LESSON OF THE DAY 1275

Ayahs of the Day:

We have given you abundance, so pray to your Lord and sacrifice. As for the one who hates you, he'll be the one without issue. [108: 1,2,3]

Hadith of the Day:

The one who loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah and withholds for the sake of Allah has completed his faith. [Abu Dawud]

Wise Quote of the Day:

The serene place belongs to the one occupied with the correction of his own self, who struggles against it in every state. [Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib]

Guidance of the Day:

Treat your family members (and those you love most) as if this were the last time you were going to see them. How often do we run out the door without saying good-bye -- or to say something less than kind or something critical under our breath as a parting shot as we go our separate ways? How often do we take for granted those we love and count on the most, assuming we will always be together? Most of us seem to operate under the assumption that we can always be kind later, that there's always tomorrow. But is that the wise way to live?

Our daily lives can be precious. A powerful exercise to practice on a regular basis is to imagine that this is your final good-bye. Imagine that, for one reason or another you won't see your family member again after this meeting. If this were true (and it's always a possibility), would you like to act in the same way? Would you remind your parent, child, sibling, spouse, or other loved one of yet another shortcoming, flaw, or imperfection in his or her behavior or personality? Would your last words be complaints or pessimistic comments that suggest that you wish your life were different than it is? Probably not.

Perhaps, if you thought there was always possibility that this were the last time your were going to see someone you love, you'd take an extra minute to give a loving hug and say good-bye. Or may be you'd say something kind and gentle, an affirmation of your love, instead of your business-as-usual "See you later." If you thought this were the last time you were going to see your teenager, sister,parent, in-law, or spouse, you might treat that person differently, with more kindness, and more compassionately. Rather than rushing away, you'd probably smile and tell the person how much you care. Your heart would be open.

I make this suggestion not to create a fearful environment but to encourage you to remember how precious your family is and how much you'd miss them if they (or you) weren't around to share your life with. The implementation of this strategy into my life has added additional perspective to what's most important. I believe it can help you to become more patient and loving -- and perhaps most of all, to remember to not sweat the small stuff with your family. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Make love, not war! Have you declared war against friends and family members and devoted yourself to changing their bad habits through criticism and conflict? Well, if you want peace of mind and happiness in your life and in the world, declare love and devote yourself to other people's well-being than trying to change them. What will you declare, love ore war?

Pearls of wisdom 306

1. The sign of vigilant awareness is choosing what God chooses, making great what God makes great, and belittling what God belittles.

2. The signs of satisfaction are -- having no preference before divine decree, and feeling no bitterness toward the divine decree.

3. Certainty (in the Hereafter) calls one to cut short worldly expectations -- which results in renunciation, renunciation bequeaths wisdom, wisdom bequeaths discernment of the outcome.

4. Servitude is that you be His slave every instant just as He is your Lord every instant.

5. Truthfulness is a sword of God -- whenever it meets with something it cuts it apart.

6. Protection of the heart is for the one who is most in possession of his tongue.

7. Whoever is busy looking for the faults of others is blinded to his own faults.

8. One who is content is saved from his contemporaries and prevails over all.

9. The key to worship is reflection -- the sign of attaining the goal is opposing the self and base desires.

10. The sign of God's displeasure with a servant is that the servant fears poverty. [Above quotes by Shaykh Dhun Nun al Misri]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1274

Ayahs of the Day:

Do you see the one who rejects religion? That is the one who rebuffs the orphan and does not encourage feeding the poor. So woe to those who pray yet are inattentive to their prayer: those who put on the appearance and yet are withholding assistance. [107: 1 to 7]

Hadith of the Day:

A believer sees his sins as if he is at the foot of a mountain and he fears that it will fall upon him. The hypocrite views his sins like a fly that lands on his nose that he just swats at. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:

God says: "I have created you, your moments, your breaths, your possessions, your lives. If they are expended on Me, if you give them to Me, the price of them is everlasting Paradise. This is your worth in My sight." [Mawlana Rumi]

Guidance of the Day:

Remember, this too shall pass: A nugget of ancient wisdom that has served me well is the saying "This too shall pass." Think about it. Everything comes and then it goes. Problems develop and they disappear. One day we are on vacation, the next we're back to work. We get a cold or flu, and it goes away. . . . . There is enormous freedom in remembering this wisdom. In fact, it can be the fountain of a very peaceful life. It serves as an important reminder that everything has a season, a time, and a place. It gives us perspective during hard times, a frame of reference that nothing lasts forever. It gives us hope and confidence that we will get through this -- it will pass; it always does.

As we look back on our lives, it's easy to see that all things come and go: winter, spring, summer, and fall; joy, sorrow, praise, and blame; hardship, ease, rest, and exhaustion; accomplishments, mess-ups, and all the rest. Genuine freedom and happiness come when we can see this dynamic, not only in retrospect but while we're going through something difficult. This way, we can keep our perspective right in the midst of the chaos. When you remember that all things come and go, it allows you to keep your perspective, an open heart, and even a sense of humor during all the phases of your life.

I encourage you to remind yourself of this bit of wisdom whenever you feel annoyed, stressed, or bothered, as well as when you are going through something terribly difficult. Life is very short. Our children are little; they grow up. We are young; we grow old. We will get through it all. The best and most effective way to maintain a grateful spirit and keep yourself from being overwhelmed is to remember that all things -- even the hard things -- will pass. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Being bored is an insult to oneself. Boredom is a sickness of the soul. Is not life too short for us to bore ourselves? The one sure means of dealing with boredom is to care for someone else, to do something kind and good. The amount of satisfaction you get from life depends largely on your own ingenuity, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness. People who wait around for life to supply their satisfaction usually find boredom instead.

Pearls of wisdom 305

1. Adorer of God is His lover and whom He makes His lover -- doors of blessedness are made open to him and doors of evil are shut to him.

2. Immodest talks are signs of going astray, and to remain conscious is the sign of knowing the Truth.

3. Quest of Paradise without good deeds, hope for intersession without following the sunna, and hope for Divine blessing after disobedience (without sincere repentance) is foolishness.

4. Those who attain the true knowledge of God, live in eternal peace.

5. He who trusts in God remains secure from the evils of the people.

6. The affliction and calamity from which people should flee is heedlessness.

7. Satan loves the miser Muslim and hates the generous sinner.

8. Idol worship is outer polytheism and trust in the creation is inner infidelity.

9. The solution for the worldly tribulations is nearness to Allah Almighty. [Above quotes by Shaykh Ma'ruf al Kharkhi]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1273

Ayahs of the Day:

For the union of Quraish, their collaboration in travel, winter and summer, let them serve the Lord of this House, Who feeds them lest they starve, and gives them security from fear. [106: 1 to 4]

Hadith of the Day:

God will say on the Day of Resurrection, "Where are those who have mutual love for My sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shadow." [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:

Make it your habit to weep in awe of the Divine, so that you may laugh on the Day of Resurrection. [Yahya bin Mu'adh]

Guidance of the Day:

Become Clutter-Free: The reason so many people end up letting clutter take over their lives is that they have never felt or experienced the joy of a clutter-free home. There is, however, something incredibly peaceful about a clutter-free home: opening a closet and actually having space to hang up something; open a drawer without having to use force; being able to find virtually everything you look for; having open, airy space where there is nothing at all.

