1. If you are sensible, count yourself among the people of the fire (of Hell), because this will encourage you to improve your conduct. If you are in fact one of the people of the Garden (of Paradise), you will have demonstrated your gratitude to Him.
2. Your ultimate destination is uncertain, so do not over estimate the purity of your spiritual state.
3. If you are still alive in the morning, do not take evening for granted, and if you are here when evening comes, do not take the next morning for granted.
4. Yesterday is past and gone with everything it contained, to be a witness for you or against you. As for tomorrow, you do not know whether you will survive till then or not. The proof of your heedlessness is your addiction to foolish company.
5. To deserve the company of your Lord, you must carry out His commandments, observe His prohibitions and comply with His wishes by accepting whatever has been decreed by Him.
6. In preserving the integrity of the heart there is indeed a job to keep one fully occupied.
7. One tiny fraction of the deeds of the heart is a thousand times better than all the deeds of the outer limbs.
8. How great is the loss of those who waste their time in the shops of greedy ambition, expectation and reputation! Your inner being will surely die, and your heart will turn dark.
9. If someone tries to worship Allah in a state of ignorance, he will do more harm than good. You must take along with you the lantern of your Lord's sacred law. By the light of law, you will enter into the domain of knowledge. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Friday, October 25, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Time to experience the effects of gratitude....
And your Lord had made the proclamation, "If you are grateful, I will grant you increase, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe indeed." (14: 7)
1.Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
2.Gratitude turns denial into acceptance.
3. Gratitude turns chaos into order.
4. Gratitude turns confusion into clarity.
5. Gratitude turns a meal into a feast.
6. Gratitude turns a house into a home.
7. Gratitude turns a strangers into a friend.
8. Gratitude turns problems into gifts -- we discover our capacity to see the solutions, and strength to solve our problems.
9. Gratitude turns failures into successes.
10. Gratitude turns unexpected to perfect timing.
11. Gratitude turns mistakes into important events -- lessons learned.
12. Gratitude turns an existence into real life -- full of obedience to our Creator.
13. Gratitude turns disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons.
14. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow.
15. Gratitude makes things right -- turns negative energy into positive.
16. Gratitude is the easiest way to defeat our sworn enemy Iblis.
17. Gratitude protects us from going into despair -- which may lead to going into deep depression.
18. Gratitude is susceptible to all situations and circumstances -- whether small or large. We can start with who we are and what we have right now.
When we say "thank You O' our Lord" long enough -- we will mean it and believe it -- that is when we will see the above mentioned effects of gratitude.
1.Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
2.Gratitude turns denial into acceptance.
3. Gratitude turns chaos into order.
4. Gratitude turns confusion into clarity.
5. Gratitude turns a meal into a feast.
6. Gratitude turns a house into a home.
7. Gratitude turns a strangers into a friend.
8. Gratitude turns problems into gifts -- we discover our capacity to see the solutions, and strength to solve our problems.
9. Gratitude turns failures into successes.
10. Gratitude turns unexpected to perfect timing.
11. Gratitude turns mistakes into important events -- lessons learned.
12. Gratitude turns an existence into real life -- full of obedience to our Creator.
13. Gratitude turns disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons.
14. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow.
15. Gratitude makes things right -- turns negative energy into positive.
16. Gratitude is the easiest way to defeat our sworn enemy Iblis.
17. Gratitude protects us from going into despair -- which may lead to going into deep depression.
18. Gratitude is susceptible to all situations and circumstances -- whether small or large. We can start with who we are and what we have right now.
When we say "thank You O' our Lord" long enough -- we will mean it and believe it -- that is when we will see the above mentioned effects of gratitude.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Lesson of the day 1340
Ayahs of the day:
O believers, be constant, excel in patience, and be firm. Be conscious of God, so that you may thrive. [3: 200]
Hadith of the day:
When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity ( sadaqa jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous son who will pray for him. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
O son of Adam, you are but a few days, whenever a day is gone, part of you is gone too. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the day:
The ritual prayer has an outward form and an inward reality. No prayer can be perfect or complete without both being performed properly.
As for the outward form, it is its standing up, recitation, bowing down, prostrating, and other such components of outward prayer. As for the inward reality, it is humility, presence of heart, perfect sincerity, reflection, and understanding of the meanings of what is being recited, tasbih, and all other components of inward prayer.
The outward form of prayer thus belongs to the body and the senses, while inward belongs to the heart and the secret. The heart and secret are the location upon which falls the gaze of the Real (Al Haqq). [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
"Failures are divided into two classes -- those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought." - John Charles Salak
"A failure is a man who has blundered but is not able to cash in the experience." - Elbert Hubbard
"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - John Burroughs
O believers, be constant, excel in patience, and be firm. Be conscious of God, so that you may thrive. [3: 200]
Hadith of the day:
When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity ( sadaqa jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous son who will pray for him. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
O son of Adam, you are but a few days, whenever a day is gone, part of you is gone too. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the day:
The ritual prayer has an outward form and an inward reality. No prayer can be perfect or complete without both being performed properly.
As for the outward form, it is its standing up, recitation, bowing down, prostrating, and other such components of outward prayer. As for the inward reality, it is humility, presence of heart, perfect sincerity, reflection, and understanding of the meanings of what is being recited, tasbih, and all other components of inward prayer.
The outward form of prayer thus belongs to the body and the senses, while inward belongs to the heart and the secret. The heart and secret are the location upon which falls the gaze of the Real (Al Haqq). [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
"Failures are divided into two classes -- those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought." - John Charles Salak
"A failure is a man who has blundered but is not able to cash in the experience." - Elbert Hubbard
"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - John Burroughs
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Eid Mubarak!!!!
In the Company of Prophets.
"To have just met Adam, I would give sixty cubits of gold,
Again and again, and over again, many times, manifold.
To have just met Enoch (Idris), I would give silk to cover the heavens,
Spread out, draped through the trees and rivers, covering all seven.
To have just met Noah, I would give the seas and oceans,
With their powerful waves and endless motion.
To have just met Hud, I would give the grandest mansions and towers,
Of the finest design, surrounded by gardens and daintiest flowers.
To have just met Saleh, I would give jets, horses, cars, and camels,
The fastest, gaudiest, priciest, with seats and saddles enameled.
To have just met Abraham, I would give my intelligence, sanity,
For surely, thereafter, I would lose to insanity.
To have just met Lot, I would give salt, sugar, and spices,
Cinnamon, cloves, saffron: so much to exceed all prices.
To have just met Ishmael, I would build mosques truly grand,
To cover every inch of this Earth’s land.
To have just met Isaac, I would sacrifice every ram,
Goat, horse, elephant, cow, and even clam.
To have just met Jacob (Yaqub), I would give my sight,
For certainly, thereafter, I could see much more light.
To have just met Joseph, I would give the sun, moon, and stars,
And along with them the cycles of Nisan to Adar.
To have just met Job (Ayub), I would suffer the most terrible illness,
Waiting for God’s salvation in endless quiet stillness.
To have just met Jethro [Shu’aib], I would give all to charity,
From the smallest particle to the priciest rarity.
To have just met Aaron (Harun), I would abandon speech,
Yet turn to God, and in silence beseech.
To have just met Moses, I would give the mountains,
With gushing geysers, and sparkling fountains.
To have just met David, I would give the elements,
From the toughest diamond to the thinnest filament.
To have just met Solomon, I would give every bird,
Peacocks, parrots, falcons, and penguins, furred.
To have just met Elijah [Ilyas], I would preach the Way of God,
Night and day, so we could discard all frauds.
To have just met Elisha [Alyasa’], I would give the most exceptional art,
So that I could, then, return with a purer heart.
To have just met Jonah (Yunus), I would give every pearl,
From the depths of the sea, worthy of queens and earls.
To have just met Ezekiel [Dhulkifl], I would give the newer inventions,
Given us by God, for none is from apprehension.
To have just met Zechariah, I would fast year round,
Even if around me, there were delicacies abound.
To have just met John, I would purify myself completely,
So as to present myself purely and neatly.
To have just met Jesus, I would suffer great persecution,
So that, by God’s mercy I would not suffer devolution.
To have just met Muhammad, I would give the heavens and earth and that therein,
He marked the end of Revelation and marked where the end did begin.
To have met just one prophet, would be this world’s greatest blessing,
They were the same message spreading, the same belief professing. "
Malik
"To have just met Adam, I would give sixty cubits of gold,
Again and again, and over again, many times, manifold.
To have just met Enoch (Idris), I would give silk to cover the heavens,
Spread out, draped through the trees and rivers, covering all seven.
To have just met Noah, I would give the seas and oceans,
With their powerful waves and endless motion.
To have just met Hud, I would give the grandest mansions and towers,
Of the finest design, surrounded by gardens and daintiest flowers.
To have just met Saleh, I would give jets, horses, cars, and camels,
The fastest, gaudiest, priciest, with seats and saddles enameled.
To have just met Abraham, I would give my intelligence, sanity,
For surely, thereafter, I would lose to insanity.
To have just met Lot, I would give salt, sugar, and spices,
Cinnamon, cloves, saffron: so much to exceed all prices.
To have just met Ishmael, I would build mosques truly grand,
To cover every inch of this Earth’s land.
To have just met Isaac, I would sacrifice every ram,
Goat, horse, elephant, cow, and even clam.
To have just met Jacob (Yaqub), I would give my sight,
For certainly, thereafter, I could see much more light.
To have just met Joseph, I would give the sun, moon, and stars,
And along with them the cycles of Nisan to Adar.
To have just met Job (Ayub), I would suffer the most terrible illness,
Waiting for God’s salvation in endless quiet stillness.
To have just met Jethro [Shu’aib], I would give all to charity,
From the smallest particle to the priciest rarity.
To have just met Aaron (Harun), I would abandon speech,
Yet turn to God, and in silence beseech.
To have just met Moses, I would give the mountains,
With gushing geysers, and sparkling fountains.
To have just met David, I would give the elements,
From the toughest diamond to the thinnest filament.
To have just met Solomon, I would give every bird,
Peacocks, parrots, falcons, and penguins, furred.
To have just met Elijah [Ilyas], I would preach the Way of God,
Night and day, so we could discard all frauds.
To have just met Elisha [Alyasa’], I would give the most exceptional art,
So that I could, then, return with a purer heart.
To have just met Jonah (Yunus), I would give every pearl,
From the depths of the sea, worthy of queens and earls.
To have just met Ezekiel [Dhulkifl], I would give the newer inventions,
Given us by God, for none is from apprehension.
To have just met Zechariah, I would fast year round,
Even if around me, there were delicacies abound.
To have just met John, I would purify myself completely,
So as to present myself purely and neatly.
To have just met Jesus, I would suffer great persecution,
So that, by God’s mercy I would not suffer devolution.
To have just met Muhammad, I would give the heavens and earth and that therein,
He marked the end of Revelation and marked where the end did begin.
To have met just one prophet, would be this world’s greatest blessing,
They were the same message spreading, the same belief professing. "
Malik
Friday, October 11, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 339
1. Do not exploit your religion for worldly gain, only the hereafter can be gained through religion.
2. Death will come to you inevitably, so work to be ready for it.
3. Just two steps and you would reach the All Merciful. The lower self (nafs) and creatures, are the two things you need to step away from. Just two steps and you will reach your goal both in this world and the hereafter.
4. If you stand in the presence of any creature, trying to obtain what he has at his disposal, Allah will despise you.
5. If someone devotes himself entirely to Allah Most High, He will provide him with everything he needs, and if a person devotes himself to this world, Allah will leave him in its care.
6. If you realized that this world was sure to leave you in the lurch, you would not ask so much of it.
7. When your inner (batin) becomes worthy to serve Allah, only then will this world become fit to serve you.
8. The wine of dunya is poison, it may taste sweet at first, but it soon turns bitter. Once it has filtered through your heart and you have come under its control, it converts into a poison and kills you.
9. The best piece of advice is concerning your lower self, if you can control it, well and good, otherwise it will control you.
10. As a general rule, your closeness to the sons of this world keeps you far away from Allah Almighty. The right course for you is to concentrate your attention on the hereafter and on worshipful obedience, then you may be saved, while your allotted shares will come to you even if they are unwelcome. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. Death will come to you inevitably, so work to be ready for it.
3. Just two steps and you would reach the All Merciful. The lower self (nafs) and creatures, are the two things you need to step away from. Just two steps and you will reach your goal both in this world and the hereafter.
4. If you stand in the presence of any creature, trying to obtain what he has at his disposal, Allah will despise you.
5. If someone devotes himself entirely to Allah Most High, He will provide him with everything he needs, and if a person devotes himself to this world, Allah will leave him in its care.
