the heavens. This is by no means an easy task, and requires much striving and effort in obeying the word of God, directed both internally and externally, to ensure that justice and mercy endure during man's short time in this physical realm. It is exactly this effort and striving, which are the essences of the word Jihad. Just as there are countless aspects of human existence, so are there innumerable facets of human Jihad.
Jihad is the struggle to remove all those things from one's life that incur Allah's displeasure, and to replace them with those things that will gain His acceptance. Jihad is the struggle against one's inner self and it's bestial inclinations. It is this struggle, in fact, which the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) dubbed "the greater jihad." Having lived in the world for at least a few years, it is not hard for us to see why this is so. All the havoc that humans cause on this planet can be said to spring from those villains in our hearts, against whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) declared this great Jihad. These villains include: arrogance, avarice, pettiness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, self-delusions, and vain passions. Further more, Jihad is the struggle to replace these villains with goodly traits, such as mercy, honor, humbleness, generosity, gentleness, dignity, and other qualities that are aptly described as "heavenly."
Jihad is the struggle to fulfill the rights and responsibilities of one's family as well as those who are close, such as neighbors and relatives. To make sure that one does not harm either with his hand or his tongue. In the same token, Jihad is the struggle to forgive the wrongs of others, to over look their misgivings, and hide their faults.
Jihad is the struggle to help the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless by sacrificing our wealth. It is to show love and gentleness to our young ones, and respect and dignity to our elders. It is to protect the honor and property of every single member of society, whether man or woman. Jihad is the struggle to speak out against injustice, to help the victims of oppression, to ensure that everyone is given just measure, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion.
Ultimately, Jihad is that struggle in which we are willing to give our lives in the name of Allah so that these ideals will ensure and bring peace and justice to countless others, thus truly bringing the harmony of the heavens down the earth.
Though we can only skim the surface of this vast ocean, the essence of Jihad is tied to our very existence. For if we were to ask what the purpose of our creation is, then it is no less than a struggle, a Jihad, to submit our will to our Creator, thereby achieving peace and unity with the rest of the cosmos in celebrating His Majesty and Glory.
In order to get past this middle of hack journalism and stereo typical imagery, we will ask how Jihad, as a religious and spiritual reality, has been viewed by the vast majority of Muslim adherents through out the vast majority of their history.
The Islamic world view sees man as the appointed representative of God on earth. And just as there is perfect harmony in the heavens, so has man been charged with maintaining harmony and equilibrium here on earth to reflect that of the heavens. This is by no means an easy task, and requires much striving and effort in obeying the word of God, directed both internally and externally, to ensure that justice and mercy endure during man's short time in this physical realm. It is exactly this effort and striving, which are the essences of the word Jihad. Just as there are countless aspects of human existence, so are there innumerable facets of human Jihad.
Jihad is the struggle to remove all those things from one's life that incur Allah's displeasure, and to replace them with those things that will gain His acceptance. Jihad is the struggle against one's inner self and it's bestial inclinations. It is this struggle, in fact, which the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) dubbed "the greater jihad." Having lived in the world for at least a few years, it is not hard for us to see why this is so. All the havoc that humans cause on this planet can be said to spring from those villains in our hearts, against whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) declared this great Jihad. These villains include: arrogance, avarice, pettiness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, self-delusions, and vain passions. Further more, Jihad is the struggle to replace these villains with goodly traits, such as mercy, honor, humbleness, generosity, gentleness, dignity, and other qualities that are aptly described as "heavenly."
Jihad is the struggle to fulfill the rights and responsibilities of one's family as well as those who are close, such as neighbors and relatives. To make sure that one does not harm either with his hand or his tongue. In the same token, Jihad is the struggle to forgive the wrongs of others, to over look their misgivings, and hide their faults.
Jihad is the struggle to help the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless by sacrificing our wealth. It is to show love and gentleness to our young ones, and respect and dignity to our elders. It is to protect the honor and property of every single member of society, whether man or woman. Jihad is the struggle to speak out against injustice, to help the victims of oppression, to ensure that everyone is given just measure, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion.