There is something effortless and pleasant about sitting at your desk and being able to see the surface and to find your address book. There is something equally freeing about opening a kitchen cabinet and being able to choose easily and quickly from your favorite pots and baking trays without having to sort through and push back as if you were trampling through a thick forest.

Becoming clutter-free is an easy way to simplify your life and to feel more organized and in control. It gives you a peaceful feeling of space. It lifts your emotional spirit by giving you a feeling of openness and of being connected to, rather than overwhelmed by, life. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Prayer is a means of adding power to the strength we already possess. Sometimes we know what is right, but we lack the will power to do it. Time spent on the knees in prayer will do more good to remedy heart strain and nerve worry than anything else. A man is continually at prayer when he lives according to truth.

Pearls of wisdom 304

1. It is offensive that there should be seen in the outward appearance of man more humility than what is in his heart.

2. The scholars of the Merciful possess humility and submissiveness, and the scholars of the rulers possess pride and arrogance.

3. Whoever considers his soul to be of any worth has no share of submissiveness.

4. Submit to the Truth; obey it and accept it from whoever says it -- this is submissiveness.

5. God placed all evil in one house and made its key love of the world, He placed all goodness in another house and made its key renunciation.

6. Five of the signs of wretchedness in a man are -- hardness in the heart, severity in the eyes, paucity of shame, desire of this world, and limitless expectations of worldly gain.

7. World's renunciation is a gift from God -- granted to the chosen few.

8. On the Day of Judgment many a rich will suffer imprisonment and the office-holders will have a terrible time, being called to answer for their deeds -- so be prepared to answer for your acts on that Day. [Above quotes by Fudhail bin Iyaadh]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1272

Ayahs of the Day:

Didn't you see how your Lord treated the troops with the elephants? Did not God foil their strategy, sending against them flocks of birds pelting them with the rock-hard clay, making them like stubble of grain that's been consumed? [105: 1 to 5]

Hadith of the Day:

The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in (both) prosperity and adversity. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:

If you do remember death and prepare for its coming, you will know endless joy when death arrives. Whereas if you are complacent and procrastinate, death will come to you at an unforeseen moment and you will know regrets without end. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:

Become Clutter-Free: As simple as this suggestion is, it's worth discussing. And as simple as it sounds, it's actually not an easy task. It's taken a great deal of persistence, but I'd estimate that I have eliminated more than 90 percent of the clutter in my life. I'm convinced that this effort has helped me measurably in becoming a more easygoing person, as well as in my desire to stop sweating the small stuff at home!

Virtually every day, different forms of "stuff," much of which is useless and only takes up physical and mental space, comes into our lives. Without a concerted and conscious effort to counter this accumulation, we end up with piles and piles of useless junk to contend with. The reason: Clutter comes into our life whether we want it or not. So, if we don't have a method of getting rid of at least as much (on average) as is coming in, it's inevitable that the piles will become ever larger and more difficult to sort through. Many people fool themselves that they will "get to it soon" or fall prey to the (almost always) false belief that they may need it someday. The latter excuse is validated by remembering a time or two when they needed something and found it buried under stacks of boxes in the back of the garage. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Now is the only time we own; give, love, toil with a will. And place no faith in tomorrow, for the clock may then be still. You had better live your best and act your best and think your best today; for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow. The here-and-now is no mere filling of time, but a filling of time with God.

Pearls of wisdom 303

1. Renunciation of the world is reduction of hope for worldly gain -- it is not eating coarse foods or wearing a rough cloak.

2. Flesh eaters are those who backbite -- they eat human flesh.

3. Certainty is that every affliction be considered sent by Allah.

4. Be warned of being envious of the higher rank of any Muslim -- for it is a sign of ingratitude to Allah.

5. Be warned of ignoring warnings of God Most High and express dejection of His promises -- for it causes infidelity.

6. Sell not the friendship of the Lord for the friendship of the world and its possessions.

7. Worse than sin against God is sin against man.

8. For the people of the world sleep is more profitable than keeping awake -- for then they keep off worldly discourses during sleep. [Above quotes by Sufyan al Thawri radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1271

Ayahs of the Day:

Woe to every backbiting critic who gathers money and multiplies it, assuming his money will make him last. But no -- he will be flung into destruction. And what will convey to you what destruction is? The fire of God alight, which rises to the hearts, indeed closed over them, in distended columns. [104: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:

A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands. And an emigrant (Muhajir) is the one who gives up (abandons) all what Allah has forbidden. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:

The total and lasting mistake is to have free time and not betake yourself to Him or for the obstacles to be few and not journey to Him. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:

Express Gratitude for Your Home: Think about your home for a minute. Whether you live in a tiny apartment, a room in someone else's house, or your own home, it's yours to use. It's your space. What in the world would you do without it? How would you survive? It's remarkable to reflect on how fortunate your are to have a home, a place to rest, a haven of potential peace. When was the last time you consciously expressed gratitude for your home?

Take a deep breath and express gratitude for your lovely home. Despite its imperfections, it's yours. You live in your home. It protects you from the elements of hot and cold, and against everything from insects to strangers. It helps keep you alive and comfortable. Yet, for the most part, it is taken entirely for granted. I'm asking you to take a few moments every day, for the rest of your life, to quietly reflect on the joy of having a home -- whatever it looks like and however hard you work to maintain it. Taking part in the expression of gratitude does many things. It puts your attention on how lucky you are instead of all that needs to be done. It helps to keep things in perspective.

When times are difficult, it reminds you that, despite the difficulty, you are indeed fortunate to be alive and to have a home. When you are overwhelmed by the work involved in having a home, or by the cost or all that goes along with it, gratitude will help keep you pointed in the right direction. Gratitude is a very powerful emotion. It brings forth the best in you and helps you maintain your emotional bearings. It helps you be happy. Enjoy the feelings of gratitude and, perhaps for the first time, really enjoy the privilege of having a home. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

Religion is the dominion of the soul. It is the hope of life, the anchor of safety, the deliverance of soul. Religion is the fear and love of God; its demonstration is good works; and faith is the root of both, for without faith we cannot please God; nor can we fear and love what we do not believe. Religion is not an escape from life; it is life. It is not an abstraction; it is a career. It is the metaphysics of people.