6. If you realized that this world was sure to leave you in the lurch, you would not ask so much of it.
7. When your inner (batin) becomes worthy to serve Allah, only then will this world become fit to serve you.
8. The wine of dunya is poison, it may taste sweet at first, but it soon turns bitter. Once it has filtered through your heart and you have come under its control, it converts into a poison and kills you.
9. The best piece of advice is concerning your lower self, if you can control it, well and good, otherwise it will control you.
10. As a general rule, your closeness to the sons of this world keeps you far away from Allah Almighty. The right course for you is to concentrate your attention on the hereafter and on worshipful obedience, then you may be saved, while your allotted shares will come to you even if they are unwelcome. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, October 07, 2013
The little girl and the plants.....
A little girl was enjoying the beauty of the garden in her home. Her father had a good collection of rare and exotic plants. He grew them with tender care.
The girl was fascinated by a plant full of fine and fragrant flowers. She went near the plant and enjoyed its beauty and the fragrance of its fine flowers. Suddenly she noted that the plant was growing in a heap of filth. She could not tolerate the presence of dirt at the bottom of the plant with such fantastic flowers.
She conceived a plan to clean the plant. She pulled the plant with all her might and uprooted it. She then carried it to the tap and washed the shoot and roots in running tap-water till all traces of dirt were washed away. She then placed the plant on a clean stone and went away, thinking that she had done a great deed indeed.
Later her father came to the garden and saw the uprooted plant. Its flowers and leaves had wilted and the plant had almost died in the scorching sun. His little daughter ran to him to exhibit her achievement. “I have cleaned it, Daddy”, she reported innocently. “It was placed in dirty soil. Now it is clean.”
The father showed her how her treatment had almost killed the plant. He told her that he had collected the filthy soil and placed it to cover the plant’s roots as it was the best medium to grow that plant. It could grow up healthily and produce fine flowers only if grown in filthy soil. She was sad that the plant had suffered and withered by her cleaning.
Flash:
Pain, poverty and illness may cause agony in our life. Sight of successful people may make us depressed and envious. A qualified gardener mixes the right soil for each plant. In the same way Allah (our Sustainer, the Knower of what is best for us) provides each of us with the best environment required for our optimum spiritual growth. Outwardly it may appear to be unpleasant, and we may even complain to God about our plight , with just a little bit of patience we will certainly see the need of all the negative things in our lives -- only the best possible results will be seen, inshaAllah.
Allah Almighty says "It may be that you dislike something that is good for you, and it may be that you like something that is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. [2: 216]
The girl was fascinated by a plant full of fine and fragrant flowers. She went near the plant and enjoyed its beauty and the fragrance of its fine flowers. Suddenly she noted that the plant was growing in a heap of filth. She could not tolerate the presence of dirt at the bottom of the plant with such fantastic flowers.
She conceived a plan to clean the plant. She pulled the plant with all her might and uprooted it. She then carried it to the tap and washed the shoot and roots in running tap-water till all traces of dirt were washed away. She then placed the plant on a clean stone and went away, thinking that she had done a great deed indeed.
Later her father came to the garden and saw the uprooted plant. Its flowers and leaves had wilted and the plant had almost died in the scorching sun. His little daughter ran to him to exhibit her achievement. “I have cleaned it, Daddy”, she reported innocently. “It was placed in dirty soil. Now it is clean.”
The father showed her how her treatment had almost killed the plant. He told her that he had collected the filthy soil and placed it to cover the plant’s roots as it was the best medium to grow that plant. It could grow up healthily and produce fine flowers only if grown in filthy soil. She was sad that the plant had suffered and withered by her cleaning.
Flash:
Pain, poverty and illness may cause agony in our life. Sight of successful people may make us depressed and envious. A qualified gardener mixes the right soil for each plant. In the same way Allah (our Sustainer, the Knower of what is best for us) provides each of us with the best environment required for our optimum spiritual growth. Outwardly it may appear to be unpleasant, and we may even complain to God about our plight , with just a little bit of patience we will certainly see the need of all the negative things in our lives -- only the best possible results will be seen, inshaAllah.
Allah Almighty says "It may be that you dislike something that is good for you, and it may be that you like something that is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. [2: 216]
Friday, October 04, 2013
Diffused Congruence Podcast: Usama Canon
Diffused Congruence is a new podcast celebrating the many facets of the American Muslim experience. For the first episode, hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by Usama Canon, founding director of the San Francisco Bay Area-based Ta'leef Collective, as he discusses his journey to Islam, the challenges facing young people in the 21st century, and what Ta'leef is all about. You can stream or download the episode below. Please send all questions and comments to DiffusedCongruence@gmail.com.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Lesson of the day 1339
Ayahs of the day:
Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding -- those who remember God while standing, sitting, and on their sides, contemplating the creation of the heavens and the earth -- "Our Lord! You did not create this in vain! Glory to You! Keep us, then, from the torment of the fire! [3: 190, 191]
Hadith of the day:
Allah loves the slave who is pious, independent of means and hidden from the people. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
How can the laws of nature be ruptured for you so that miracles result, while you, for your part, have yet to rupture your bad habits. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the day:
Prayer (Salaat) is to religion what the head is to the body -- just as there can be no life for a headless person, so there can be no religion for he who does not pray. Thus state many hadiths. He who establishes the prayer in the manner prescribed by God and His Messenger, his prayer rebukes him from doing anything that may displease God.
It is ugly of a believer, engaged in a worldly pursuit when the time for the prayer comes, not to abandon it and hasten to perform the duty that God has prescribed for him. This can be caused only by excessive heedlessness, lack of knowledge of God, or weakness in one's desire for the hereafter. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Our real enemies are the people who make us feel so good that we are slowly, but inexorably, pulled down into the quicksand of smugness and self-satisfaction. Five great enemies to peace inhabit with us -- avarice, ambition, envy, anger and pride. If those enemies were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding -- those who remember God while standing, sitting, and on their sides, contemplating the creation of the heavens and the earth -- "Our Lord! You did not create this in vain! Glory to You! Keep us, then, from the torment of the fire! [3: 190, 191]
Hadith of the day:
Allah loves the slave who is pious, independent of means and hidden from the people. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
How can the laws of nature be ruptured for you so that miracles result, while you, for your part, have yet to rupture your bad habits. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the day:
Prayer (Salaat) is to religion what the head is to the body -- just as there can be no life for a headless person, so there can be no religion for he who does not pray. Thus state many hadiths. He who establishes the prayer in the manner prescribed by God and His Messenger, his prayer rebukes him from doing anything that may displease God.
It is ugly of a believer, engaged in a worldly pursuit when the time for the prayer comes, not to abandon it and hasten to perform the duty that God has prescribed for him. This can be caused only by excessive heedlessness, lack of knowledge of God, or weakness in one's desire for the hereafter. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Our real enemies are the people who make us feel so good that we are slowly, but inexorably, pulled down into the quicksand of smugness and self-satisfaction. Five great enemies to peace inhabit with us -- avarice, ambition, envy, anger and pride. If those enemies were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Excellence of one's faith....
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It is the excellence of a man’s faith that he gives up meaningless work.” [Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
We need to check all our activities and label them to see which belong to the category of meaningless. If the activity is not taking us towards a meaningful goal for any of the roles that arise from our ideology (e.g. Muslim, parent, son/daughter, self, breadwinner, da'ee, etc), then it would be to our advantage to replace it with more meaningful activity.
Anything that does not bring us closer to Jannah and distance us from the Fire is meaningless in the long run, and will cause us to regret when it will be too late to realize why did we bother to waste your time with it.
Life is too precious to be wasted for worthless or meaningless matters. The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life -- i.e. akhira. Life is like a cash register, in that every thought, every deed -- like every sale is registered and recorded.
Life is not lost by dying; rather life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.
We need to check all our activities and label them to see which belong to the category of meaningless. If the activity is not taking us towards a meaningful goal for any of the roles that arise from our ideology (e.g. Muslim, parent, son/daughter, self, breadwinner, da'ee, etc), then it would be to our advantage to replace it with more meaningful activity.
Anything that does not bring us closer to Jannah and distance us from the Fire is meaningless in the long run, and will cause us to regret when it will be too late to realize why did we bother to waste your time with it.
Life is too precious to be wasted for worthless or meaningless matters. The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life -- i.e. akhira. Life is like a cash register, in that every thought, every deed -- like every sale is registered and recorded.
Life is not lost by dying; rather life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 338
1. Seekers of this world are many, but the seekers of the hereafter are few, and few indeed are those who seek the Lord of Truth.
2. You are caught up with this world of yours by night and day, it uses you and cuts you off.
3. You aspire to the heights, but you are struck in the mud, you aspire to the Garden (Paradise), but you are not doing the work that must be done in order to gain entry to it.
4. When the heart transcends this world and becomes the guest of the nearness of the Lord of Truth, it refuses to accept any kind of dependency on any creature.
5. The remedy to susceptibility to temptation (waswasa) is making sure to eat what is pure and uncontaminated by anything unlawful or dubious. The second is to refuse to let the lower self have its way, whenever it tries to make you do something that is forbidden.
6. When someone no longer has any need of creatures, he clings to the door of the Lord of Truth, who then enriches him with His nearness. When He has enriched him with His nearness, he becomes too preoccupied with remembering Him and thanking Him to consider asking Him for anything.
7. Creatures are the most powerful weapon Satan has against you. The whole distraction resides in the abode of creatures and their dwelling place.
8. Beautify your heart, then your external appearance.
9. When Allah wishes you well, He wakes you up and makes you aware of your own faults. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. You are caught up with this world of yours by night and day, it uses you and cuts you off.
3. You aspire to the heights, but you are struck in the mud, you aspire to the Garden (Paradise), but you are not doing the work that must be done in order to gain entry to it.
4. When the heart transcends this world and becomes the guest of the nearness of the Lord of Truth, it refuses to accept any kind of dependency on any creature.
5. The remedy to susceptibility to temptation (waswasa) is making sure to eat what is pure and uncontaminated by anything unlawful or dubious. The second is to refuse to let the lower self have its way, whenever it tries to make you do something that is forbidden.
6. When someone no longer has any need of creatures, he clings to the door of the Lord of Truth, who then enriches him with His nearness. When He has enriched him with His nearness, he becomes too preoccupied with remembering Him and thanking Him to consider asking Him for anything.
7. Creatures are the most powerful weapon Satan has against you. The whole distraction resides in the abode of creatures and their dwelling place.
8. Beautify your heart, then your external appearance.
9. When Allah wishes you well, He wakes you up and makes you aware of your own faults. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Friday, September 20, 2013
Practical Parenting Advice
Spent a lovely afternoon getting parenting advice from Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (a father of 3 children himself, masha'Allah) at ILM Tree . Some of the nuggets I managed to gather from him:
You're not responsible for your children's actions, only for what you teach them (or don't teach them).
Focus on teaching your children adab and akhlaq (manners and etiquette); parents don't emphasize these enough any more. Have adab with yourself before you set out to teach adab -- that means "pausing". Be willing to pause before reacting.
Adab is the capacity to have the appropriate action, attitude, and response in any given situation.
Oftentimes we do more damage by how we react to our children's mishaps. When we lose our temper with our kids, we're still "teaching" them; we're just not teaching them the appropriate reaction to life's adversities and challenges. Our kids are always learning from us.
Criticizing your children is a bid'ah (a blameworthy innovation); it's not from the Sunnah (way of the Prophet). Don't criticize; don't nag. Nagging your children about everything is a good way to guarantee that they don't listen to you about anything. Nagging never works.
Sometimes the correct response is to not say anything.
If you want to know how to raise teenagers, look at the life of Anas (radiAllahu anhu); he lived in the house of the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wasallam) from the age of 10 to 20. He broke things and made mistakes, but the Prophet (saw) never focused on whatever Allah had already destined; he never shamed Anas (rA) for his mistakes. He only focused on gentle teaching and gentle reminders. (i.e. "Did you take care of that task I asked you to do?" rather than "Why haven't you done what I asked you to do yet?! How many times do I have to remind you?!")
Children who have not yet attained the age of puberty are not held accountable by Allah (swt) even if they commit murder (God forbid), so who are we to freak out on our kids for "little things" like spilled milk?
When the Prophet (saw) saw another young sahabah (companion) eating greedily from all over a plate, he gently told him, "Say Allah's Name before eating; eat with your right hand; and eat from what is in front of you." He didn't criticize him for his (lack of) manners; he only told him the correct way to eat and then moved on.
We are not police officers or judges when it comes to our children; rather, we should be like shepherds -- we should try to gently guide them in the direction of where we want them to eventually end up.
Complaining about your children to friends is blameworthy; however, consulting with ppl who have wisdom and experience is praiseworthy. Don't talk to just anyone about you r concerns regarding your children.