Ultimately, Jihad is that struggle in which we are willing to give our lives in the name of Allah so that these ideals will ensure and bring peace and justice to countless others, thus truly bringing the harmony of the heavens down the earth.
Though we can only skim the surface of this vast ocean, the essence of Jihad is tied to our very existence. For if we were to ask what the purpose of our creation is, then it is no less than a struggle, a Jihad, to submit our will to our Creator, thereby achieving peace and unity with the rest of the cosmos in celebrating His Majesty and Glory.
Pearls of Wisdom....189
1. Real Islam is successful. If it is not successful, it is not real Islam.
2. Your wealth is only yours once you have given it away.
3. Yielding to a minor sin can be a major sin.
4. Those who are angry with everyone will end up believing in nothing.
5. Ritual is nothing but thankfulness, or it is nothing.
6. We have two many things and too little gratitude.
7. Do not be proud if she fears you, for she may also fear a rat.
8. A good leader gives and does not take.
9. It is gratitude that sees beauty.
10. Dignity comes from respecting tradition, not from respecting oneself. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Your wealth is only yours once you have given it away.
3. Yielding to a minor sin can be a major sin.
4. Those who are angry with everyone will end up believing in nothing.
5. Ritual is nothing but thankfulness, or it is nothing.
6. We have two many things and too little gratitude.
7. Do not be proud if she fears you, for she may also fear a rat.
8. A good leader gives and does not take.
9. It is gratitude that sees beauty.
10. Dignity comes from respecting tradition, not from respecting oneself. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1149
Ayahs of the Day:
Haven't you seen that God knows what is in the heavens and what is on earth? There is no private conference of three but God is their fourth; and none of five but God is their sixth; nor are there fewer than that or more but God is with them wherever they are. Then on the day of resurrection God will tell them what they did; for God knows everything. [58: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
A person is likely to follow the faith of his friends, so be careful about who you make your friend. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If you devote yourself to God in this world, He will admit you among His chosen servants in the Hereafter. Such devotion, however, demands sacrifice and self-denial. [Al-Hujwiri]
Guidance of the Day:
Appreciating all of life, we can see painful events as opportunities, for those are the moments that truly stretch us and expand us to grow and deepen beyond who we think ourselves to be. In what may seem the worst of times, when we face loss and death and tragedy, we discover our heroism, our courage, our love, our creativity, and our power. These seemingly catastrophic experiences are occasions to stretch ourselves beyond whoever we have been up to now, to play life full-out. They are profound challenges.
Real life hurts and disappoints. However, out of our willingness to live a real life, instead of trying to force life to fit our unrealistic pictures, we can expand and grow beyond our wildest dreams. The opportunity in life is to accept ALL of it. Yes, life hurts, but the pain does not last, especially if we are truly committed to letting go of our suffering. Now is the best time of all to let it go. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy. Experience is not what happens to a man, it is what a man does with that what happens to him. There is no education like adversity.
Haven't you seen that God knows what is in the heavens and what is on earth? There is no private conference of three but God is their fourth; and none of five but God is their sixth; nor are there fewer than that or more but God is with them wherever they are. Then on the day of resurrection God will tell them what they did; for God knows everything. [58: 7]
Hadith of the Day:
A person is likely to follow the faith of his friends, so be careful about who you make your friend. [Ahmad]
Wise Quote of the Day:
If you devote yourself to God in this world, He will admit you among His chosen servants in the Hereafter. Such devotion, however, demands sacrifice and self-denial. [Al-Hujwiri]
Guidance of the Day:
Appreciating all of life, we can see painful events as opportunities, for those are the moments that truly stretch us and expand us to grow and deepen beyond who we think ourselves to be. In what may seem the worst of times, when we face loss and death and tragedy, we discover our heroism, our courage, our love, our creativity, and our power. These seemingly catastrophic experiences are occasions to stretch ourselves beyond whoever we have been up to now, to play life full-out. They are profound challenges.