Pearls of wisdom 302

1. A grain of genuine piety (taqwa) is better than a thousand fold weight of (nafl) fasting and prayer.

2. Meditation is a mirror which reveals you your virtues and vices.

3. How excellent is he who takes no thought of his own interest so that his patience is for God's sake -- this is the mark of true sincerity.

4. He who attains contentment requires nothing.

5. He who seeks retirement from the world finds peace.

6. He who rids himself of jealousy attains friendship.

7. He who lives with patience for a little while, gains an eternal abode.

8. Humility is constant fear accompanying the heart.

9. Seek sweetness in three things -- prayer, making remembrance of God, and reciting the Holy Qur'an.

10. Correct behavior is -- learning religion, moderation in the world, and knowledge of what constitutes your duty toward God Most High. [Above quotes by Shaykh Hasan al Basri]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1270

Ayahs of the Day:

By the age, man is indeed at loss, except those who have faith and do good works and (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth, and of patience and perseverance. [103: 1,2,3]

Hadith of the Day:

A prudent man subdues his passions and works for what comes after death, but an imprudent man follows his passions and puts his hope in God (for forgiveness). [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:

Had there not been five bad qualities, all the people would have been righteous -- contentment with ignorance, love for worldly life, miserliness, ostentation in good deeds, and pride in their own intelligence. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:

Be an example of peace: The old saying "Do as I say, not as I do" doesn't work very well at home! What does work, however, is the reverse, or "Do as I do, not as I say." Whether you live alone, with one other person or with many, the most effective way to create a more peaceful home is for you to become an example of peace. The emotional climate you live in begins with you. If you are agitated, nervous, frantic, and frustrated, it's unrealistic to expect that the people in your home are going to thrive.

If you wait for others to set the example you'd like to see, you're going to have a long wait! However, when you are calm, patient, and loving, you bring out the best in those around you. By being an example of peace, you open the door for others to be more patient, accepting and gracious. By being peaceful, you eliminate many of the mental distractions that interfere with your wisdom and common sense, thus making it easier to see solutions instead of problems.

The first step in becoming calmer yourself is to acknowledge this goal as a priority in your life. Instead of waiting for others to step forward and blaming them for the chaos in your home, make the decision to have peace as your priority -- decide it's a goal worth striving toward. When peace is your primary goal most everything else will fall into place and will be much easier to deal with. In addition, you'll be setting the stage for others to live a more peaceful life, which, in turn, further reduces the chaos you must live with. Becoming more peaceful might not happen over night, but it is certainly a goal worth striving for. Beginning now, you can make choices that lead you in this direction. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. There is no substitute for hard work. The best prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. Work is not man's punishment, it is his reward and his strength and his pleasure. Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.

Pearls of wisdom 301

1. On the day of judgment you shall not be asked about your wealth or honor, or your ancestry and acquisitions, but for the spiritual practices undergone and the worship you have performed.

2. God is not met until you are extremely distressed for Him, and seek Him as a drowning person calls for help.

3. He who does not bridle his tongue is abashed.

4. Seek counsel from such people who are well-versed in His obedience.

5. He who seeks company of everyone is not safe, he who treads wrong path is calumniated.

6. His worship without repentance is not right, since Allah Most High has preferred repentance over His adoration.

7. Islam is entirely discipline, he who is not conscious of it, is unfortunate.

8. Afflictions descend not for perdition but for trial and probation.

9. Sin is like cancer -- if it is not given up, it keeps growing.

10. Whoever does not behave toward his brethren as he behaves toward himself is not paying brotherhood its due. [Above quotes by Imam Ja'far Sadiq]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1269

Ayahs of the Day:
The rivalry among yourselves for piling up diverts you. Until you go to the graves. But no, you soon shall know (the reality). Again, you soon shall know! No, if you were to certainly know within the mind (you'd be aware!) You shall certainly see the fire of Hell! Again you shall see it with the certainty of sight! Then, shall you be questioned concerning bliss on that day. [102: 1 to 8]

Hadith of the Day:
Whenever kindness is in a thing it adorns it, whenever it is removed from anything it disfigures it. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience and adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Guidance of the Day:
Speak softly: There is something nurturing and calming about someone who speaks softly. Speaking softly is a quality you can develop. If you do, the rewards are tremendous and measurable. These rewards will have a positive effect on the love in your family and in your home. If you make a gentle effort to speak a little more softly you might discover some surprising, almost instant, changes in the feelings around your home. You, for example will feel calmer and less stressed. As you quiet down your voice, you will actually relax the rest of your body, as well as your mind. Next, you'll discover that as you quiet down, everyone around you will quickly follow suit. This latter benefit happens almost like magic and is a welcome relief in any home.

Often, calming down starts with the voice, which leads to calmer feelings and behavior. If you think about it, it makes sense that if you want others to behave in a relatively calm manner, the worst thing you could do is be yelling and acting crazy yourself. The truth is, if you really want someone to listen to you the best thing you could possibly do is to soften your voice. You'll be surprised at how attentive and respectful your audience will become. If you give this strategy a fair chance, if you make an honest attempt to soften your voice, however slightly, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the calming effect it will have on your family and on your life at home. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. First say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do. The aim of life is self-development, to realize one's nature perfectly. Concentrate on finding your goal, then concentrate on reaching it.

Pearls of wisdom 300

1. Anxiety does not avert Divine destiny but wastes recompense and requital.

2. He who hears backbiting is counted with the backbiter and he who endorses evil acts is considered an evil-doer.

3. Obedience to Allah Most High is not attainable without self restraint.

4. One cannot taste the relish of blessedness prior to tasting pangs of misfortune.

5. Sign of satisfaction with God is that the servant resigns to Divine destiny.

6. For the people of spiritual insight, there is admonition in every glance and lesson in every experience.

7. The best gratefulness is that you share others in the bounties and blessings of God conferred on you.

8. Contentment is a treasure which will never exhaust.

9. People in this world are like travelers whose journey continues even though they are asleep.

10. Acquire patience and endurance, because their relation with true faith is that of a head to the body -- a body is of no use without the head, similarly true faith can be of no use without attributes of resignation, endurance and patience. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1268

Ayahs of the Day:
The catastrophe: What is the catastrophe, and what will convey to you what the catastrophe is? A day when humanity will be like scattered moths and the mountains like fluffed wool. Then those whose balance is heavy will be in a pleasant life, while those whose balance is slight wind up in an abyss. And what will convey to you what this is? Raging fire. [101: 1 to 11]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Hoping for Paradise without good works, hoping for the intercession (of the Prophet, may blessings and peace be upon him) without embodying the sunna, and hoping for mercy while constantly in sin, are nothing but absurdities. [Ma'ruf al Kharkhi]

Guidance of the Day:
Don't read between the lines: This is a common problem -- especially at home. When we know someone really well there is an almost insidious tendency to think that we know what that person is thinking and/or how he or she is going to behave. You can probably see that this tendency greatly contributes to sweating the small stuff at home. When you read between the lines, it's almost as though you're actively looking for things that bother and annoy you. And when you're looking for something, especially when you assume you're going to find it, you rarely disappoint yourself.