When asked about getting kids to pray or to wear the hijab, he reminded us that Islam is not about do's and don'ts and a bunch of rules; it's about the heart. We need to teach kids to have hearts that are directed towards pleasing their Lord. They should desire on their own to live lives of taqwa (God-consciousness). We must model taqwa for them by how we live our own lives. Some children may need gentle nudges and reminders to do the right thing.
All virtues are virtuous; anything virtuous should be taught to and emphasized for BOTH genders (like modesty and lowering the gaze and gentleness). Boys should not be shamed for being shy. Shyness is praiseworthy.
Prayer should be a pleasant experience for the kids. He talked about his own children taking turns saying their personal duas aloud after prayer time; sometimes the kids would fall into hugging and wrestling on the prayer mat afterwards.
Teach kids about the Prophet Muhammad's (saw) life.
Remind yourself about what your parents did RIGHT.
Don't become self-satisfied and overly confident in your parenting.
Seek Allah's Pleasure through your own parenting, and facilitate for your children to seek Allah's Pleasure as well.
Aim high in both spiritual and worldly matters. Do dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and call on Allah for Help. Don't just ask that He make your kids into good Muslims; ask Him to make your kids from amongst the best and most virtuous of all Muslims ever. Trust in Him to answer your duas. Nothing is impossible for Allah.
Hina Mukhtar
You're not responsible for your children's actions, only for what you teach them (or don't teach them).
Focus on teaching your children adab and akhlaq (manners and etiquette); parents don't emphasize these enough any more. Have adab with yourself before you set out to teach adab -- that means "pausing". Be willing to pause before reacting.
Adab is the capacity to have the appropriate action, attitude, and response in any given situation.
Oftentimes we do more damage by how we react to our children's mishaps. When we lose our temper with our kids, we're still "teaching" them; we're just not teaching them the appropriate reaction to life's adversities and challenges. Our kids are always learning from us.
Criticizing your children is a bid'ah (a blameworthy innovation); it's not from the Sunnah (way of the Prophet). Don't criticize; don't nag. Nagging your children about everything is a good way to guarantee that they don't listen to you about anything. Nagging never works.
Sometimes the correct response is to not say anything.
If you want to know how to raise teenagers, look at the life of Anas (radiAllahu anhu); he lived in the house of the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wasallam) from the age of 10 to 20. He broke things and made mistakes, but the Prophet (saw) never focused on whatever Allah had already destined; he never shamed Anas (rA) for his mistakes. He only focused on gentle teaching and gentle reminders. (i.e. "Did you take care of that task I asked you to do?" rather than "Why haven't you done what I asked you to do yet?! How many times do I have to remind you?!")
Children who have not yet attained the age of puberty are not held accountable by Allah (swt) even if they commit murder (God forbid), so who are we to freak out on our kids for "little things" like spilled milk?
When the Prophet (saw) saw another young sahabah (companion) eating greedily from all over a plate, he gently told him, "Say Allah's Name before eating; eat with your right hand; and eat from what is in front of you." He didn't criticize him for his (lack of) manners; he only told him the correct way to eat and then moved on.
We are not police officers or judges when it comes to our children; rather, we should be like shepherds -- we should try to gently guide them in the direction of where we want them to eventually end up.
Complaining about your children to friends is blameworthy; however, consulting with ppl who have wisdom and experience is praiseworthy. Don't talk to just anyone about you r concerns regarding your children.
When asked about getting kids to pray or to wear the hijab, he reminded us that Islam is not about do's and don'ts and a bunch of rules; it's about the heart. We need to teach kids to have hearts that are directed towards pleasing their Lord. They should desire on their own to live lives of taqwa (God-consciousness). We must model taqwa for them by how we live our own lives. Some children may need gentle nudges and reminders to do the right thing.
All virtues are virtuous; anything virtuous should be taught to and emphasized for BOTH genders (like modesty and lowering the gaze and gentleness). Boys should not be shamed for being shy. Shyness is praiseworthy.
Prayer should be a pleasant experience for the kids. He talked about his own children taking turns saying their personal duas aloud after prayer time; sometimes the kids would fall into hugging and wrestling on the prayer mat afterwards.
Teach kids about the Prophet Muhammad's (saw) life.
Remind yourself about what your parents did RIGHT.
Don't become self-satisfied and overly confident in your parenting.
Seek Allah's Pleasure through your own parenting, and facilitate for your children to seek Allah's Pleasure as well.
Aim high in both spiritual and worldly matters. Do dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and call on Allah for Help. Don't just ask that He make your kids into good Muslims; ask Him to make your kids from amongst the best and most virtuous of all Muslims ever. Trust in Him to answer your duas. Nothing is impossible for Allah.
Hina Mukhtar
Monday, September 16, 2013
Lesson of the day 1338
Ayahs of the day:
You will surely be tried in respect to your possessions and your selves. And you will surely hear much that is offensive from those whom scripture was given before you, and from idolaters. And if you are patient and conscientious, that is part of the order of things. [3 186]
Hadith of the day:
Frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures -- i.e. death. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
Wisdom is the fruit of following the Sunnah. Chaos is the fruit of following one's ego. [Othman al-Jabri]
Guidance of the day:
Among the signs of he who is counted among those who are learned in the sciences of the hereafter are that he is neither coarse, nor rude, neither argumentative, nor quarrelsome, neither harsh, intolerant, nor of bad character, neither hypocritical, nor deceitful. He does not prefer rich people to poor, is not frequent visitor of rulers, and does not refrain from rebuking them when capable of it.
He is not avid for power, wealth, or position, on the contrary he dislikes them all, does not engage in any of them, nor accept any of them except when for a dire need or necessity. In sum, he should be everything that his knowledge enjoins him to be in the way of virtuous character and good works and should avoid every bad character or deed that his knowledge enjoins him to avoid. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
It is never wise to slip the hands of discipline. To be in good moral condition requires at least as much training as to be in good physical condition. We can never be the person we should be if pressure, tension, and discipline are taken out of our life.
You will surely be tried in respect to your possessions and your selves. And you will surely hear much that is offensive from those whom scripture was given before you, and from idolaters. And if you are patient and conscientious, that is part of the order of things. [3 186]
Hadith of the day:
Frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures -- i.e. death. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
Wisdom is the fruit of following the Sunnah. Chaos is the fruit of following one's ego. [Othman al-Jabri]
Guidance of the day:
Among the signs of he who is counted among those who are learned in the sciences of the hereafter are that he is neither coarse, nor rude, neither argumentative, nor quarrelsome, neither harsh, intolerant, nor of bad character, neither hypocritical, nor deceitful. He does not prefer rich people to poor, is not frequent visitor of rulers, and does not refrain from rebuking them when capable of it.
He is not avid for power, wealth, or position, on the contrary he dislikes them all, does not engage in any of them, nor accept any of them except when for a dire need or necessity. In sum, he should be everything that his knowledge enjoins him to be in the way of virtuous character and good works and should avoid every bad character or deed that his knowledge enjoins him to avoid. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
It is never wise to slip the hands of discipline. To be in good moral condition requires at least as much training as to be in good physical condition. We can never be the person we should be if pressure, tension, and discipline are taken out of our life.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Points worth reflecting....
Life is an echo
What we send out -- comes back to us,
What we sow -- we reap,
What we give -- we get,
What we see in others -- exists in us,
Remember, life is an echo -- it always comes back to us.
When something bad happens
We have three choices:
We can either let it define us,
Let it destroy us or,
Let it strengthen us.
How do we feel
If we are depressed -- we are living in the past,
If we are anxious -- we are living in the future,
If we are at peace -- we are living in the present.
We should never feel bad if people remember us at a time of their need -- we should feel privileged that they think of us like a candle in the darkness of their life.
What we send out -- comes back to us,
What we sow -- we reap,
What we give -- we get,
What we see in others -- exists in us,
Remember, life is an echo -- it always comes back to us.
When something bad happens
We have three choices:
We can either let it define us,
Let it destroy us or,
Let it strengthen us.
How do we feel
If we are depressed -- we are living in the past,
If we are anxious -- we are living in the future,
If we are at peace -- we are living in the present.
We should never feel bad if people remember us at a time of their need -- we should feel privileged that they think of us like a candle in the darkness of their life.
Monday, September 09, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 337
1. For its food and drink the heart is left with speaking confidentially (munajat) to Allah the Almighty, standing (Qiyam) and bowing (ruku) and making prostration (sujud) in His presence.
2. When will you isolate your heart from the creatures and seek the company of you Lord?
3. The heart of the son of Adam must continue to travel along the path of good and evil, honor and humiliation, wealth and poverty, until he finally acknowledges that all blessings are due to Allah -- this means gratitude -- and gratitude is an act of obedience.
4. When someone really knows Allah, his tongue falls silent; he is free from want because of Him, and Him alone he is in need of.
5. A loser is he who is absent today. You do not take the first step and the second cannot be taken. The first is leaving the house of your worldly existence, and the second is His blessing.
6. Four things are conducive to soundness of the heart: The first is checking to make sure one has something fit to eat. The second is undisturbed worshipful obedience. The third is the preservation of honorable dignity. The fourth is giving up everything that distracts you from Allah.
7. The people (of the Lord), although their hearts are in a state of calm reliance on their Lord Almighty, their physical limbs and organs are actively engaged in dealing with the material means.
8. When the servant's heart is pure, he is on intimate terms with the angels, and they will often speak to him in private.
9. There is no way of avoiding the encounter with Allah Most High. Meet Him now! Leave the creatures and the lower self behind, then you will meet your Lord of Truth. Apart from remembrance of Him, all is vain. Apart from knowledge of Him, all is vain. All dealings with others apart from Him must end in failure. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. When will you isolate your heart from the creatures and seek the company of you Lord?
3. The heart of the son of Adam must continue to travel along the path of good and evil, honor and humiliation, wealth and poverty, until he finally acknowledges that all blessings are due to Allah -- this means gratitude -- and gratitude is an act of obedience.
4. When someone really knows Allah, his tongue falls silent; he is free from want because of Him, and Him alone he is in need of.
5. A loser is he who is absent today. You do not take the first step and the second cannot be taken. The first is leaving the house of your worldly existence, and the second is His blessing.
6. Four things are conducive to soundness of the heart: The first is checking to make sure one has something fit to eat. The second is undisturbed worshipful obedience. The third is the preservation of honorable dignity. The fourth is giving up everything that distracts you from Allah.
7. The people (of the Lord), although their hearts are in a state of calm reliance on their Lord Almighty, their physical limbs and organs are actively engaged in dealing with the material means.
8. When the servant's heart is pure, he is on intimate terms with the angels, and they will often speak to him in private.
9. There is no way of avoiding the encounter with Allah Most High. Meet Him now! Leave the creatures and the lower self behind, then you will meet your Lord of Truth. Apart from remembrance of Him, all is vain. Apart from knowledge of Him, all is vain. All dealings with others apart from Him must end in failure. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Friday, September 06, 2013
Employment Opportunity for everyone....
Needed: A Sincere Believer
Job Type: Sincere, Striving Muslim as an Educator and Inspirer to him/her self and the world.
Certificate Required: Minimum B.S. (basic skills) in Forbearance, Patience, Gentleness, Veracity, Wisdom and Obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
Salary: Verily those who give (in charity and efforts), men and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan - it shall be increased manifold to their credit! And theirs shall be an honorable, good reward (in this life and the next). Al-Qur'an 57:18
Full time: 24/7, Life long Commitment.
We need Honest, Sincere Believers in God who will dedicate their life to spreading the beautiful message of all that is good -- Islam.
We need people with.....
Eyes sparkling with kindness
Nose out of people's affairs
Mouth a messenger of honesty and a commander of good and forbidder of evil
Hands on honest grounds
Legs from walking to that which is not pure
When we become the embodiment of goodness, we have indeed lived the life of a true Believer!
Mothers & Daughters! You who hold the future of mankind in your arms, give us hope! The job is in demand, so raise for us competent beings who will work to bring success to mankind. O' Creator of all, make this possible. Ameen.
Job Type: Sincere, Striving Muslim as an Educator and Inspirer to him/her self and the world.
Certificate Required: Minimum B.S. (basic skills) in Forbearance, Patience, Gentleness, Veracity, Wisdom and Obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
Salary: Verily those who give (in charity and efforts), men and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan - it shall be increased manifold to their credit! And theirs shall be an honorable, good reward (in this life and the next). Al-Qur'an 57:18
Full time: 24/7, Life long Commitment.
We need Honest, Sincere Believers in God who will dedicate their life to spreading the beautiful message of all that is good -- Islam.
We need people with.....
Eyes sparkling with kindness
Nose out of people's affairs
Mouth a messenger of honesty and a commander of good and forbidder of evil
Hands on honest grounds
Legs from walking to that which is not pure
When we become the embodiment of goodness, we have indeed lived the life of a true Believer!