Real life hurts and disappoints. However, out of our willingness to live a real life, instead of trying to force life to fit our unrealistic pictures, we can expand and grow beyond our wildest dreams. The opportunity in life is to accept ALL of it. Yes, life hurts, but the pain does not last, especially if we are truly committed to letting go of our suffering. Now is the best time of all to let it go. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy. Experience is not what happens to a man, it is what a man does with that what happens to him. There is no education like adversity.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....188
1. It is easy to preach on vengeance than on patience.
2. Pride is the crown of ignorant.
3. Only God can save us from thinking that we are gods.
4. Takbir is insincere when louder than Istighfar.
5. The world is the way it is because you are the way you are.
6. Hijab is not self-respect, it is Self-respect.
7. With God's secret gift, every hardship becomes easy. Without it, every ease becomes a source of hardship.
8. The world is most damaged by those who have the highest opinion of themselves.
9. Your nafs will never receive exactly what it wants.
10. Is the beast of divorce coming?
Husbands---------Respect her wants.
Wives--------------Respect his dignity. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Pride is the crown of ignorant.
3. Only God can save us from thinking that we are gods.
4. Takbir is insincere when louder than Istighfar.
5. The world is the way it is because you are the way you are.
6. Hijab is not self-respect, it is Self-respect.
7. With God's secret gift, every hardship becomes easy. Without it, every ease becomes a source of hardship.
8. The world is most damaged by those who have the highest opinion of themselves.
9. Your nafs will never receive exactly what it wants.
10. Is the beast of divorce coming?
Husbands---------Respect her wants.
Wives--------------Respect his dignity. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Saturday, September 12, 2009
A Successful Marriage....
A Sucessful Marriage: The Missing Link – by Yasmin Mogahed
“And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between you; verily, in that are signs for people who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)
We’ve all read this verse on countless marriage announcements. But how many have actualized it? How many of our marriages really embody that love and mercy described by Allah? What is going wrong when so many of our marriages are ending in divorce?
According to Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs, the answer is simple.
In his book, Eggerichs explains that extensive research has found that a man’s primary need is for respect, while a woman’s primary need is for love. He describes what he calls the “crazy cycle”—the pattern of argumentation that results when the wife does not show respect and the husband does not show love. He explains how the two reinforce and cause one another. In other words, when a wife feels that her husband is acting unloving, she often reacts with disrespect, which in turn makes the husband act even more unloving.
Eggerichs argues that the solution to the “crazy cycle” is for the wife to show unconditional respect to her husband and for the husband to show unconditional love to his wife. This means that a wife should not say that first her husband must be loving before she will show him respect. By doing so, she will only bring about more unloving behavior. And a husband should not say that first his wife must be respectful before he will show her love. By doing so, he will only bring about more disrespectful behavior. The two must be unconditional.
When I reflected on this concept, I realized that looking at the Quran and prophetic wisdom, there are no two concepts more stressed with regards to the marital relationship.
To men, the Prophet said, “Take good care of women, for they were created from a bent rib, and the most curved part of it is its top; if you try to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, it will remain arched, so take good care of women.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
He has further stressed: “The most perfect believer in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behavior; and the best among you are those who behave best towards their wives.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
Allah says: “Live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.” [Qur'an: 4:19]
The prophet has also said, “A believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.” (Muslim)
In these jewels of wisdom, men are urged to be kind and loving towards their wives. Moreover, they are urged to even overlook their wife’s faults when showing that kindness and love.
On the other hand, when addressing the wife, the focus is different. Why are women not told again and again to be kind and loving towards their husbands? Perhaps it is because unconditional love already comes naturally to women. Few men complain that their wives do not love them. But many complain that their wives do not respect them. And it is this sentiment which is most stressed in the Quran and sunnah, with regards to wives.
Respect can be manifest in a number of ways. One of the most important ways to show respect is the respect of one’s wishes. When someone says, “I respect your advice”, they mean “I will follow your advice”. Respecting a leader, means doing what they say. Respecting our parents means not going against their wishes. And respecting one’s husband means respecting his wishes. The Prophet has said: “When any woman prays her five, fasts her month, guards her body and obeys her husband, it is said to her: Enter paradise from whichever of its doors you wish.” [At-Tirmidhi]
Why are we as women told to respect and follow the wishes of our husbands? It is because men are given an extra degree of responsibility. Allah says: “Men are the protectors and maintainers [qawwamun] of women, because Allah has given the one more [strength] than the other, and because they support them from their means . . .” (Qur’an 4:34)
But won’t this unconditional respect towards one’s husband put us, as women, in a weak, submissive position? Won’t we set ourselves up to be taken advantage of and abused? Quite the contrary. The Quran, the prophetic example, and even contemporary research have proven the exact opposite. The more respect a woman shows her husband, the more love and kindness he will show her. And in fact, the more disrespect she shows, the more harsh and unloving he becomes.