Obviously, an occasional assumption isn't going to ruin a relationship and is no big deal. However, this tendency is rarely occasional. Instead, it becomes a way of life -- a habit, something we do a great deal of the time, often without even knowing we are doing so. Our mind works so quickly in its assumptions -- what it thinks it knows -- that it prejudges without any awareness on our part.

The solution is simple -- but not easy. You must have the humility to admit that you don't know what someone is going to do or what he or she is thinking -- you only think you do. It's important to take each day, each individual circumstance, as it comes. Don't assume that simply because something has always been a certain way there is no room for change. When you do, you show a subtle form of disrespect. After all, you probably don't appreciate it when someone you love reads your mind and predicts your behavior. When you make a shift from predicting behavior to responding to it, you'll find yourself being annoyed far less. In many cases, this slight shift can make a world of a difference in the feelings of mutual respect in a family. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has. Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants. Riches are not an end of life, but an instrument of life. A man's true wealth is the good he does in this world.

Pearls of wisdom 299

1. Do not consider admitting ignorance as a necessarily bad thing, for saying, "I don't know" is itself half of knowledge.

2. Agreeing with everything one hears is from the habits of hypocrites and disputing with everything one hears is the breeding ground of enmity.

3. The sign that Allah is pleased with His servant is that His servant is pleased with His decree.

4. For those of spiritual insight, every thing they lay lies upon have within it a lofty message and a gentle reminder.

5. Slay your lowly desires with the sword of knowledge (ilm), and your anger with the sword of forbearance (hilm).

6. Go not near places of wickedness and indecency, for they are epicenters of Allah's wrath, and punishment.

7. The best of the words is that which is confirmed by the best of the actions.

8. When a man's character becomes goodly, his words become lofty.

9. What a tremendous gift has been given to the one who finds acts of disobedience difficult.

10. Perfecting one's intellect causes one to speak less, and those words spoken will be adorned with wisdom.

11. The noble scholar becomes humble in gaining knowledge, while the ignoble matches his increase in knowledge with an equal share of arrogance. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1267

Ayahs of the Day:
Man is indeed ungrateful to his Lord, and he bears witness to that, for he is sure violent in love of goods. Doesn't he know that when what is in the graves is scattered and what is in the hearts is found out -- that their Lord had been well aware of them (even to) that Day? [100: 6 to 11]

Hadith of the Day:
Whoever travels a path seeking (sacred) knowledge, Allah eases for them a path to Paradise. [Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Keep the company of the scholars; love them; benefit from them; be humble before them; and make you children accustomed to that as well, for the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. [Shaykh Bayanuni]

Guidance of the Day:
Remind yourself that you can't take it with you: Unless you know something I don't, when you die you will leave behind your home and all possessions behind. Despite this rather obvious observation, many of us fail to live as if this were true. Instead, we spend a huge amount of our time and energy tending to -- purchasing, insuring, protecting, taking care of, showing off -- our stuff, as if it had some lasting value.

It's incredibly important to remind yourself that you can't take any of it with you! This doesn't suggest that you shouldn't enjoy your things while you are here -- you most certainly should. Instead, it's a gentle reminder to keep things in perspective and ask yourself, "What's really most important here?" Your things and your home are here to enjoy and to make your life easier and more comfortable. But don't give them the authority to overwhelm you. By reminding yourself that you can't take any of it with you, you open a door of acceptance and freedom.

I can almost guarantee you that someday, as you look back on your life, you'll be less interested in how many items and achievements you were able to collect than in how much you were able to express love, spend time with the people you care most about, and contribute to the world you live in. Acknowledging this truth right now can help you prioritize your goals and your time in a way that nurtures your spirit. It can be the difference between a superficial life and a life of substance. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Life needs to be appreciated more than it needs to be understood. The best day of your life, and everyone's life, is today. Don't forget that and live it. It is the only day you have. Lighten up and have your best day ever, daily.

Pearls of wisdom 298

1. The excellence of knowledge lies in its practice; and the excellence of kindness to others lies in mentioning it not.

2. Friendship with the ignorant and heedless are as fickle as the changing times and as quick to disappear as the setting sun.

3. Consider not a man worthless until you have had a chance to converse with him.

4. Health and well being on one hand and gluttony on the other are mutually exclusive.

5. Face off your difficulties with patience; and fence in your blessings with thankfulness.

6. A man's intellect becomes apparent from his speech; as does his character from the goodness of his action.

7. Always consider your intellect to be lacking -- otherwise too much faith in it surely leads to error.

8. Seek Allah's refuge from the heedlessness which comes from prosperity -- so deep it is that it will take one very long to climb out of it.

9. It is not in the make-up of a noble person to delay in rewarding nor is it that of a generous one to exact revenge.

10. Even if Allah had not decreed to abstain from the foul and impure the man of intellect would still surely do so. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1266

Ayahs of the Day:
When the earth convulses in its shock and the earth unloads its burdens and man says, "What is the matter with it?'' That day it will relate its information, as your Lord has inspired it. That day humanity will go out separately, to be shown their works: then whoever has done a bit of good will see it, and whoever has done a bit of ill will see it. [99: 1 to 8]

Hadith of the Day:
Whoever protects the honor of his brother in his absence, Allah protects his face from the fire on the Day of Judgment. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
People praise you for what they suppose is in you, but you must blame your soul for what you know is in it. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:
Put things in Perspective: We're all so blessed to be alive, to be God's guests on this beautiful planet. Whether it takes us thirty minutes or forty-five minutes to get home from work need not interfere with our gratitude. If our kids are bickering, we can get all upset and let it ruin our day, or we can accept it as part of raising a family. If our homes aren't perfectly clean, we can feel defeated and worthless, or we can remember how fortunate we are to have a shelter to live in. If we can't afford the vacation we really want, we can feel victimized and sorry for ourselves, or we can plan a special adventure within our own budget.

I could probably go on for many pages, but the point is that our response is up to us. We can complain that life isn't perfect and wait for life to accommodate us with fewer demands, or we can put things in perspective and lighten up a little. If you're like most people, you've probably already tried the struggle approach to life. My suggestion is that we all strive to become a little more accepting of life and take it as it comes, put things in perspective. The more we're able to do so, the happier and less stressed we will become. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
The future is not in the hands of fate, but in ours. The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm. If you would have a faithful servant, and the one that you like, serve yourself. There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self. He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.