Mothers & Daughters! You who hold the future of mankind in your arms, give us hope! The job is in demand, so raise for us competent beings who will work to bring success to mankind. O' Creator of all, make this possible. Ameen.
Monday, September 02, 2013
Lesson of the day 1337
Ayahs of the day:
Every being experiences death. And you will only be paid your due on the day of resurrection. And whoever is kept away from the fire and admitted to the Garden has gained salvation. And the life of this world is but the stuff of vain hopes. [3: 185]
Hadith of the day:
Beware of injustice, for injustice will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Wealth and poverty are both Divine gifts -- wealth is corrupted by forgetfulness, poverty by greed. [Al-Qushayri]
Guidance of the day:
Among the signs of he who is counted among those who are learned in the sciences of the hereafter are that he be humble, modest, fearful, anxious, in awe of God, detached from the world, content with a little of it, spending in charity whatever exceeds his needs, of good counsel to the servants of Allah All Mighty, solicitous to their welfare, compassionate, enjoining good and forbidding evil, swift to good works, constant in his devotions, guiding to good, inviting to right-guidance.
Also possessed of gravity and commanding respect, dignified, sedate, of good character, forbearing, gentle, affable with believers, neither arrogant nor overbearing, harboring no (worldly hopes) in people, not avid for worldly things, nor preferring this world to the hereafter, not given to amassing wealth, nor withholding it when it should rightfully be spent. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Often times we miss the silver lining because we are expecting gold. If we expect perfection from people our whole life is a series of disappointments, grumblings and complaints. If, on the contrary, we pitch our expectations low, taking folks as the inefficient creatures -- which we all are, we are frequently surprised by having them perform better than we had hoped.
Every being experiences death. And you will only be paid your due on the day of resurrection. And whoever is kept away from the fire and admitted to the Garden has gained salvation. And the life of this world is but the stuff of vain hopes. [3: 185]
Hadith of the day:
Beware of injustice, for injustice will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Wealth and poverty are both Divine gifts -- wealth is corrupted by forgetfulness, poverty by greed. [Al-Qushayri]
Guidance of the day:
Among the signs of he who is counted among those who are learned in the sciences of the hereafter are that he be humble, modest, fearful, anxious, in awe of God, detached from the world, content with a little of it, spending in charity whatever exceeds his needs, of good counsel to the servants of Allah All Mighty, solicitous to their welfare, compassionate, enjoining good and forbidding evil, swift to good works, constant in his devotions, guiding to good, inviting to right-guidance.
Also possessed of gravity and commanding respect, dignified, sedate, of good character, forbearing, gentle, affable with believers, neither arrogant nor overbearing, harboring no (worldly hopes) in people, not avid for worldly things, nor preferring this world to the hereafter, not given to amassing wealth, nor withholding it when it should rightfully be spent. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Often times we miss the silver lining because we are expecting gold. If we expect perfection from people our whole life is a series of disappointments, grumblings and complaints. If, on the contrary, we pitch our expectations low, taking folks as the inefficient creatures -- which we all are, we are frequently surprised by having them perform better than we had hoped.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
The Triple Filter
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Keep away from ill-thinking/suspicions because ill-thinking is the greatest falsehood.” [Sahih Bukhari]
During the Abbasid period one of the scholars in Baghdad was greeted by an acquaintance who said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
Scholar: "Hold on a minute, before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
The Man: "Triple Filter Test?"
Scholar: "That's right, before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
The Man: "No, actually I just heard about it and ..."
Scholar: "All right, so you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
The Man: "No, on the contrary..."
Scholar: "So, you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: The filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
The Man: "No, not really."
Scholar: "Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) has said: "O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh (meat) of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful." [Qur'an 49:12]
Let's pass our intended speech through the triple filter test before we madly utter our every thought. And lets subject others to the triple filter test too before we hear any number of damaging things from them.
During the Abbasid period one of the scholars in Baghdad was greeted by an acquaintance who said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
Scholar: "Hold on a minute, before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
The Man: "Triple Filter Test?"
Scholar: "That's right, before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
The Man: "No, actually I just heard about it and ..."
Scholar: "All right, so you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
The Man: "No, on the contrary..."
Scholar: "So, you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: The filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
The Man: "No, not really."
Scholar: "Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) has said: "O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh (meat) of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful." [Qur'an 49:12]
Let's pass our intended speech through the triple filter test before we madly utter our every thought. And lets subject others to the triple filter test too before we hear any number of damaging things from them.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Pearls of Wisom 336
1. Your acquisitions have been placed at your disposal as a trial and a test.
2. When the heart becomes sound and draws close to the nearness of the Lord of Truth, He causes rivers of wisdom to flow through it.
3. The people of the Lord are not attached to this world. This world offers itself to them but they reject it.
4. The Lord of Truth makes things difficult for His servant, in order to bring him back to Himself and so that he will not attach himself to the creatures.
5. When He draws you near and puts you to the test, you must accept His tribulation with good grace, otherwise He will keep you fully occupied with your suffering.
6. The craving for worldly things makes you too disturbed to experience your nearness to Allah and interferes with your patient endurance of misfortune.
7. Anyone who does not fear Allah must have no common sense. A town without a police force will go to ruins. Flocks without shepherd would be devoured.
8. Religion is fear. A person who is afraid will be on the move at night; he does not stay put in one place, but keeps moving.
9. When you are ready to abstain from the things of this world, it will be easy for you to give them away.
10. The goal of the travels of the people (of the Lord) is nearness of the Lord of Truth. The journey of their hearts, the journey of their inner most being. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. When the heart becomes sound and draws close to the nearness of the Lord of Truth, He causes rivers of wisdom to flow through it.
3. The people of the Lord are not attached to this world. This world offers itself to them but they reject it.
4. The Lord of Truth makes things difficult for His servant, in order to bring him back to Himself and so that he will not attach himself to the creatures.
5. When He draws you near and puts you to the test, you must accept His tribulation with good grace, otherwise He will keep you fully occupied with your suffering.
6. The craving for worldly things makes you too disturbed to experience your nearness to Allah and interferes with your patient endurance of misfortune.
7. Anyone who does not fear Allah must have no common sense. A town without a police force will go to ruins. Flocks without shepherd would be devoured.
8. Religion is fear. A person who is afraid will be on the move at night; he does not stay put in one place, but keeps moving.
9. When you are ready to abstain from the things of this world, it will be easy for you to give them away.
10. The goal of the travels of the people (of the Lord) is nearness of the Lord of Truth. The journey of their hearts, the journey of their inner most being. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Letting go of the 'ifs' -- best possible advice
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Seek out that which benefits you, seek help from Allah and never say you can't do it. If any adversity comes to you do not say: 'If I had only acted in such-and-such a way, it would have been such-and-such;' but instead, say: 'Allah has decreed (it) and what He willed, He has done,' for verily, (the word) ‘if’ opens the way for the work of Satan." [Sahih Muslim]
Through this hadith Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) tells us to:
1. Seek the beneficial.
2. Ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for help.
3. Be optimistic. Nothing is impossible if Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) wills it for us.
4. We shouldn't cry over the spilt milk.
5. We need to trust Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) in what He has willed for us -- that there is only good in it, even though we may not understand it.
Time is like a river -- we cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow has passed and will never pass again. If there is something that will benefit us, we should make every effort and go after it and seek it out! There are no failures -- only lessons to be learned, for similar situations in the future.
Through this hadith Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) tells us to:
1. Seek the beneficial.
2. Ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for help.
3. Be optimistic. Nothing is impossible if Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) wills it for us.
4. We shouldn't cry over the spilt milk.
5. We need to trust Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) in what He has willed for us -- that there is only good in it, even though we may not understand it.
Time is like a river -- we cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow has passed and will never pass again. If there is something that will benefit us, we should make every effort and go after it and seek it out! There are no failures -- only lessons to be learned, for similar situations in the future.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Lesson of the day 1336
Ayahs of the day:
Is the one who follows the pleasure of God like the one who brings wrath of God upon himself, and whose dwelling place is hell? What a miserable destination! [3:162]
Hadith of the day:
Allah says: 'Spend O son of Adam, and I will spend on you.' [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
One of your sins should seem weightier to you than a thousand of your virtues. [Imam Jafar Sadiq]
Guidance of the day:
Increasing one's knowledge of beneficial religious sciences, widening one's scope, and acquiring more than what is strictly necessary, is one of the best means to God and most meritorious things in His sight, provided that the acquisition of knowledge be purely for God and that one imposes upon oneself to practice what one knows and teach it to God's servants, again for God and the Last Abode.
This is the rank that comes next to the rank of Prophet hood. Every other rank belonging to believers is beneath it, for the scholars who practice what they know are the mediators between the Messengers (peace and blessings upon them) and the Muslims. The one who does not act upon his knowledge has no merit whatsoever. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
You never know what you can say or do that can change a person's whole day / whole life, that is why it is so important to say nothing but good, the power of a kind word or deed is indescribable.
Is the one who follows the pleasure of God like the one who brings wrath of God upon himself, and whose dwelling place is hell? What a miserable destination! [3:162]
Hadith of the day:
Allah says: 'Spend O son of Adam, and I will spend on you.' [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
One of your sins should seem weightier to you than a thousand of your virtues. [Imam Jafar Sadiq]
Guidance of the day:
Increasing one's knowledge of beneficial religious sciences, widening one's scope, and acquiring more than what is strictly necessary, is one of the best means to God and most meritorious things in His sight, provided that the acquisition of knowledge be purely for God and that one imposes upon oneself to practice what one knows and teach it to God's servants, again for God and the Last Abode.
This is the rank that comes next to the rank of Prophet hood. Every other rank belonging to believers is beneath it, for the scholars who practice what they know are the mediators between the Messengers (peace and blessings upon them) and the Muslims. The one who does not act upon his knowledge has no merit whatsoever. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
You never know what you can say or do that can change a person's whole day / whole life, that is why it is so important to say nothing but good, the power of a kind word or deed is indescribable.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Recipe for love....
Allah's Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "If Allah loves someone He calls (angel) Jibreel and says: 'I love so-and-so, so you love him.' Jibreel loves him and calls the other angels in Heaven to love that person. They love him, then his love is made upon earth, and he becomes loved.
And if Allah hates someone He calls Jibreel and says: 'I hate so-and-so, so you hate him.' Jibreel hates him and calls the angels in Heaven and says: Allah hates so-and-so, so you all hate him. They all hate him, and his hatred is made upon earth and he becomes hated." [Sahih Muslim]
People do all sorts of things to get others to love them. All the love you need is to be found in obeying Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Do actions sincerely to win Allah's love, and love from humans will also be yours!
dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
And if Allah hates someone He calls Jibreel and says: 'I hate so-and-so, so you hate him.' Jibreel hates him and calls the angels in Heaven and says: Allah hates so-and-so, so you all hate him. They all hate him, and his hatred is made upon earth and he becomes hated." [Sahih Muslim]
People do all sorts of things to get others to love them. All the love you need is to be found in obeying Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Do actions sincerely to win Allah's love, and love from humans will also be yours!
dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
Monday, August 12, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 335
1. Sincere devotion (Ikhlas) also means forgetting to notice one's fellow creature (khalq), through paying constant attention to the Creator (khaliq).
2. Make frequent practice of remembering death and what lies beyond it, and the narrow bridge (sirat) and what lies beyond it.
3. Remember the hereafter with its bliss and torment.
4. Become detached from this world by concentrating on Allah Almighty, by purifying your hearts and inner most being, by struggling against your lower selves and waging war on the devil.
5. Be liberated for the sake of Allah (Exalted is He) and devote yourselves wholly to Him.
6. Every step you take is a step toward the grave. You are on a journey to the grave.
7. He who really knows Allah is too occupied with the One he knows to be concerned with acceptance or rejection, praise or blame.
8. When the servant is conscientiously devoted to Allah Almighty, He rewards him by converting ignorance into knowledge, remoteness into nearness, silence into spoken recognition, loneliness into intimate friendship, and darkness into light.
9. Supreme knowledge is fear of Allah, cheerful acceptance of the decree of Allah, and love for Allah.
10. The heart must eliminate the materiality of the lower self, so that you use it as a vehicle for your journey back to Allah. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. Make frequent practice of remembering death and what lies beyond it, and the narrow bridge (sirat) and what lies beyond it.
3. Remember the hereafter with its bliss and torment.
4. Become detached from this world by concentrating on Allah Almighty, by purifying your hearts and inner most being, by struggling against your lower selves and waging war on the devil.
5. Be liberated for the sake of Allah (Exalted is He) and devote yourselves wholly to Him.
6. Every step you take is a step toward the grave. You are on a journey to the grave.
7. He who really knows Allah is too occupied with the One he knows to be concerned with acceptance or rejection, praise or blame.