Similarly, a man may question why he should show kindness and love towards even a disrespectful wife. To answer this question, one only needs to look at the example of Omar Ibn ul-Khattab. When a man came to Omar (who was Khalifah at the time) to complain of his wife, he heard Omar’s own wife yelling at him. While the man turned to leave, Omar called him back. The man told Omar that he had come to complain of the same problem that Omar himself had. To this Omar replied that his wife tolerated him, washed his clothes, cleaned his home, made him comfortable, and took care of his children. If she did all of this for him, how could he not tolerate her when she raised her voice?
This story provides a beautiful example for all of us—not only for the men. This story is a priceless illustration of tolerance and patience, which is essential for any successful marriage. Moreover, consider the reward in the hereafter for those who show patience: Allah says, “Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full without reckoning (or measure).” (Qur’an 39:10)
This article originally appeared in InFocus
“And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between you; verily, in that are signs for people who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)
We’ve all read this verse on countless marriage announcements. But how many have actualized it? How many of our marriages really embody that love and mercy described by Allah? What is going wrong when so many of our marriages are ending in divorce?
According to Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs, the answer is simple.
In his book, Eggerichs explains that extensive research has found that a man’s primary need is for respect, while a woman’s primary need is for love. He describes what he calls the “crazy cycle”—the pattern of argumentation that results when the wife does not show respect and the husband does not show love. He explains how the two reinforce and cause one another. In other words, when a wife feels that her husband is acting unloving, she often reacts with disrespect, which in turn makes the husband act even more unloving.
Eggerichs argues that the solution to the “crazy cycle” is for the wife to show unconditional respect to her husband and for the husband to show unconditional love to his wife. This means that a wife should not say that first her husband must be loving before she will show him respect. By doing so, she will only bring about more unloving behavior. And a husband should not say that first his wife must be respectful before he will show her love. By doing so, he will only bring about more disrespectful behavior. The two must be unconditional.
When I reflected on this concept, I realized that looking at the Quran and prophetic wisdom, there are no two concepts more stressed with regards to the marital relationship.
To men, the Prophet said, “Take good care of women, for they were created from a bent rib, and the most curved part of it is its top; if you try to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, it will remain arched, so take good care of women.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
He has further stressed: “The most perfect believer in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behavior; and the best among you are those who behave best towards their wives.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
Allah says: “Live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.” [Qur'an: 4:19]
The prophet has also said, “A believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.” (Muslim)
In these jewels of wisdom, men are urged to be kind and loving towards their wives. Moreover, they are urged to even overlook their wife’s faults when showing that kindness and love.
On the other hand, when addressing the wife, the focus is different. Why are women not told again and again to be kind and loving towards their husbands? Perhaps it is because unconditional love already comes naturally to women. Few men complain that their wives do not love them. But many complain that their wives do not respect them. And it is this sentiment which is most stressed in the Quran and sunnah, with regards to wives.
Respect can be manifest in a number of ways. One of the most important ways to show respect is the respect of one’s wishes. When someone says, “I respect your advice”, they mean “I will follow your advice”. Respecting a leader, means doing what they say. Respecting our parents means not going against their wishes. And respecting one’s husband means respecting his wishes. The Prophet has said: “When any woman prays her five, fasts her month, guards her body and obeys her husband, it is said to her: Enter paradise from whichever of its doors you wish.” [At-Tirmidhi]
Why are we as women told to respect and follow the wishes of our husbands? It is because men are given an extra degree of responsibility. Allah says: “Men are the protectors and maintainers [qawwamun] of women, because Allah has given the one more [strength] than the other, and because they support them from their means . . .” (Qur’an 4:34)
But won’t this unconditional respect towards one’s husband put us, as women, in a weak, submissive position? Won’t we set ourselves up to be taken advantage of and abused? Quite the contrary. The Quran, the prophetic example, and even contemporary research have proven the exact opposite. The more respect a woman shows her husband, the more love and kindness he will show her. And in fact, the more disrespect she shows, the more harsh and unloving he becomes.