Pearls of wisdom 297

1. Honor lies in hastening to forgive; dishonor lies in hastening to revenge.

2. The more worldly greed in one's heart, the less certainty in God.

3. The best an evil person can do is to think others are like him.

4. Time wasted in youth must be made up in later years, if what you seek is a solicitous end.

5. Remain silent about the favors done by you, yet proclaim the favors others do for you.

6. Self satisfaction is a sure sign of lacking intellect.

7. The one whom small calamities seem large, will certainly be afflicted by truly large calamities.

8. He whose thoughts are vile and low can have nothing but the worst opinion of others.

9. Thankfulness to the Creator in the form of service to His creation is the ultimate expression of gratitude.

10. The one who acts as if death will come tomorrow feels no sorrow when it finally comes. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1265

Ayahs of the Day:
As for those who scoffed, among both people of scripture and polytheists, they will be in hellfire, where they will remain. They are the worst of creation. As for those who have faith and do good works, they are the best of creation. Their reward is in the presence of their Lord: gardens of eternity with rivers flowing below, where they will abide forever, God being pleased with them and they being pleased with God. That is for those in awe of their Lord. [98: 6,7,8]

Hadith of the Day:
Glad tidings to the one busied by his own faults from the faults of others. [Bazzar]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Of all worldly possessions, few are more precious than a grateful heart. It is a well-spring of belief, attuning us to the Divine presence and driving us to His worship. [Imam Magid bin Muhammad]

Guidance of the Day:
Put things in Perspective: I have found it to be very helpful to remind myself -- each and everyday -- how trivial most things really are. Whether it's dealing with bills, crabby or demanding children, a messy home, pesky neighbors, a barking dog, an overwhelming schedule, a traffic jam, an unreturned phone call, weeds in the yard, whatever -- in reality, it's all small stuff.

I watch the news and remind myself that the stuff I have to deal with isn't front page news. A vast, vast majority of the time, it's not life-or-death. And if I see all the things confronting me as small stuff instead of as a series of major emergencies, it's all so much easier to deal with. With perspective, life is smoother and more manageable. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Pray to God, but row for the shore. Prayer is not a lazy substitute for work. It is not a short cut to skill or knowledge. And sometimes God delays the answer to our prayer in final form until we have time to build up the strength, accumulate the knowledge, or fashion the character that would make it possible for Him to say "yes" to what we ask.

Pearls of wisdom 296

1. Beware of having long term expectations (for this world), for it makes one forget his true purpose.

2. Thankfulness for blessings is the condition for attaining more blessings, and ingratitude for blessings is the condition for losing them.

3. Death is always a silent companion.

4. There is no age which does not have its calamities hidden in its every moment.

5. The heights of felicity are reached through the breaking of bad habits.

6. The wise attain honor through their humbleness, whereas the fool bears humiliation through his haughtiness.

7. Regret over misdeeds erases them, and pride over good deeds ruins them.

8. Vain desires is a ruinous companion, and bad habits make up a formidable foe.

9. The intellect of a man lies hidden behind his tongue.

10. To panic during a calamity is itself a greater calamity. [Above quotes by Ali radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1264

Ayahs of the Day:
And those to whom scripture was given did not become divided among themselves until after the evidence came to them. Yet they have only been enjoined to worship God sincerely in their way of life, devoted; and to practice regular prayer, and to give alms; that is true religion. [98: 4,5]

Hadith of the Day:
Whoever eavesdrops on the conversation of the people who dislike to have him listening shall have molten lead poured into his ears. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The deceased await your imminent arrival, so gather now your provisions for that journey. [Dawud Tai]

Guidance of the Day:
One of the most important things we can do is to put things in perspective. Most of the things that upset us most are not life-or-death emergencies. In fact, I find it fascinating that when people are confronted with truly "big stuff" -- natural disasters, divorce, financial crisis, illness, death of loved ones, sick children, aging parents, and so forth --most of them are remarkably courageous and innovative. For some reason, we respond to major life events by rising to the occasion, calling on our inner strength, and getting through whatever it is that life has to offer. We pray, ask for help, become highly creative, and exhibit enormous endurance.

However, the same people (all of us) who somehow get through a chemical addiction, business disaster, or some other crisis, are often overwhelmed, bent out of shape, easily annoyed, stressed out, frustrated, and bothered by all the daily "small stuff" that is part of every one's life. Somehow, it's the little stuff, not the big stuff, that we struggle with the most.
[Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with the family]

Food for Thought:
Prayer time must be kept up as duly as meal-time. Begin to realize more and more that prayer is the most important thing you do. You can use your time to no better advantage than to pray whenever you have an opportunity to do so, either alone or with others; while at work, while at rest, or while walking down the street. Anywhere!

Pearls of wisdom 295

1. The surest way of achieving heaven on earth is contentment with His decree.

2. Indeed the sword may wound the body, but it is the foul speech which wounds the soul.

3. Steeped in error is he who can find time to seek out the faults of others.

4. A Muslim's humiliation comes from his heedlessness of his religion, not in his lack of wealth and stature.

5. When the poor and needy come to you, then know that it is a gift from your Lord.

6. Sins have a tendency of creating restlessness in one's heart in one form or the other.

7. Ingratitude -- spending of Allah's bounty in ways which are inappropriate and unbefitting.

8. Generosity is the fruit of wealth; practice is the fruit of knowledge; Allah's pleasure is the fruit of sincerity.

9. The one who has not observed the rights of people cannot possibly observe the rights of God.

10. Lovers of fine raiment and garb! forget not that one day you will wear the shroud of the grave;
Lovers of palaces and lofty mansions! forget not that ditch where you will ultimately lie;
Lovers of fine food and drink forget not that you are to become the food of worms and maggots. [Above quotes by Othman radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1263

Ayahs of the Day:
We have revealed this during the night of the Decree. And what will convey to you what the night of the Decree is? The night of the Decree is better than a thousand months: the angels and the spirit descend therein, by permission of their Lord, on every matter. It is peace: this till the rise of dawn. [97: 1 to 5]

Hadith of the Day:
Whoever withholds his anger, Allah will withhold His punishment from him. [Tabarani]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Only someone who is sincere recognizes what showing off is. [Imam al-Shafi'i]

Guidance of the Day:
Don't talk behind their backs. Breaking this habit is easier than you might think. Once you see how truly nasty the habit really is, the rest seems to fall gently into place. At first, you might not notice yourself being critical until after the fact. You'll remember when it's too late. Don't be hard on yourself. Instead, be grateful that your old habit came to mind and that your goal is to stop doing it.

The next time, you might catch yourself right in the middle of a conversation about someone else. You can then say something like "Whoops, there I go again being critical about someone who isn't even around." Then gently shift the conversation. At some point, it will become easy. You'll feel yourself about ready to be critical but stop short of actually doing so. You'll "see it coming," observe your own thoughts and behavior, and rip them in the bud. In time, you'll rarely be critical of others when they're not around.