8. When the servant is conscientiously devoted to Allah Almighty, He rewards him by converting ignorance into knowledge, remoteness into nearness, silence into spoken recognition, loneliness into intimate friendship, and darkness into light.
9. Supreme knowledge is fear of Allah, cheerful acceptance of the decree of Allah, and love for Allah.
10. The heart must eliminate the materiality of the lower self, so that you use it as a vehicle for your journey back to Allah. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
An Eid gift -- An inspiring award winning essay by a thirteen year old.....
Malcolm X
“We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” —Malcolm X
Malcolm X, or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, is one inspirational leader that I greatly admire, specifically because of the virtuous qualities and character traits he embodied. Of these in particular: his sincerity, passion, and ability to inspire. I believe that by modeling myself on these these principles, I can become a better person.
Malcolm X was sincere, and he showed this through his fearlessness and dedication. Malcolm’s social situation was perilous, as many white supremacist groups — often offshoots of the KKK and often not — doubtlessly had him high up on their target lists. Towards the end of his life, the Nation of Islam (NOI) also condemned him and made attempts on his life, once bombing his house and eventually succeeding in assassinating him shortly before his fortieth birthday.
Yet, despite his precarious situation, he was still prepared to speak out against the atrocities and injustices of the time. Considering that all leaders face some sort of opposition, whether small or big, I find that sincerity is the key to success. I learn from this that one should never allow threats to disrupt one’s cause. Always carry forth with the truth despite what anyone says or does. To be a leader, one must be sincere and steadfast.
His sincerity also shines forth in his ability to give up things he valued in pursuit of his goals and in his search for truth. The first major instance being when he gave up his lavish crime-based lifestyle to join the NOI. The second was when he left the NOI. He found two reasons to leave it: he realized that Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam, did not abide by his own laws, and he made the Pilgrimage to Mecca where he said he found "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers." The latter was starkly contrary to the Nation of Islam’s creed.
He then embraced Islam as taught to us by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him), and returned from Mecca, this time with a message for all races. In this second instance, he made an additional enemy, the NOI, who proved to be the most dangerous. His capacity to readily jettison what he valued, in search of truth and higher principles, was an indelible mark of his sincerity. I understand from this that it is important not to get caught up in small things. One must always have the bigger picture in view. If one finds truth, one should not be caught up in one’s previous ways of thinking, or ways of doing things. To be a leader, one must embrace the truth whenever one finds it.
Malcolm was uneducated. After he was told by his favorite teacher that his dream of becoming a lawyer was “no realistic goal for a negro,” he dropped out of school. He was only fifteen years old at the time, and he soon adopted a life of crime. He moved to Boston where he became wealthy off of its underground market. He was eventually charged with theft and jailed.
It was in jail that he committed to reforming himself and making up for what he had missed in school. He read many of the books in the prison libraries, including the dictionary from beginning to end. It was during this time that his brother, Reginald, introduced him to the Nation of Islam. This accelerated self-education later became one of his most valuable assets in his numerous and spectacular debates.
Despite what his teacher had said, Malcolm X became one of the finest “lawyers” in history. I find his speeches and debates deeply inspirational, awe-inspiring, and a testament to his tenacity. Also, I find that his passion and fervor for his mission allowed him to accomplish and learn at an amazing pace.
Malcolm X underwent many trials — tests of his beliefs, tests of his determination and courage, tests of overcoming his ego — but he persevered and emerged triumphant over them. It is a testament to an underlying theme in one of my favorite books, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Malcolm X is a name that is known throughout the world. He did not hold to the ideas that benefited his ego, rather he held to the principles in which he found truth. After making the Hajj, he readily jettisoned the idea that all white men were devils, based on the racial harmony he saw in Mecca. He found that race was unimportant, and that all that truly mattered was what a person held in his heart.
When he renounced the Nation of Islam, he became even more at risk, and could have lost much of the power he had gained as its spokesman. He said, "Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression, because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action," and truly did he remain powerful.
His ability to recognize truth when he saw it and his ability to prevent his ego from hindering him in its pursuit are virtues seldom found in leaders today. He fought against one of the most brutal atrocities in history. He once said, "I am not educated, nor am I an expert in any particular field... but I am sincere and my sincerity is my credential," and, indeed, his sincerity led him to be great. It is my hope and prayer that, God willing, I am able to cultivate in myself the sincerity and dedication Malcolm X so readily embodied.
Malik
“We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” —Malcolm X
Malcolm X, or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, is one inspirational leader that I greatly admire, specifically because of the virtuous qualities and character traits he embodied. Of these in particular: his sincerity, passion, and ability to inspire. I believe that by modeling myself on these these principles, I can become a better person.
Malcolm X was sincere, and he showed this through his fearlessness and dedication. Malcolm’s social situation was perilous, as many white supremacist groups — often offshoots of the KKK and often not — doubtlessly had him high up on their target lists. Towards the end of his life, the Nation of Islam (NOI) also condemned him and made attempts on his life, once bombing his house and eventually succeeding in assassinating him shortly before his fortieth birthday.
Yet, despite his precarious situation, he was still prepared to speak out against the atrocities and injustices of the time. Considering that all leaders face some sort of opposition, whether small or big, I find that sincerity is the key to success. I learn from this that one should never allow threats to disrupt one’s cause. Always carry forth with the truth despite what anyone says or does. To be a leader, one must be sincere and steadfast.
His sincerity also shines forth in his ability to give up things he valued in pursuit of his goals and in his search for truth. The first major instance being when he gave up his lavish crime-based lifestyle to join the NOI. The second was when he left the NOI. He found two reasons to leave it: he realized that Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam, did not abide by his own laws, and he made the Pilgrimage to Mecca where he said he found "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers." The latter was starkly contrary to the Nation of Islam’s creed.
He then embraced Islam as taught to us by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him), and returned from Mecca, this time with a message for all races. In this second instance, he made an additional enemy, the NOI, who proved to be the most dangerous. His capacity to readily jettison what he valued, in search of truth and higher principles, was an indelible mark of his sincerity. I understand from this that it is important not to get caught up in small things. One must always have the bigger picture in view. If one finds truth, one should not be caught up in one’s previous ways of thinking, or ways of doing things. To be a leader, one must embrace the truth whenever one finds it.
Malcolm was uneducated. After he was told by his favorite teacher that his dream of becoming a lawyer was “no realistic goal for a negro,” he dropped out of school. He was only fifteen years old at the time, and he soon adopted a life of crime. He moved to Boston where he became wealthy off of its underground market. He was eventually charged with theft and jailed.
It was in jail that he committed to reforming himself and making up for what he had missed in school. He read many of the books in the prison libraries, including the dictionary from beginning to end. It was during this time that his brother, Reginald, introduced him to the Nation of Islam. This accelerated self-education later became one of his most valuable assets in his numerous and spectacular debates.
Despite what his teacher had said, Malcolm X became one of the finest “lawyers” in history. I find his speeches and debates deeply inspirational, awe-inspiring, and a testament to his tenacity. Also, I find that his passion and fervor for his mission allowed him to accomplish and learn at an amazing pace.
Malcolm X underwent many trials — tests of his beliefs, tests of his determination and courage, tests of overcoming his ego — but he persevered and emerged triumphant over them. It is a testament to an underlying theme in one of my favorite books, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Malcolm X is a name that is known throughout the world. He did not hold to the ideas that benefited his ego, rather he held to the principles in which he found truth. After making the Hajj, he readily jettisoned the idea that all white men were devils, based on the racial harmony he saw in Mecca. He found that race was unimportant, and that all that truly mattered was what a person held in his heart.
When he renounced the Nation of Islam, he became even more at risk, and could have lost much of the power he had gained as its spokesman. He said, "Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression, because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action," and truly did he remain powerful.
His ability to recognize truth when he saw it and his ability to prevent his ego from hindering him in its pursuit are virtues seldom found in leaders today. He fought against one of the most brutal atrocities in history. He once said, "I am not educated, nor am I an expert in any particular field... but I am sincere and my sincerity is my credential," and, indeed, his sincerity led him to be great. It is my hope and prayer that, God willing, I am able to cultivate in myself the sincerity and dedication Malcolm X so readily embodied.
Malik
Sunday, August 04, 2013
Lesson of the day 1335
Ayahs of the day:
If God helps you, there is no one who can overcome you; and if God abandons you, who is there that can help you after that? So let the believers trust in God. [3: 160]
Hadith of the day:
Among the portents of the Hour are that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will prevail, alcohol will be drunk and zina will become widespread. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Seek to keep the company of those who illumine one's inward and outward states with the light of their intimacy with the Divine. [Shaykh Abul Abbas]
Guidance of the day:
The likeness of the ignorant person who neglects seeking obligatory knowledge is that of a slave to whom his master sends a letter, commanding him to do certain things and refrain from other things. The slave while able to read the letter, neglects to even look at it, let alone what it contains. And the likeness of the scholar who neglects to put into practice what he knows is that of another slave who reads his master's letter, learns what it contains, then obeys none of the commands nor refrain from any of the prohibitions he finds in the letter.
Is there any worse neglect than that of these two slaves with their master? Can they find justification before him? Is anyone more deserving of severe punishment for his impudence and disrespect for his master than they? Beware of being one of those two inauspicious men -- the ignorant who does not learn, or the learned who does not act upon his knowledge. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage -- they strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. No man who is occupied in doing a very difficult thing, and doing it very well, ever loses his self-respect. Undertake something that is difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
If God helps you, there is no one who can overcome you; and if God abandons you, who is there that can help you after that? So let the believers trust in God. [3: 160]
Hadith of the day:
Among the portents of the Hour are that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will prevail, alcohol will be drunk and zina will become widespread. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Seek to keep the company of those who illumine one's inward and outward states with the light of their intimacy with the Divine. [Shaykh Abul Abbas]
Guidance of the day:
The likeness of the ignorant person who neglects seeking obligatory knowledge is that of a slave to whom his master sends a letter, commanding him to do certain things and refrain from other things. The slave while able to read the letter, neglects to even look at it, let alone what it contains. And the likeness of the scholar who neglects to put into practice what he knows is that of another slave who reads his master's letter, learns what it contains, then obeys none of the commands nor refrain from any of the prohibitions he finds in the letter.
Is there any worse neglect than that of these two slaves with their master? Can they find justification before him? Is anyone more deserving of severe punishment for his impudence and disrespect for his master than they? Beware of being one of those two inauspicious men -- the ignorant who does not learn, or the learned who does not act upon his knowledge. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage -- they strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. No man who is occupied in doing a very difficult thing, and doing it very well, ever loses his self-respect. Undertake something that is difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
This Ramadan -- let us resolve to bring the true jihad in our lives......
1. 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.
2. 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 (Allah's blessings and peace upon him) dubbed "the greater jihad."
3. Jihad is the struggles against the villains in our hearts which include: arrogance, avarice, pettiness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, self-delusions, and vain passions.
4. Jihad is the struggle to replace the villains in our hearts with goodly traits, such as mercy, honor, humbleness, generosity, gentleness, dignity, love, and other qualities that are aptly described as "heavenly."
5. 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 them either with his hand or tongue.
6. Jihad is the struggle to forgive the wrongs of others, to overlook their misgivings, and hide their faults.
7. Jihad is the struggle to help the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless by sacrificing our wealth.
8. Jihad is to show love and gentleness to our young ones, and respect and dignity to our elders.
9. Jihad is to protect the honor and property of every single member of society, whether man or woman.
10. Jihad is the struggle to speak out against injustice, to help the victims of oppressions, to ensure that everyone is given just measure, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.
11. Jihad is to submit our will to Our Creator, thereby achieving peace and unity with the rest of the cosmos in celebrating His Majesty and Glory.
12. Jihad is ultimately that struggle in which we are willing to give our lives in the name of Allah so that these ideals will endure and bring peace and justice to countless others, thus truly bringing the harmony of the heavens down the earth.
2. 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 (Allah's blessings and peace upon him) dubbed "the greater jihad."
3. Jihad is the struggles against the villains in our hearts which include: arrogance, avarice, pettiness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, self-delusions, and vain passions.
4. Jihad is the struggle to replace the villains in our hearts with goodly traits, such as mercy, honor, humbleness, generosity, gentleness, dignity, love, and other qualities that are aptly described as "heavenly."
5. 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 them either with his hand or tongue.
6. Jihad is the struggle to forgive the wrongs of others, to overlook their misgivings, and hide their faults.
7. Jihad is the struggle to help the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless by sacrificing our wealth.
8. Jihad is to show love and gentleness to our young ones, and respect and dignity to our elders.
9. Jihad is to protect the honor and property of every single member of society, whether man or woman.
10. Jihad is the struggle to speak out against injustice, to help the victims of oppressions, to ensure that everyone is given just measure, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.