Similarly, a man may question why he should show kindness and love towards even a disrespectful wife. To answer this question, one only needs to look at the example of Omar Ibn ul-Khattab. When a man came to Omar (who was Khalifah at the time) to complain of his wife, he heard Omar’s own wife yelling at him. While the man turned to leave, Omar called him back. The man told Omar that he had come to complain of the same problem that Omar himself had. To this Omar replied that his wife tolerated him, washed his clothes, cleaned his home, made him comfortable, and took care of his children. If she did all of this for him, how could he not tolerate her when she raised her voice?
This story provides a beautiful example for all of us—not only for the men. This story is a priceless illustration of tolerance and patience, which is essential for any successful marriage. Moreover, consider the reward in the hereafter for those who show patience: Allah says, “Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full without reckoning (or measure).” (Qur’an 39:10)
This article originally appeared in InFocus
Friday, September 11, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....187
1. Da'wa should start at the point of harmony, not at the point of dissonance.
2. Who is a Shaykh? The one recognizes that his life will soon be over.
3. A busy life makes the prayer harder, but the prayer makes a busy life easy.
4. Your reach towards Him is tiny, His reach towards you has no limits.
5. The alternative to pride is prayer.
6. The truly taken rukhsas make you grow a little; the falsely taken rukhsas make you shrink rapidly.
7. Yielding to a minor sin can be a major sin.
8. We have too many things and too little gratitude.
9. Dignity comes from respecting tradition, not from respecting oneself.
10. Fear of God is knowledge enough. To be pleased with one's knowledge is ignorance enough. [Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Who is a Shaykh? The one recognizes that his life will soon be over.
3. A busy life makes the prayer harder, but the prayer makes a busy life easy.
4. Your reach towards Him is tiny, His reach towards you has no limits.
5. The alternative to pride is prayer.
6. The truly taken rukhsas make you grow a little; the falsely taken rukhsas make you shrink rapidly.
7. Yielding to a minor sin can be a major sin.
8. We have too many things and too little gratitude.
9. Dignity comes from respecting tradition, not from respecting oneself.
10. Fear of God is knowledge enough. To be pleased with one's knowledge is ignorance enough. [Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Thursday, September 10, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1148
Ayahs of the Day:
Believers, be conscious of God and believe in the messenger of God: God gives you a double portion of divine mercy, and provides you light to go by, and forgives you. For God is forgiving, merciful, so the people of scripture may know that they have no control over anything of God's bounty, and that the bounty is in the hand of God, who bestows on anyone at will; and God is possessor of the greatest bounty. [57: 28,29]
Hadith of the Day:
In every generation of my nation there will be those who outrun all others (in doing good). [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The sign of good deeds that are precursors of great harm is that when we undertake them, we feel a great sense of elation and pride in what we have done. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Each one of us has an opportunity to choose how we will view all the experiences in our lives. We can choose to see our lives and each and every event in our lives as a gift! Imagine what life could be if we were delighted by and appreciative of everything that happens to us, every human encounter, every mood change, and every kind of event that occurs. We would not then judge events or people as good or bad, as pleasant or unpleasant, as wanted or unwanted. We would appreciate all of it.
Imagine how powerful it could be to see the opportunity in a loss, the opportunity to feel deeply, to have known such love or the opportunity to learn to let go, to pick ourselves up and begin life newly, differently than before, or the opportunity to feel compassion for someone else who hurts, too. Imagine taking on life with new vigor or in a new way after an illness or an accident. Imagine choosing to stop suffering NOW! [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Permanence, perseverance, and persistence inspite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities. It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. Old age is not a matter for sorrow. It is a matter of thanks if we have left our work done behind us.