Even when the people around you are talking about others, you can gently refuse to get involved. Instead, you can guide the conversation elsewhere by remaining quiet, saying something nice, or defending the person being criticized or changing the topic altogether. The benefits of being less critical behind the backs of others can be dramatic and instantaneous. Give it a try and you will feel better right away. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Take plenty of time to count your blessings, but never spend a minute in worry. Blessed is the man who is too busy to worry in the daytime, and too sleepy at night. Anxiety springs from the desire that things should happen as we wish rather than as God wills.

Pearls of wisdom 294

1. How strange is the one who believes in Paradise yet spends his days in the world leisurely.

2. How strange is the one who considers God to be the Ultimate Reality and yet relies on others exclusively.

3. How strange is the one who knows Satan to be his enemy and yet listens to him obediently.

4. O' son of Adam! Allah has nourishingly created you for Himself alone, yet you so desire to belong to others.

5. The lover of God loves his times of solitude.

6. Well being has ten parts, nine of which are only found in solitude and one found in interaction with people.

7. A slip of the tongue is far more hazardous than the slip of the foot.

8. If you are bent on committing that sin, then seek out that place which is bent on keeping God out.

9. To deem that Allah is with one every moment is the greatest expression of faith.

10. The scandal monger harms three people with his tongue -- himself, his listener, and his target. [Above quotes by Othman radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1262

Ayahs of the Day:
Do you see the one who prevents the devotee from praying? Do you see if he is following direction? Or if he enjoins conscience? Do you see if he scoffs at truth and turns away? Doesn't he know God sees? If he doesn't desist, We'll drag him by the forelock -- a lying -- sinning forelock -- then let him call on his council: We will call the infernal guard. Don't obey him, but bow down and draw near. [96: 9 to 19]

Hadith of the Day:
Do not insult the dead, for they have moved on to what they sent forth. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The presence of taqwa is recognized by three things: Rushing to fulfill Allah's commands; Seeking nothing from people; Speaking and acting only for what benefits one in this life and in the Hereafter. [Shaqeeq al Balkhi]

Guidance of the Day:
Don't talk behind their backs. When you talk behind someone's back, it says far less about the person you are discussing than it does about our own character, about your need to be critical and your need to talk behind other people's backs. It's like hitting a person who is down -- the person you are talking about is not able to defend himself or herself. It's not fair.

Furthermore, if you pay careful attention to how you feel when you are critical about someone behind that person's back, you'll notice that you'll feel a little mean-spirited, as if your conscience is trying to tell you something Deep down, you know that in most instances it's wrong to be critical of others behind their backs.

When you talk behind the backs of other people, it can also make the person you are gossiping with a little insecure. After all, if you're saying those thing about someone else, what assurance do others have that you're not doing the same thing about them when they are not around? This lack of integrity greatly contributes to increased cynicism in our family and our world because no one feels that anyone else is ultimately trustworthy. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
We have to ask ourselves how our individual presence can change the course of humanity for the good. If we change, humanity changes. We just have to look at what is before us and start right where we are. We need to see where we can help, and then act in a way that fulfills our personal errand for humanity. Every act has its effects. How do you plan to fulfill your errand to humanity?

Pearls of wisdom 293

1. Wasted is a scholar who is not asked about what he knows.

2. Wasted is the wealth which is not used in good.

3. Wasted is the knowledge which is not acted upon.

4. Wasted is the goodly advice which is ignored.

5. Wasted is the mus'haf (copy of the Qur'an) which is not recited from.

6. Wasted is the the heart which is firmly planted in the mud of dunya.

7. Wasted is the life which has made no provision for the ultimate journey.

8. Put your hopes in no one except your Lord, have fear of nothing other than your sins.

9. The extent to which one understands the nature of dunya measures the degree of his attachment from it.

10. O son of Adam! Allah has nourishingly created you for Him alone, yet you so desire to belong to others. [Above quotes by Othman radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1261

Ayahs of the Day:
Read, in the name of your Lord, who created: created man of clotted blood. Read, for your Lord is most generous, the one who taught the use of the pen, taught man what he did not know. Man does indeed go to excess in viewing himself as self-sufficient; for all returns to your Lord. [96: 1 to 8]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah hates the obscene and wasteful. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
If the belief is truly in the heart, the deeds will not delay in following it whatsoever. The complete recognition of Allah and proper love cannot be in the heart if it does not have an over riding effect on the outward deeds. [Ibn Taymiyyah]

Guidance of the Day:
Become less easily bothered. The way to become less easily bothered is to make it a priority. Observe your own reactions to life. Take note of how uptight you can be and how reactive you are to the events and people around you. When you have done so, make a commitment to becoming less bothered, especially by little things.

As you move through your day, see if you can catch yourself being annoyed or bothered. Make a game out of it. As you find yourself getting uptight over some little thing, say something to yourself like "Whoops, there I go again." Make light of it. You will notice that most of your (over) reactions are unconscious, meaning you probably aren't even aware of how uptight you have become. By consciously paying attention to your own thinking and reactions, you bring them to the surface and enable yourself to change.

Most of our reactions to life are nothing more than habits, learned behavior. If we practice being rigid and uptight, that's what we'll become. However the reverse is equally true. If you can combine a little humility with the ability to catch yourself and your own reactions, and you have the determination to change, you will certainly be able to do so. Give it a try. By becoming less reactive and agitated, you'll become a happier person and you'll have a lot more fun too. One more thing: Every important person in your life will notice your positive change and will appreciate it a great deal. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second is disastrous.

Pearls of wisdom 292

1. How strange is the one who claims to know the reality of death and yet can go on enjoying himself heedlessly!

2. How strange is the one who recognizes the evanescence of the world yet longs after it tirelessly!

3. How strange is the one who believes in destiny yet cries over the loss of that which is fleeting!

4. How strange is the one who knows Reckoning to be true and yet goes on hoarding ceaselessly!

5. Silence -- the best remedy for anger.

6. Over indulging in the fleeting pleasures leads to a decrease in what is to be enjoyed in the eternal realm to come.

7. Wanting more when sufficient sustenance and well-being has been given is also a form of complaint.

8. Seek not to burden anyone of God's creature with it be something large or small.

9. Dunya -- any action undertaken without Allah's pleasure as its goal.

10. This world is merely a way station which Allah has placed on the road of those travelling to Him. [Above quotes by Othman radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1260

Ayahs of the Day:
By the fig and the olive and Mount Sinai, and this secure city, We have made man in the finest order; then We return him to the lowest of the low, except those who believe and do good works -- for them there's reward without end. So what can belie you, henceforth, regarding the Judgment? Isn't God the wisest of judges? [95: 1 to 8]

Hadith of the Day:
It is sufficient evil for a man to look down upon his Muslim brother. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Move you heart with the Qur'an. If you do not, then it is feared that it may be moved instead by its lowly passions and its desires for fleeting worldly pleasures; and even worse by sins. [Shaykh Fadhl]

Guidance of the Day:
Become less easily bothered. The payback for becoming less easily bothered is monumental! Your stress level will be reduced. You'll be more accepting of the people and events in life. You have far more fun and will become more interested in, and interested to, other people. You will be a better role model to your family and friends. You'll be less reactive.