11. Jihad is to submit our will to Our Creator, thereby achieving peace and unity with the rest of the cosmos in celebrating His Majesty and Glory.
12. Jihad is ultimately that struggle in which we are willing to give our lives in the name of Allah so that these ideals will endure and bring peace and justice to countless others, thus truly bringing the harmony of the heavens down the earth.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 334
1. Once a person said to a dervish, "All I ask for is a small dwelling in Paradise."
The dervish replied, "If you displayed the same contentment with what you already have in this world, you would have found ultimate bliss."
2. Do not strut proudly on account of your good deeds. Do not let pride waylay you. When you deem yourself holier than others, know that you have fallen into grave error because in your pride you believed yourself equal to God.
3. In separation from God you have become arrogant; pay heed before His scourge strikes you down. Do not exult because of your good fortune. Over and again God admonishes you with the examples of the transgressors before you. If you really want to enjoy the limitless bounty of Allah, surrender yourselves before His will and endure all afflictions with fortitude.
4. O my people prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it.
5. Whenever hearts abound in knowledge, they draw nearer to their Lord (Almighty and Glorious), whenever a heart contains love of this world, it is screened from Allah.
6. Obedient service to Allah (Almighty and Glorious) is performed by the heart, not the outer mold.
7. Devotion to one's religious duty (taqwa) is the foundation of all that is good, it is a source of worldly benefit, a source of wisdom and all kinds of knowledge, of purity of heart and many secrets.
8. The heart is enlivened only when it receives the seed of the affirmation of oneness from a living heart. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
The dervish replied, "If you displayed the same contentment with what you already have in this world, you would have found ultimate bliss."
2. Do not strut proudly on account of your good deeds. Do not let pride waylay you. When you deem yourself holier than others, know that you have fallen into grave error because in your pride you believed yourself equal to God.
3. In separation from God you have become arrogant; pay heed before His scourge strikes you down. Do not exult because of your good fortune. Over and again God admonishes you with the examples of the transgressors before you. If you really want to enjoy the limitless bounty of Allah, surrender yourselves before His will and endure all afflictions with fortitude.
4. O my people prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it.
5. Whenever hearts abound in knowledge, they draw nearer to their Lord (Almighty and Glorious), whenever a heart contains love of this world, it is screened from Allah.
6. Obedient service to Allah (Almighty and Glorious) is performed by the heart, not the outer mold.
7. Devotion to one's religious duty (taqwa) is the foundation of all that is good, it is a source of worldly benefit, a source of wisdom and all kinds of knowledge, of purity of heart and many secrets.
8. The heart is enlivened only when it receives the seed of the affirmation of oneness from a living heart. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Interview With Believuh Group
Dear All,
Assalamu alaikum wa rahamtullahi wa barakatuhu,
may our beloved Almighty Allah continue to shower us with the special Ramadan blessings -- by accepting our ibadahs and answering all our duas, ameen.
Please follow this link to read an interview I conducted recently with Believuh Group about myself and my background. Insha-Allah, I hope you'll find it beneficial and worthwhile.
Assalamu alaikum wa rahamtullahi wa barakatuhu,
may our beloved Almighty Allah continue to shower us with the special Ramadan blessings -- by accepting our ibadahs and answering all our duas, ameen.
Please follow this link to read an interview I conducted recently with Believuh Group about myself and my background. Insha-Allah, I hope you'll find it beneficial and worthwhile.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Ramadan Resolutions.....
Whoever wants to know what Allah has prepared for him, should look to what he has prepared for Allah.
What a beautiful, simple formula to calculate our future with! We can match our life against the Qur'an and the Sunnah to know who we are, and to look at what we have set aside for Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala), and to know what Allah the Almighty and Majestic has prepared for us.
It is imperative that we take our soul to account and treat its deficiencies. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, weigh your deeds before they are weighed."
Hasan al Basri (rahimahu Allah) said "A believer will always be critical of himself in his food, his drink and his speech. A sinner will not criticize himself." He also said "A believer is a guardian over himself: he takes account of himself for Allah. Those who take account of themselves in this world will be audited lightly in the Hereafter. Those who take this issue lightly will find their auditing very difficult."
When a Muslim takes account of his actions, he is able to realize the right of Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) over him. Ibn al-Qayyim said, "A benefit of understanding Allah's right over the servant is that it breeds condemnation of oneself and delivers one from showing off and vanity. It also opens the door of humbleness in front of Allah and closes the doors of conceit. It allows one to realize that salvation is only through Allah's grace and mercy."
It is Allah's right that He should be obeyed and not disobeyed; that He should be remembered and not forgotten; and that He should be shown gratitude and not shown ingratitude. Whoever thinks over these things will know with certainty that he cannot fulfill these conditions and, thus, has to resort to Allah's mercy. Such a person will be convinced that he cannot rely on his actions, lest he be destroyed.
We think about our rights over Allah and not about His rights over us. This is how we are detached from Allah and deprived of the desire to meet Him. This is the epitome of our ignorance of our Lord and of ourselves.
If we can make our Ramadan resolution this year to follow all the above mentioned advice -- this will be the best possible Ramadan so far, inshaAllah.
Three things of life once gone never come back -- time, words, and opportunity. Let us also make the resolution to not waste them.
With Allah's help nothing is difficult, without His help nothing is easy!
What a beautiful, simple formula to calculate our future with! We can match our life against the Qur'an and the Sunnah to know who we are, and to look at what we have set aside for Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala), and to know what Allah the Almighty and Majestic has prepared for us.
It is imperative that we take our soul to account and treat its deficiencies. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, weigh your deeds before they are weighed."
Hasan al Basri (rahimahu Allah) said "A believer will always be critical of himself in his food, his drink and his speech. A sinner will not criticize himself." He also said "A believer is a guardian over himself: he takes account of himself for Allah. Those who take account of themselves in this world will be audited lightly in the Hereafter. Those who take this issue lightly will find their auditing very difficult."
When a Muslim takes account of his actions, he is able to realize the right of Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) over him. Ibn al-Qayyim said, "A benefit of understanding Allah's right over the servant is that it breeds condemnation of oneself and delivers one from showing off and vanity. It also opens the door of humbleness in front of Allah and closes the doors of conceit. It allows one to realize that salvation is only through Allah's grace and mercy."
It is Allah's right that He should be obeyed and not disobeyed; that He should be remembered and not forgotten; and that He should be shown gratitude and not shown ingratitude. Whoever thinks over these things will know with certainty that he cannot fulfill these conditions and, thus, has to resort to Allah's mercy. Such a person will be convinced that he cannot rely on his actions, lest he be destroyed.
We think about our rights over Allah and not about His rights over us. This is how we are detached from Allah and deprived of the desire to meet Him. This is the epitome of our ignorance of our Lord and of ourselves.
If we can make our Ramadan resolution this year to follow all the above mentioned advice -- this will be the best possible Ramadan so far, inshaAllah.
Three things of life once gone never come back -- time, words, and opportunity. Let us also make the resolution to not waste them.
With Allah's help nothing is difficult, without His help nothing is easy!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lesson of the day 1334
Ayahs of the day:
And if you are killed for the sake of God, or die, surely forgiveness from God and mercy are better than what others amass. And if you die, or are killed, it is to God that you are gathered. [3: 157,158]
Hadith of the day:
Charity does not decrease wealth. No one forgives, but Allah increases him in honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah but Allah raises him in status. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
What anxiety is there for the one who is detached from the world; and what need for excuses is there for the one who remains silent? [Mansur Ammar]
Guidance of the day:
The amount of knowledge that is obligatory upon all Muslims is not much. The seeker of knowledge does not have to endure hardship, because it is so easy, and because God Exalted is He -- will help and render things even easier for him should his intention be upright. An immense reward will be his.
The Prophet -- may God's blessings and peace be upon him -- said, "He who takes a path leading to acquiring knowledge, God will ease his path to the Garden, and also -- the angels lay down their wings for the seeker of knowledge." There is no excuse for an ignorant person to neglect acquiring knowledge nor an excuse for a scholar to neglect what he knows. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Defeat is not the worst of failure -- not to have tried is the true failure. Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong. Those who are prepared to die for any cause are seldom defeated. Defeat is nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.
And if you are killed for the sake of God, or die, surely forgiveness from God and mercy are better than what others amass. And if you die, or are killed, it is to God that you are gathered. [3: 157,158]
Hadith of the day:
Charity does not decrease wealth. No one forgives, but Allah increases him in honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah but Allah raises him in status. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
What anxiety is there for the one who is detached from the world; and what need for excuses is there for the one who remains silent? [Mansur Ammar]
Guidance of the day:
The amount of knowledge that is obligatory upon all Muslims is not much. The seeker of knowledge does not have to endure hardship, because it is so easy, and because God Exalted is He -- will help and render things even easier for him should his intention be upright. An immense reward will be his.
The Prophet -- may God's blessings and peace be upon him -- said, "He who takes a path leading to acquiring knowledge, God will ease his path to the Garden, and also -- the angels lay down their wings for the seeker of knowledge." There is no excuse for an ignorant person to neglect acquiring knowledge nor an excuse for a scholar to neglect what he knows. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Defeat is not the worst of failure -- not to have tried is the true failure. Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong. Those who are prepared to die for any cause are seldom defeated. Defeat is nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.
Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Ramadan Mubarak!!!
A Ramadan Checklist
1. Ask Allah to enable you to reach Ramadan and to get the most out of it as the Salaf used to do.
2. Intend to fast every day with Iman and pure intention seeking the reward from Allah alone.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven". (Bukhari)
3. Read the whole Qur'an at least once as the Prophet peace be upon him did.
4. Have Suhoor as the Prophet peace be upon him said, "Have Suhoor because it is blessed".
5. Make Du'a during the fast because the Prophet peace be upon him said that three people's supplication is not rejected one of them is the fasting person.
Ask for the good of this life and the next for yourself, your family and Muslims in general.
6. Make Dua before opening the fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said, "The fasting person has a supplication that is answered when he opens his fast".
7. Give Sadaqah and be good to people. The Prophet peace be upon him was the most generous of people and he was most generous in Ramadan.
8. Avoid anything that diminishes the fast such as, lying, backbiting, cheating, getting angry. The Prophet peace be upon him said "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Bukhari]
9. Do not eat too much after Iftar.
10. Ask for forgiveness since this is the month Allah frees people from the fire.
11. Pray At-Tarawih with Khushoo. If you pray in the Masjid complete the Salah with the Imam. If you pray at home prolong the Salah as long as you can.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven".
12. Feed the poor, provide them with their Iftar.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever gives Iftar to someone fasting he will have the same reward without decreasing the reward of the person fasting".
13. Try harder the last ten nights especially the odd nights. The Prophet would strive in Ramadan more than he would in any other month and more so in the last ten days.
14. Say this Dua in the nights that Laitul-Qadr is likely to fall on: Allhumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul-afwa fa'fu anni (O Allah you are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me).
15. Ask Allah to accept all your good actions during this month.
1. Ask Allah to enable you to reach Ramadan and to get the most out of it as the Salaf used to do.
2. Intend to fast every day with Iman and pure intention seeking the reward from Allah alone.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven". (Bukhari)
3. Read the whole Qur'an at least once as the Prophet peace be upon him did.
4. Have Suhoor as the Prophet peace be upon him said, "Have Suhoor because it is blessed".
5. Make Du'a during the fast because the Prophet peace be upon him said that three people's supplication is not rejected one of them is the fasting person.
Ask for the good of this life and the next for yourself, your family and Muslims in general.
6. Make Dua before opening the fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said, "The fasting person has a supplication that is answered when he opens his fast".
7. Give Sadaqah and be good to people. The Prophet peace be upon him was the most generous of people and he was most generous in Ramadan.
8. Avoid anything that diminishes the fast such as, lying, backbiting, cheating, getting angry. The Prophet peace be upon him said "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Bukhari]
9. Do not eat too much after Iftar.
10. Ask for forgiveness since this is the month Allah frees people from the fire.
11. Pray At-Tarawih with Khushoo. If you pray in the Masjid complete the Salah with the Imam. If you pray at home prolong the Salah as long as you can.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven".
12. Feed the poor, provide them with their Iftar.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever gives Iftar to someone fasting he will have the same reward without decreasing the reward of the person fasting".
13. Try harder the last ten nights especially the odd nights. The Prophet would strive in Ramadan more than he would in any other month and more so in the last ten days.
14. Say this Dua in the nights that Laitul-Qadr is likely to fall on: Allhumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul-afwa fa'fu anni (O Allah you are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me).