Believers, be conscious of God and believe in the messenger of God: God gives you a double portion of divine mercy, and provides you light to go by, and forgives you. For God is forgiving, merciful, so the people of scripture may know that they have no control over anything of God's bounty, and that the bounty is in the hand of God, who bestows on anyone at will; and God is possessor of the greatest bounty. [57: 28,29]
Hadith of the Day:
In every generation of my nation there will be those who outrun all others (in doing good). [Tirmidhi]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The sign of good deeds that are precursors of great harm is that when we undertake them, we feel a great sense of elation and pride in what we have done. [Imam Birgivi]
Guidance of the Day:
Each one of us has an opportunity to choose how we will view all the experiences in our lives. We can choose to see our lives and each and every event in our lives as a gift! Imagine what life could be if we were delighted by and appreciative of everything that happens to us, every human encounter, every mood change, and every kind of event that occurs. We would not then judge events or people as good or bad, as pleasant or unpleasant, as wanted or unwanted. We would appreciate all of it.
Imagine how powerful it could be to see the opportunity in a loss, the opportunity to feel deeply, to have known such love or the opportunity to learn to let go, to pick ourselves up and begin life newly, differently than before, or the opportunity to feel compassion for someone else who hurts, too. Imagine taking on life with new vigor or in a new way after an illness or an accident. Imagine choosing to stop suffering NOW! [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Permanence, perseverance, and persistence inspite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities. It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. Old age is not a matter for sorrow. It is a matter of thanks if we have left our work done behind us.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....186
1. The road to God is paved with laughter at the self. The road to Hell is paved with the laughter at others.
2. Do not think that anything has any other purpose other than to point to God.
3. Do not say: 'Do you agree with me?' but say: 'Do we agree?'
4. Wisdom consists mainly in the ability to recognize human weakness.
5. God's mercy is not limited; but He is not limited by His mercy.
6. Only those who know themselves to be unworthy are worthy.
7. He who knows himself, knows Islam.
8. Man is the proof of God; the man of God is the proof of religion.
9. Being at ease in the company of scholars is a proof of faith.
10. Love learning, since learning leads to action. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Do not think that anything has any other purpose other than to point to God.
3. Do not say: 'Do you agree with me?' but say: 'Do we agree?'
4. Wisdom consists mainly in the ability to recognize human weakness.
5. God's mercy is not limited; but He is not limited by His mercy.
6. Only those who know themselves to be unworthy are worthy.
7. He who knows himself, knows Islam.
8. Man is the proof of God; the man of God is the proof of religion.
9. Being at ease in the company of scholars is a proof of faith.
10. Love learning, since learning leads to action. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1147
Ayah of the Day:
We have sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and We sent the Book and the Balance with them, that humanity may stand by justice. And We sent iron, in which is violent force and advantages for humanity, that God may know who will help God and God's messengers, though unseen. God is truly powerful, almighty. [57: 25]
Hadith of the Day:
God, Almighty and Majestic is He, says: "Whoever is so busy with the remembrance of Me that he has no time to ask Me (for what he desires) I will give him the best of what I give to those who ask." [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The best of people are those who, after being generous to people, seek generosity only from Allah, and those who, after exemplifying the blessed sunna, seek a lawful means of livelihood. [Abu Hafs Haddad]
Guidance of the Day:
Satisfaction is not necessarily found in our circumstances. It is not what happens in our lives as much as how we perceive what happens and how we live through what happens. How we view our lives and the events that occur is what makes all the difference in the quality that life has for us.
The pessimistic tortures himself, and the optimistic is delighted by and appreciative of the gift he receives. This can be true with each and every moment or event in our lives-------will we appreciate it or be disappointed? [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
We are born subjects, and to obey God is perfect liberty. He that does this shall be free, safe, and happy. To obey God in somethings and not in other shows an unsound heart. Childlike obedience moves toward every command of God, as the needle points where the load stone is.