You see life less as a burden and more as an adventure. You'll be less tired and irritated. You'll turn your ordinary life into an extraordinary experience. The truth is, being bothered is no fun. It's a huge distraction to a quality life and the ultimate expression of sweating the small stuff. Plus, it's a real turnoff to other people. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Blessed to us is the night, for it reveals the stars. Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of heaven. The soul would have no rainbow had the eye no tears. We are never ripe till we have been made so by suffering.

Pearls of wisdom 291

1. Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom.

2. Decrease in one's food brings health.

3. Decrease in one's sleep brings worship -- tahajjud.

4. Decrease in one's meeting with the common folk brings safety.

5. Lofty stations are attained only through humility.

6. Jihad is victorious only through God given success.

6. Worldly honor may be through wealth, but heavenly honor is certainly through works.

7. Death -- a single words contains within it every goodly advice.

8. The Most Generous One only humiliates him who humiliates himself through persistent wickedness.

9. No matter how correct it may be, one should still strengthen one's opinion through consulting others.

10. It is not through his prayers nor fasts, rather, a person's measure is through how he deals with others, the compassion he shows his fellow men, his wisdom and his integrity. [Above quotes by Omar radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1259

Ayahs of the Day:
Haven't We expanded your chest for you, and removed your burden from you, which weighed heavily on your back, and raised your repute for you? So with distress there is relief. Indeed, relief comes with distress. So when you are done, still be prepared; and direct your request to your Lord. [94: 1 to 8]

Hadith of the Day:
Whoever Allah wishes good for, He gives profound understanding of religion. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The wise man knows the only fitting price for the soul is a place in Paradise. [Ibn Hazm]

Guidance of the Day:
Remember, actions speak louder than words! I believe that this bit of wisdom is always important to keep in mind, but never more so than at home. Yet, as often as most of us have heard it, how many of us live our lives as if we knew that it were true? What we say may be important, but not nearly as important as what we do.

One of the most obvious places where this wisdom takes form is our decision as to how we spend our time. There are hundreds of things you can do, little daily choices you can make. It all adds up. Every positive choice that you make reinforces the love in your family and decreases any resentment, disappointment, or sadness that might have developed over time. The specific choices you make are up to you. My goal here is to remind you that you are the choice maker. With a little reflection, I will bet you can make at least one loving choice today that can make a world of difference in the quality of your life at home. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Big things are accomplished one step at a time. If you only keep adding little by little, it will soon become a big heap. Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. Many strokes overthrow the tallest oak.

Pearls of wisdom 290

1. The strength in one's resolve is that one does not leave for tomorrow what one can do today.

2. Know that it is with ilm (knowledge) that you must speak, and that it is with hilm (forbearance) that you must remain silent.

3. Iman is that one recognizes the One True God in the depths of his heart, and confirms it with his tongue, and acts upon the Divine Prescriptions of Shariah.

4. Covetousness is poverty regardless of how rich one is.

5. Detachment is wealth regardless of how poor one is.

6. Not wanting vengeance is patience regardless if one was wronged or not.

7. Doing good for a good done to you is simply repayment, whereas doing good for an evil done to you is a tremendous virtue.

8. When both the lawful and the prohibited are present in a thing, it is its prohibited aspect which will always be most prominent.

9. If there is fear that even a tenth is haram then our way is to leave even the remaining nine tenths, though they be halal

10. Three things increase love among you:
a. Greeting one another with peace (salaam).
b. Giving up one's seat to another in gatherings.
c. Addressing one by that which he likes. [Above quotes by Omar radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1258

Ayahs of the Day:
By the morning, bright, and the night when it is calm, your Lord has not left you, and is not incensed: hereafter will be better for you than what was before; your Lord will surely give to you, and you will be content. Did God not find you orphaned and give shelter? And God found you wandering and gave guidance. And God found you needy and gave sufficiency. So don't oppress the orphan, and don't rebuff the seeker. And tell of the kindness of your Lord. [93: 1 to 11]

Hadith of the Day:
All of the children of Adam err, and the best of those who err are the oft repenting. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The righteous deeds are performed by the righteous and the wicked. However, only the truthful ones avoid the sinful deeds. [Sahl ibn Abdullah al-Tustari]

Guidance of the Day:
It puts things into perspective when we remind ourselves that life wasn't meant to be hassle-free or perfect, we are more able to respond to our challenges with perspective and grace. Rather than being annoyed or overwhelmed by every little thing, we're usually able to say something like "Oh, well, here's another one to deal with."

I doubt very much that any of us will get to the point where we enjoy the inherent hassles of life, but I'm certain that we can learn to be far more accepting. And, as you can imagine, the less you struggle with your problems and challenges, the more energy you have at your disposal to solve them. Rather than exacerbating the issues you are dealing with, you'll see the bigger picture, including the possible solutions at hand.

Reminding yourself of the inevitability of problems to deal with won't make your life perfect, but it will put things in a healthier perspective and make life seem a whole lot less overwhelming. Starting right now, see if you can view your current problem in a new light. You might discover that at least the "small stuff" can be experienced with a great deal of serenity. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Our greatest enemies are not wild beasts or deadly germs but fears that paralyze thought, poison the mind, and destroy the character. Our only protection against fear is faith. Fear is faithlessness. Have you ever taken your fears to God, got the horizons of Eternity about them, looked at them in the light of His love and grace?

Pearls of wisdom 289

1. Taking pains to remove the pains of others is the true essence of generosity.

2. The heart is dead, but its living again lies in knowledge.

3. Knowledge too is dead, but its living again lies in seeking after it.

4. Erase old sins with new virtues.

5. He who busies himself in Lord's work, finds the Lord busy in his work.

6. The amount of knowledge which suffices the believer is that which keeps him in awe of the Divine.

7. The sole root of man's misery is his flapping his lips -- talking unnecessarily.

8. The seeker of deen increases in action through his knowledge, whereas the seeker of dunya increases only in information.