15. Ask Allah to accept all your good actions during this month.
Friday, July 05, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 333
1. Do not deem yourself prudent, for as long as you are attached to the world, you have neither prudence nor sense. Turn to God and seek forgiveness if you wish to prevail.
2.Listen to your heart and not your ego. Your ego prompts you to boast of vain assertions to obtain the glory of this world. Turn away from vanity and seek Him in the recesses of your heart and soul. Show patience in adversity and be content in His will that you may attain proximity to God.
3. Observe how the life of this world deceives those around you. It lures into traps of vanity, wealth, and fame, and exalts them above others. This splendor blinds them, and they are lost forever in illusion. But then in one instant, life deals the blow of death, and all is gone, and with the Beguiler it stands laughing at their sad end. So overcome your egos that you may be saved from the snares that devoured kings and paupers alike.
4. Liberate yourself from the fetters of the ego and surrender yourself before God. Let the Lord be your shepherd, allow Him to attend to all your cares, and do not allow temptations to entice you. Aspirations of this world are the cause of all concern. Aspire to God and obtain freedom.
5. Forgive us, our Lord. Overlook our transgressions and remit from us our evil deeds. Condemn us not for our corruption; save us from public scorn. O Merciful, You Yourself decreed, "I alone and no other accept repentance of My servants and remit from them their evil deeds." So absolve us of our sins, O Benevolent Lord.
6. Sovereigns and slaves, oppressors and mediators, hypocrites and truthful, this world is passing, but the hereafter infinite. Strive therefore for the Lord alone. Attain to piety and purify your hearts. Save yourselves; do not be held back from divine mercy.
7.The path of adoration may render the body weak and fill the heart with sorrow, but all sorrow departs the instant He touches the heart, awakening it to an abounding freedom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2.Listen to your heart and not your ego. Your ego prompts you to boast of vain assertions to obtain the glory of this world. Turn away from vanity and seek Him in the recesses of your heart and soul. Show patience in adversity and be content in His will that you may attain proximity to God.
3. Observe how the life of this world deceives those around you. It lures into traps of vanity, wealth, and fame, and exalts them above others. This splendor blinds them, and they are lost forever in illusion. But then in one instant, life deals the blow of death, and all is gone, and with the Beguiler it stands laughing at their sad end. So overcome your egos that you may be saved from the snares that devoured kings and paupers alike.
4. Liberate yourself from the fetters of the ego and surrender yourself before God. Let the Lord be your shepherd, allow Him to attend to all your cares, and do not allow temptations to entice you. Aspirations of this world are the cause of all concern. Aspire to God and obtain freedom.
5. Forgive us, our Lord. Overlook our transgressions and remit from us our evil deeds. Condemn us not for our corruption; save us from public scorn. O Merciful, You Yourself decreed, "I alone and no other accept repentance of My servants and remit from them their evil deeds." So absolve us of our sins, O Benevolent Lord.
6. Sovereigns and slaves, oppressors and mediators, hypocrites and truthful, this world is passing, but the hereafter infinite. Strive therefore for the Lord alone. Attain to piety and purify your hearts. Save yourselves; do not be held back from divine mercy.
7.The path of adoration may render the body weak and fill the heart with sorrow, but all sorrow departs the instant He touches the heart, awakening it to an abounding freedom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, July 01, 2013
Three lasting good deeds.....
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (contineous charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).” [Sahih Muslim]
“His deeds come to an end” means that he/she is not able to perform any deeds any more and therefore does not receive reward for actions anymore. But there are three categories of actions for which he/she can receive reward even after death.
First -- Sadaqah Jariyah: This is any good deed done from which people continue to benefit despite the demise of the person who originated it. For example, the establishment of a madrassa or masjid from which people are rightly guided will be sadaqah jariya for the person who established it. Having a well dug or a shade or fruit tree planted will also accrue good deeds for a person, as long as the well or tree benefits people.
Second, “knowledge which is beneficial” means knowledge imparted verbally or by any other means through which people become better Muslims. As long as people benefit from this knowledge, the teacher will receive reward for it.
A third source of reward is having virtuous descendants. Dedicating oneself to bringing up good Muslim children and then making dua for them to be among the righteous is the best source of sadaqa jariya, so that after a person's death they continue to pray for him or her. The prayer of righteous children in favor of parents is very useful.
Needless to say all such deeds have to be done with ikhlas (sincerity) in seeking the pleasure of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Only when they are done to earn Allah’s pleasure will they be rewarded by Him. If they are done for fame, monetary gain, or any other worldly benefit, then the outcome one achieves in this world is all that they will get for it.
“His deeds come to an end” means that he/she is not able to perform any deeds any more and therefore does not receive reward for actions anymore. But there are three categories of actions for which he/she can receive reward even after death.
First -- Sadaqah Jariyah: This is any good deed done from which people continue to benefit despite the demise of the person who originated it. For example, the establishment of a madrassa or masjid from which people are rightly guided will be sadaqah jariya for the person who established it. Having a well dug or a shade or fruit tree planted will also accrue good deeds for a person, as long as the well or tree benefits people.
Second, “knowledge which is beneficial” means knowledge imparted verbally or by any other means through which people become better Muslims. As long as people benefit from this knowledge, the teacher will receive reward for it.
A third source of reward is having virtuous descendants. Dedicating oneself to bringing up good Muslim children and then making dua for them to be among the righteous is the best source of sadaqa jariya, so that after a person's death they continue to pray for him or her. The prayer of righteous children in favor of parents is very useful.
Needless to say all such deeds have to be done with ikhlas (sincerity) in seeking the pleasure of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Only when they are done to earn Allah’s pleasure will they be rewarded by Him. If they are done for fame, monetary gain, or any other worldly benefit, then the outcome one achieves in this world is all that they will get for it.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Lesson of the day 1333
Ayahs of the day:
Believers, if you obeyed those who scoff, they would turn you back on your heels; and you would turn back losers. But God is your Protector; and God is the best of helpers. [3: 149,150]
Hadith of the day:
The best of the deeds in Islam are -- feeding others and giving the greeting of salam to those who you know and those whom you do not know. [ Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Fear of God is knowledge enough; to be pleased with one's knowledge is ignorance enough. [Abdul Hakim Murad]
Guidance of the day:
The kind of ignorance that is unconditionally blameworthy is ignorance of that which God has made obligatory to know. So beware -- from this ignorance. Leave the shadows of your ignorance for the lights of knowledge. It is not obligatory upon you to acquire much knowledge, but only the amount that you cannot do without.
You must also teach your wife, children, and anyone else you are responsible for. If you are incapable of teaching them, you should enjoin upon them to go to the scholars from whom they can learn the obligatory amount of knowledge. Otherwise both you and they will have burdened yourselves with wrongdoing. This applies to those of them who have reached the age of legal responsibility. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al_Haddad]
Food for thought:
It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do. When possible make the decisions now, even if action is in the future. A renewed decision usually is better than one reached at the last moment. The block of granite which is an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
Believers, if you obeyed those who scoff, they would turn you back on your heels; and you would turn back losers. But God is your Protector; and God is the best of helpers. [3: 149,150]
Hadith of the day:
The best of the deeds in Islam are -- feeding others and giving the greeting of salam to those who you know and those whom you do not know. [ Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Fear of God is knowledge enough; to be pleased with one's knowledge is ignorance enough. [Abdul Hakim Murad]
Guidance of the day:
The kind of ignorance that is unconditionally blameworthy is ignorance of that which God has made obligatory to know. So beware -- from this ignorance. Leave the shadows of your ignorance for the lights of knowledge. It is not obligatory upon you to acquire much knowledge, but only the amount that you cannot do without.
You must also teach your wife, children, and anyone else you are responsible for. If you are incapable of teaching them, you should enjoin upon them to go to the scholars from whom they can learn the obligatory amount of knowledge. Otherwise both you and they will have burdened yourselves with wrongdoing. This applies to those of them who have reached the age of legal responsibility. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al_Haddad]
Food for thought:
It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do. When possible make the decisions now, even if action is in the future. A renewed decision usually is better than one reached at the last moment. The block of granite which is an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Is Our Ship Afloat....
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “By Allah, I am not afraid that you will be poor, but I fear that worldly wealth will be bestowed upon you as it was bestowed upon those who lived before you. So you will compete among yourselves for it, as they competed for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them." [Bukhari]
Wealth is like water and human beings are like ships. Ships reach their destinations by using water to cover distances. However, if water goes inside the ship, then it causes the ship to sink. Similarly, if we use wealth to earn Allah’s pleasure and bring us closer to Jannah, there is nothing like it. But if the love of wealth enters our hearts, that is when it destroys us.
After we begin to love wealth then we compete with each other for it. Jealousy and ill-will enter our lives. After that it ceases to matter how the wealth is earned -- by halal means or haram, and preparing for the Hereafter is a forgotten thing, the wealth is not used to to earn Jannat. Thus, the destruction follows.
The attitude and approach toward life must be proper. We should not sacrifice the Hereafter which is permanent and real, for this worldly life which is transitory and illusionary. As Hasan al-Basri so rightly and eloquently stated, "What is this world but a dream that a sleeper sees -- he delights in it for a few moments, and then wakes up to face reality."
The “reality” is the accountability in the Hereafter. Along these same lines, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) advised us that we should have an indifference towards the abode of delusions. Indeed, disconnecting one’s heart from the life of this world, as Imam Ghazali has pointed out, is not fully achieved unless one also possesses a balanced character and a sound and upright heart.
Another prophetic tradition reminds us, “Good character and morals transform errors as water melts ice, while bad character alters good deeds as vinegar cuts honey.” Therefore, when we err, we shouldn't’ lose sight of the fact that every mistake is an opportunity and a signal that it is time to grow in our relationship with Allah. And as we turn to Him walking, He turns to us rushing. May Allah help us experience this spiritual awakening and enable us to beautify our hearts and lives with His Divine Light, ameen.
Wealth is like water and human beings are like ships. Ships reach their destinations by using water to cover distances. However, if water goes inside the ship, then it causes the ship to sink. Similarly, if we use wealth to earn Allah’s pleasure and bring us closer to Jannah, there is nothing like it. But if the love of wealth enters our hearts, that is when it destroys us.
After we begin to love wealth then we compete with each other for it. Jealousy and ill-will enter our lives. After that it ceases to matter how the wealth is earned -- by halal means or haram, and preparing for the Hereafter is a forgotten thing, the wealth is not used to to earn Jannat. Thus, the destruction follows.
The attitude and approach toward life must be proper. We should not sacrifice the Hereafter which is permanent and real, for this worldly life which is transitory and illusionary. As Hasan al-Basri so rightly and eloquently stated, "What is this world but a dream that a sleeper sees -- he delights in it for a few moments, and then wakes up to face reality."
The “reality” is the accountability in the Hereafter. Along these same lines, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) advised us that we should have an indifference towards the abode of delusions. Indeed, disconnecting one’s heart from the life of this world, as Imam Ghazali has pointed out, is not fully achieved unless one also possesses a balanced character and a sound and upright heart.
Another prophetic tradition reminds us, “Good character and morals transform errors as water melts ice, while bad character alters good deeds as vinegar cuts honey.” Therefore, when we err, we shouldn't’ lose sight of the fact that every mistake is an opportunity and a signal that it is time to grow in our relationship with Allah. And as we turn to Him walking, He turns to us rushing. May Allah help us experience this spiritual awakening and enable us to beautify our hearts and lives with His Divine Light, ameen.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 332
1. Worship is like a work of art mastered only by the sincere, the learned scholars who practice what they know, who live and walk among people like everyone else, but in their hearts they seek freedom in the serenity of the wilderness. Because of this yearning they continue to grow until their spirits soar and become united with the numinous. About such God says, "Indeed they are finest of human beings, cherished in Us."
2. A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad to pray for him. So the Prophet implored, "O Allah, kindle within his heart the light of faith, and afford him with the courage to avert earthly wiles and submit himself before Your will." When a person turns away from the world, he adheres to God, and God lavishes incredible bounty on him.
3. Until the conviction in God is completely embedded in your heart, focus your attention on worldly responsibilities. When faith reaches fruition, turn toward Him in complete surrender, knowing that He it is who bestows all bounty, and He it is who takes away all.
4. Persevere, have faith in His benevolence. Through afflictions God only tests your faith; He is completely aware of your condition. Have patience and wait for the divine decree. Do not become like the foolish laborer who is removed from the king's palace for demanding his wages ahead of time.
5. Do not become the candle that gives light to others but itself remains in darkness. Do not follow the desires of your lower self. Should the Lord wish, He Himself will pick you out and prompt you to be a source of guidance. He Himself shall endow you with the inner strength to endure the changes of fortune and will instill within you infinite wisdom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
2. A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad to pray for him. So the Prophet implored, "O Allah, kindle within his heart the light of faith, and afford him with the courage to avert earthly wiles and submit himself before Your will." When a person turns away from the world, he adheres to God, and God lavishes incredible bounty on him.