We have sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and We sent the Book and the Balance with them, that humanity may stand by justice. And We sent iron, in which is violent force and advantages for humanity, that God may know who will help God and God's messengers, though unseen. God is truly powerful, almighty. [57: 25]
Hadith of the Day:
God, Almighty and Majestic is He, says: "Whoever is so busy with the remembrance of Me that he has no time to ask Me (for what he desires) I will give him the best of what I give to those who ask." [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
The best of people are those who, after being generous to people, seek generosity only from Allah, and those who, after exemplifying the blessed sunna, seek a lawful means of livelihood. [Abu Hafs Haddad]
Guidance of the Day:
Satisfaction is not necessarily found in our circumstances. It is not what happens in our lives as much as how we perceive what happens and how we live through what happens. How we view our lives and the events that occur is what makes all the difference in the quality that life has for us.
The pessimistic tortures himself, and the optimistic is delighted by and appreciative of the gift he receives. This can be true with each and every moment or event in our lives-------will we appreciate it or be disappointed? [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
We are born subjects, and to obey God is perfect liberty. He that does this shall be free, safe, and happy. To obey God in somethings and not in other shows an unsound heart. Childlike obedience moves toward every command of God, as the needle points where the load stone is.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....185
1. Do not doubt another's salvation until you are certain of your own.
2. Good adab is to jostle to be first in line for Heaven.
3. There is no worship without knowledge----------we have been created to know Him.
4. Islamic democracy----------Sovereignty belongs to God.
5. I am my weakness, You (O' my Lord) are my strength.
6. Which is it, of the blessing of your Lord that you deserve?
7. There is justice and there is just-us.
8. Peace without justice is not peace at all.
9. The hijab is a display of modesty. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Good adab is to jostle to be first in line for Heaven.
3. There is no worship without knowledge----------we have been created to know Him.
4. Islamic democracy----------Sovereignty belongs to God.
5. I am my weakness, You (O' my Lord) are my strength.
6. Which is it, of the blessing of your Lord that you deserve?
7. There is justice and there is just-us.
8. Peace without justice is not peace at all.
9. The hijab is a display of modesty. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Thursday, September 03, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1146
Ayahs of the Day:
No calamity occurs on earth, or to yourselves, but is in a decree before We create it. That is easy for God, so that you might not sorrow over what eludes you nor exult over what comes to you; for God loves no one who is pompous and proud, the ones who are stingy and induce people to be greedy; but no matter who turns away, God is the independent one, the one worthy of all praise. [57: 22,23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of the believer's insight, for he sees by the light of God. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Rein in your tongue from complaining about others, and you will be granted a life of happiness. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
In learning to manage the forces around us, we let go of the wonder of life. We become intent on developing survival skills instead of stopping to appreciate the flowers or to love one another. In our drive for control, we forget pleasure and joy and satisfaction.
Even though we will always wish we could control life, we do not have to be run by these survival tactics. We can choose our responses to life. We can choose to have life be an energizing and provocative challenge that we take on powerfully rather than a series of ordeals of which we are victims. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Anger is only one letter short of danger. Without discipline, there is no life at all. Man who would be man, must rule the empire of himself. He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty. Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
No calamity occurs on earth, or to yourselves, but is in a decree before We create it. That is easy for God, so that you might not sorrow over what eludes you nor exult over what comes to you; for God loves no one who is pompous and proud, the ones who are stingy and induce people to be greedy; but no matter who turns away, God is the independent one, the one worthy of all praise. [57: 22,23,24]
Hadith of the Day:
Beware of the believer's insight, for he sees by the light of God. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Rein in your tongue from complaining about others, and you will be granted a life of happiness. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the Day:
In learning to manage the forces around us, we let go of the wonder of life. We become intent on developing survival skills instead of stopping to appreciate the flowers or to love one another. In our drive for control, we forget pleasure and joy and satisfaction.