9. Man knows that he is weak, yet how strange that he continues to disobey the One Who is strongest of all.

10. Wretched is the one who dies, and his inequity lives on. [Above quotes by Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1257

Ayahs of the Day:
Guidance is up to Us: and the end and the beginning belong to Us: so I warn you of a raging fire where none will roast but the most wretched, those who deny truth and turn away. But the most conscientious will be kept from it; those who give of their wealth to become pure without any favor to be repaid to anyone, only seeking the acceptance of their supreme Lord; and they will be satisfied. [92: 12 to 21]

Hadith of the Day:
In the evening, do not wait for morning, and in the morning, do not wait for evening. Take from your health for your weakness, and from your life for your death. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not think evil of anything that comes from your Muslim brother's tongue -- whenever there is a way to interpret it in a good way. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Ask yourself "Why should I be exempt from the rest of the human race?" Life is full of challenges, obstacles, hurdles, setbacks, difficulties, hassles, and problems -- for all of us. No one is exempt. Regardless of what background, race, religion, or sex -- regardless of what kind of parents you had, your birth order, how much money or notoriety you have, all the other specifics of your life -- you will have problems. Case closed.

It's always easier to see your own problems than those of others, and it's certainly true that some problems appear to be far more severe than others, but the truth is, ultimately no one's life is particularly easy, at least not all the time. The old saying is still true, as it will be forever. Circumstances don't make a person, they reveal him or her. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Half effort does not produce half results, it produces no results. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last. Success is dependent on effort. Striving to success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted.

Pearls of wisdom 288

1. To repent from a sin is a necessary obligation -- but to prevent oneself from sin is even more so.

2. Showing patience in adversity is difficult -- but safe guarding the fruits of patience is even more so.

3. The changing of the times is always strange -- but being heedless throughout them is even more so.

4. The unfolding of your affairs is always imminent -- but the arrival of death is even more so.

5. Shyness and modesty of men is an excellent virtue -- but the shyness and modesty of women is even more so.

6. Repentance of an old man is a wonderful thing -- but that of the youth is even more so.

7. The generosity of the prince is an excellent affair -- but that of a peasant is even more so.

8. The sin of the youth is a grave thing indeed -- but that committed by an old man is even more so.

9. The fools indulgence in petty worldliness is an evil thing -- but the indulgence of the learned is even more so.

10. Laziness of the common folk in worshiping their Lord is a grave matter -- but that same laziness from the teachers and students of Sacred knowledge is even more so.

11. The arrogance of wealthy is something to be detested -- but that shown by the poor is even more so. [Above quotes by Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1256

Ayahs of the Day:
By the night when it covers, and the day when it comes to light, and the creation of male and female, your striving is surely diverse. As for those who are generous and conscientious trusting in the happy end, We will facilitate ease for them. As for those who are stingy and complacent repudiating the happy end, We will facilitate hardship for them, and their wealth won't help them when they fall. [92: 1 to 11]

Hadith of the Day:
All of you are shepherds, each of you is responsible for his flock. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Beware of Allah, O believers, and fear His punishment. And ward off His punishment by performing what He has obligated and abstaining from what is in disobedience to Him, and do the things that bring you closer to Him, and exhort all of your efforts (for that goal). [Al-Tabari]

Guidance of the Day:
Do not go to bed mad: When you make the decision to never go to bed mad, it helps you see the innocence in your own behavior and in that of your family members. It keeps the channels of communications open. It reminds you that you are a family and despite your problems and disagreements, you love, need, and treasure each other. The decision that it's never a good idea to go to bed mad is a built-in reset button that protects your family from stress, hostility, and resentment.

Perhaps it's easier to see the importance of such a policy in its absence. Without a family policy such as this, arguments and anger are open-ended. No one will have created a boundary, a set of rules that protect your family from extended unnecessary anger. Without a rule to suggest otherwise, family members can hold on to their anger and justify doing so. This policy ensures that ninety-nine times out of a hundred, we'll wake up the next morning with love in our hearts and with an attitude of "This is a new day."

I hope that you'll give this strategy a fair try. It's certainly not always easy, and you probably won't bat 100 percent, but it's well worth the effort. Remember, life is short. Nothing is so important that it's worth ruining your day, nor anything so significant that it's worth going to bed mad. Have a nice sleep. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--with your family]

Food for Thought:
While faith makes all things possible, it is love that makes all things easy. Love is the greatest constraining power in the world. Tell me what you love, and I will tell you what your are. The man who loves needs no law to impel him to action. This works on both sides of the moral line. The man who loves right and righteousness will do right, law or no law, while the man who loves wrong will do wrong in spite of all law.

Pearls of wisdom 287

1. Be mindful of God by obeying Him, and obey God by being mindful of Him.

2. Restrain your hand that it never sheds the blood of a Muslim.

3. Restrain your stomach that it never consumes their wealth.

4. Restrain your tongue that it is never defiled by transgressing against their honor.

5. It is Jihad which lays down the last brick of Imaan.

6. Rein in your tongue from complaining about others, and you will be granted a life of happiness.

7. The reward for every virtue has it's measure, yet the reward for patience has no measure.

8. The thankful believer is closest to well being.

9. Your fear of Allah is commensurate of what you know of Him, and your lack of fear regarding Him is commensurate with your ignorance of Him.

10. You are determined to lose yourself in the baggage of this world, while the world is equally determined to remove you from itself. [Above quotes by Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

LESSON OF THE DAY 1255

Ayahs of the Day:
By the sun and its brilliance, and the moon, following it, and the day, revealing it, and the night concealing it; by the sky and its construction, and the earth and its extension; by the self and its balance, and its inspiration with its depravity and its conscience: whoever purifies it is triumphant, and whoever corrupts it is a failure. [91: 1 to 10]

Hadith of the Day:
If the son of Adam possessed a valley of gold he would want to have two valleys, yet his mouth will only be filled by earth. Allah turns toward those who turn to Him in repentance. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Absorption in the worldly affairs breeds darkness in the heart, and the absorption in the affairs of the Hereafter enkindles light in the heart. [Osthman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Don't go to bed mad: The idea is that, despite the fact that all families have their share of problems and issues to contend with, nothing is so bad that it's worth going to bed mad over. What this strategy ensures is that, regardless of what's happening, who's to blame, or how mad you or someone else in your family happens to be, there is a set cap or limit to your anger, at which time everyone in the family agrees it's time to let go, forgive, apologize, and start over. No exceptions. This limit is bedtime.

When you have an absolute policy that no one goes to bed mad, it helps you remember that love and forgiveness are never far away. It encourages you to bend a little, to be the first to reach out and open the dialogue, offer a genuine hug, and keep your heart open. When you make the decision to never go to bed mad, it helps you see the innocence in your own behavior and in that of your family members. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
No pleasure philosophy, no sensuality, no place nor power, no material success can for a moment give such inner satisfaction as the sense of living for good purpose. Men cannot for long live hopefully unless they are embarked upon some great unifying enterprise, one for which they may pledge their lives, their fortunes and their honor.