Even though we will always wish we could control life, we do not have to be run by these survival tactics. We can choose our responses to life. We can choose to have life be an energizing and provocative challenge that we take on powerfully rather than a series of ordeals of which we are victims. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Anger is only one letter short of danger. Without discipline, there is no life at all. Man who would be man, must rule the empire of himself. He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty. Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Pearls of Wisdom....184
1. Religion is only one door, whose name is repentance.
2. Be a good Muslim and you won't want to lie. Be a very good Muslim and you won't need to lie.
3. Govern the self before you govern the other. Govern the other in order to govern the self.
4. The reading of Scripture is sufficient; but we are not sufficient readers.
5. In practice, 'remembering God' can only mean 'remembering the covenant.'
6. Each gender was created that the other might give thanks.
7. The only safe bank is the Sadaqa Bank.
8. Irritation is from sin.
9. The true hearth is gratefulness.
10. Your property belongs to you if you belong to God. If you belong to Satan you belong to your property. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
2. Be a good Muslim and you won't want to lie. Be a very good Muslim and you won't need to lie.
3. Govern the self before you govern the other. Govern the other in order to govern the self.
4. The reading of Scripture is sufficient; but we are not sufficient readers.
5. In practice, 'remembering God' can only mean 'remembering the covenant.'
6. Each gender was created that the other might give thanks.
7. The only safe bank is the Sadaqa Bank.
8. Irritation is from sin.
9. The true hearth is gratefulness.
10. Your property belongs to you if you belong to God. If you belong to Satan you belong to your property. [Above quotes by Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad]
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
LESSON OF THE DAY 1145
Ayah of the Day:
Race to forgiveness from your Lord, and a garden spacious as heaven and earth, arranged for those who believe in God and the messengers of God. That is the bounty of God, which God bestows on whomever God will; and God is the possessor of the greatest bounty. [57: 21]
Hadith of the Day:
Faith is known experientially by those who are content with God as their Sovereign, with Islam as their religion, and Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) as their messenger. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Avoid incurring debts; for a debt is a humiliation by day and a grief by night. [Hakeem Luqmam]
Guidance of the Day:
One of the special secrets of having a life that is satisfying and easy is this: appreciate life instead of resisting it. Appreciation is the ability to get outside of our reasons, story, concepts, and beliefs in order to see the beauty, the value, and the preciousness of life. Appreciation is gratitude for life. We fully appreciate life when we can see the wonder of it all.
As children we naturally appreciate and value everything we see. We can be awed by a set of keys, a baby goat, or assorted pots and pans. We delight in all of it. An experience intervenes, we discover hurt, disappointment, and failure. Then we lose our sense of wonder, so our capacity to see and appreciate narrows. Life intrudes until wonderment and openness are virtually replaced by cynicism and resignation. Once our wonderment disappears, we forget that there is anything for which to be thankful. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Keep your distance from bad companions. Life is a gift; embrace it with the temper of nobility. Be on your guard. One is ones own teacher and disciplinarian. Through practice we learn to surrender ourselves. Nothing is impossible when we have faith and we believe in Something beyond ourselves.
Race to forgiveness from your Lord, and a garden spacious as heaven and earth, arranged for those who believe in God and the messengers of God. That is the bounty of God, which God bestows on whomever God will; and God is the possessor of the greatest bounty. [57: 21]
Hadith of the Day:
Faith is known experientially by those who are content with God as their Sovereign, with Islam as their religion, and Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) as their messenger. [Bukhari]
Wise Quote of the Day:
Avoid incurring debts; for a debt is a humiliation by day and a grief by night. [Hakeem Luqmam]
Guidance of the Day:
One of the special secrets of having a life that is satisfying and easy is this: appreciate life instead of resisting it. Appreciation is the ability to get outside of our reasons, story, concepts, and beliefs in order to see the beauty, the value, and the preciousness of life. Appreciation is gratitude for life. We fully appreciate life when we can see the wonder of it all.
As children we naturally appreciate and value everything we see. We can be awed by a set of keys, a baby goat, or assorted pots and pans. We delight in all of it. An experience intervenes, we discover hurt, disappointment, and failure. Then we lose our sense of wonder, so our capacity to see and appreciate narrows. Life intrudes until wonderment and openness are virtually replaced by cynicism and resignation. Once our wonderment disappears, we forget that there is anything for which to be thankful. [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]
Food for Thought:
Keep your distance from bad companions. Life is a gift; embrace it with the temper of nobility. Be on your guard. One is ones own teacher and disciplinarian. Through practice we learn to surrender ourselves. Nothing is impossible when we have faith and we believe in Something beyond ourselves.
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]
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.
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]
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
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.
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]
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.
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]
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.
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)
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]
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.
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].
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].
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