3. Until the conviction in God is completely embedded in your heart, focus your attention on worldly responsibilities. When faith reaches fruition, turn toward Him in complete surrender, knowing that He it is who bestows all bounty, and He it is who takes away all.
4. Persevere, have faith in His benevolence. Through afflictions God only tests your faith; He is completely aware of your condition. Have patience and wait for the divine decree. Do not become like the foolish laborer who is removed from the king's palace for demanding his wages ahead of time.
5. Do not become the candle that gives light to others but itself remains in darkness. Do not follow the desires of your lower self. Should the Lord wish, He Himself will pick you out and prompt you to be a source of guidance. He Himself shall endow you with the inner strength to endure the changes of fortune and will instill within you infinite wisdom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Friday, June 07, 2013
After the Parents' death....
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Good behavior towards parents by which one can be courteous to them after their demise are to pray salat-ul-janaza upon them, make dua of forgiveness for them, fulfill their religious bequests, maintain relationship with those relatives linked through them and honor their friends. [Abu Daud] “Charity on their behalf after their death (also) earns reward for them.” [Muslim]
Often we realize the value of something only after it is gone. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in His Infinite Grace has provided for us a means to make amends even as late as after the person has already died. This hadith tells us how we can be dutiful to our parents after their death, thereby accruing rewards for both them and ourselves.
These ways are:
1. Praying salat-ul-janaza for them.
2. Praying to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to forgive them.
3. If they had decided to do some religious good e.g. Hajj or nafl fasts or charitable work, then fulfilling it on their behalf.
4. Being kind to those relatives who are linked to us through them.
5. Honoring their friends.
6. Giving charity on their behalf.
Instead of wailing over our parents, if we truly love them then we should do as many good deeds as we possibly can. This is because we are sadaqa jaariya for our parents and they are rewarded for our righteous actions.
Often we realize the value of something only after it is gone. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in His Infinite Grace has provided for us a means to make amends even as late as after the person has already died. This hadith tells us how we can be dutiful to our parents after their death, thereby accruing rewards for both them and ourselves.
These ways are:
1. Praying salat-ul-janaza for them.
2. Praying to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to forgive them.
3. If they had decided to do some religious good e.g. Hajj or nafl fasts or charitable work, then fulfilling it on their behalf.
4. Being kind to those relatives who are linked to us through them.
5. Honoring their friends.
6. Giving charity on their behalf.
Instead of wailing over our parents, if we truly love them then we should do as many good deeds as we possibly can. This is because we are sadaqa jaariya for our parents and they are rewarded for our righteous actions.
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Lesson of the day 1332
Ayahs of the day:
Did you think you would enter the garden without God finding out who among you struggled, and who were steadfast? [3: 142]
Hadith of the day:
There is no cause for envy except in two cases -- a man to whom Allah gives wealth and enables him to spend it appropriately (in ways dictated by Islam), and a man to whom Allah gives wisdom and he rules in accordance with it and teaches it. [Bukhari]
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:
Ignorance (about the knowledge of deen) is the origin of all evils and afflictions in both this world and the next. Were all the enemies of an ignorant man to join hands to harm him, they would be unable to cause him as much harm as he causes himself.
A poet says:
His foes never harm the ignorant
As much as the ignorant harms himself
And another has said:
Ignorance is the death before death
For their bodies are tombs before their tombs. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
A mortgage casts a shadow on the sunniest field. Do not accustom yourself to consider debt only as an inconvenience; you will find it a calamity. A man in debt is so far a slave. Debt is the slavery of the free. Conclusion -- never spend your money before you have it.
Did you think you would enter the garden without God finding out who among you struggled, and who were steadfast? [3: 142]
Hadith of the day:
There is no cause for envy except in two cases -- a man to whom Allah gives wealth and enables him to spend it appropriately (in ways dictated by Islam), and a man to whom Allah gives wisdom and he rules in accordance with it and teaches it. [Bukhari]
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:
Ignorance (about the knowledge of deen) is the origin of all evils and afflictions in both this world and the next. Were all the enemies of an ignorant man to join hands to harm him, they would be unable to cause him as much harm as he causes himself.
A poet says:
His foes never harm the ignorant
As much as the ignorant harms himself
And another has said:
Ignorance is the death before death
For their bodies are tombs before their tombs. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
A mortgage casts a shadow on the sunniest field. Do not accustom yourself to consider debt only as an inconvenience; you will find it a calamity. A man in debt is so far a slave. Debt is the slavery of the free. Conclusion -- never spend your money before you have it.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Should the Muslim abandon an action due to the fear of Riya?
Leaving an action out of fear of falling into 'riya‘ is one of the biggest mistakes and ways of falling into the trap of Shaytaan.
If the intent and motive for an action is correct and righteous and if it is in agreement with what has been legislated then the action should never be abandoned due to the presence of the danger of riya‘.
Rather it is obligatory upon the Muslim to strive against this threat and danger.
This is achieved by making his heart cling to modesty in front of Allah and fear of Him,
and changing the praise and admiration of creation-
for His praise and admiration.
Fudayl ibn Ayyad (radiallaahu ‘anhu) said:-
‘Doing an action for the sake of people is shirk and leaving an action for the sake of people is riya’.
Ikhlas is when Allah saves us from
them both.
If the intent and motive for an action is correct and righteous and if it is in agreement with what has been legislated then the action should never be abandoned due to the presence of the danger of riya‘.
Rather it is obligatory upon the Muslim to strive against this threat and danger.
This is achieved by making his heart cling to modesty in front of Allah and fear of Him,
and changing the praise and admiration of creation-
for His praise and admiration.
Fudayl ibn Ayyad (radiallaahu ‘anhu) said:-
‘Doing an action for the sake of people is shirk and leaving an action for the sake of people is riya’.
Ikhlas is when Allah saves us from
them both.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 331
1. If you persevere in adversity and depend on God, then know that He will remove your afflictions and bestow vast blessings upon you. For in His Book God promises, "Those who depend upon Allah, Allah bestows His bounty upon them and provides for them from means unknown." Therefore follow the road of patience and rejoice in His infinite bounty.
2. 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 in 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.
3. Have faith in God the Omnipotent, the Eternal, the First and the Last, who grants life and determines death, He bestows bounty, and only He can restore crushed hopes. Have faith, do not lose hope, wait patiently. He indeed will create a way to deliver you from your hardship.
4. In the treasure house of blessings there is also a store of afflictions. But most lack patience and begin to lament their misfortune before all and sundry, hoping to receive succor. Do they not know that none has the power to help or harm, be they friends or enemies? In their lack of faith such persons deem mortals equal to God. Do they forget that faith in the transient will only hamper deliverance?
5. Whenever you are tempted by this world, picture a derelict covered with filth whose noxious odor is intolerable. Reviled you will shut your senses to the offensive sight. In the like manner stay away from abomination of sin that may deface your purity. The Lord shall bless you with much bounty; therefore let not the cares of this world drive your peace away. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
2. 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 in 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.
3. Have faith in God the Omnipotent, the Eternal, the First and the Last, who grants life and determines death, He bestows bounty, and only He can restore crushed hopes. Have faith, do not lose hope, wait patiently. He indeed will create a way to deliver you from your hardship.
4. In the treasure house of blessings there is also a store of afflictions. But most lack patience and begin to lament their misfortune before all and sundry, hoping to receive succor. Do they not know that none has the power to help or harm, be they friends or enemies? In their lack of faith such persons deem mortals equal to God. Do they forget that faith in the transient will only hamper deliverance?
5. Whenever you are tempted by this world, picture a derelict covered with filth whose noxious odor is intolerable. Reviled you will shut your senses to the offensive sight. In the like manner stay away from abomination of sin that may deface your purity. The Lord shall bless you with much bounty; therefore let not the cares of this world drive your peace away. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Friday, May 24, 2013
Perfect Practical Advice....
1. We should try to be like the bee, which lands on fragrant flowers and fresh branches.
2. Time is too precious, we can't waste it trying to seek out people's faults/defects and mistakes.
3. If Allah is on our side -- through our obedience to Him, then who do we have to fear?
4. If Allah is not on our side -- because of our disobedience to Him, what hope do we have?
5. The fire of envy consumes the body, and excessive jealousy is like a raging fire.
6. If we do not prepare today -- in this world, then we will not be able to do anything tomorrow -- in the next world.
7. We should try our best to withdraw peacefully from places where idle arguments are going on.
8. We should try our best to make our morals and attitude even more beautiful than a garden.
9. When we do acts of kindness that is when we will be the happiest of people.
10. We should leave people to their Creator, leave the envier to death and forget about any enemy.
11. We should always remember -- pleasure of haram actions is followed by regret, loss and punishment.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Lesson of the day 1331
Ayahs of the day:
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord, and to a garden broad as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the conscientious, those who spend in good times and bad, and those who restrain their anger, and those who forgive people; and God loves those who do good. [3: 132,133]
Hadith of the day:
Whoever among you wakes up in the morning and is safe in his home, in good health and has enough provision for the day, it is as if he has all the good things of this world. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
The righteous deeds are performed by the righteous and wicked. However, only the truthful ones avoid the sinful deeds. [Sahl Ibn Abdullah al Tustari]
Guidance of the day:
It is incumbent upon every Muslim man and woman to seek knowledge. No Muslim is to be excused from this. The knowledge in question is that without which faith and religion cannot be sound. In sum it is the knowledge of God, His Messenger, the Last Day, what is obligatory, and what is forbidden.
The Messenger of God -- may God's blessings and peace be upon him -- said, Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim; and Seek knowledge, even if in China. China being an extremely distant region to which very few people go because it is so remote. If a Muslim is required to seek knowledge even in such remote place, how will it not be required when he lives among scholars and will not incur much expense nor suffer much hardship seeking it? [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Defeat is nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better. Defeat is not the worst of failures -- not to have tried is the true failure. He who is prepared to die for any cause is seldom defeated. He who is accustomed to defeat, yet persists, will someday succeed. He who is accustomed to success, and becomes indifferent, will someday fail. Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Closeness to Allah -- solution to our problems
My favorite lil spot is the little area on my prayer rug where I place my face and hands before Allah and I can say anything I want to Him
I can ask Him for anything
And even if it's just a whisper He can hear the screams inside
And even if it's just one tear He know there's an ocean deep inside
It is my time with Allah when no one can interfere
It is my time alone with my Creator and when the rest of the world disappears
It doesn't matter how many times I do this a day...
I still feel as if it's the last time i could do it that day
I want Him to know how much I love Him
How much I need Him
How much I want to please Him
Be with Him
And how much I want to be better for Him
All it takes is a few minutes on my lil prayer rug to feel close to Allah
All it takes is a quick reminder that one day I'll be in front of Allah
For me to humble myself before Him and ask Him for forgiveness
Ask for guidance and for His sweetness
For i can do all things with Him on my side
I can overcome all the heartbreak and pain that's inside
Just as long as Allah hears my cry
And carries me through this life
It is on that lil space where my face and hands land on my prayer rug that I feel most at ease
It is that lil space that fills me most with peace
Where I can just hand it all over to Allah and trust in Him to get me through
Where I can cry and cry and know Allah will take care of me when i don't know what to do
When I prostrate before Allah it's just me and Him
Just my heart talking sincerely to Him
No one else knows what i'm saying or what i'm feeling; just Him
It is my place to get away from this world even for just a few minutes and turn towards my Creator
My Sustainer
My Everything....My Rabb, and know that if I just whisper He can hear and see all that's inside
And everytime I ask and cry, He takes a lil piece of my heart and mends it back together inside.
It's that lil space that gives me all these things
My favorite spot is that lil space on my prayer rug where I place my hands and face
It is in that lil space...where it's just me and Allah...in my lil space.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 330
1. Fools exult in life while the pious prepare for the journey ahead. A major portion of their wealth is spent in God's way, and they themselves suffice with the bare minimum, striving toward the hereafter. They even sacrifice fine victuals confident in the faith that they shall be blessed with better in the hereafter. Even God cherishes them because of their conviction and devotion.
2. Once the ego is overcome peace follows. "Only God and no living creature has the power to control destinies." With that conviction entrust all your cares to the Lord and follow the path of the Truth, conforming to the divine edicts, until you attain union with Him and become as pure as Adam before whom all creatures prostrated.
3. God bestows good fortune on whom He will. Then why do you feel jealous and wish that another be dispossessed of all his property? Do you know in your wrath you deem yourselves equal to God? Behold, you will be depraved, because envy corrodes faith and leads to the ultimate fall. Bear in mind Joseph, who despite his brothers' loathsome schemes, remained the illustrious. And who but the brothers were disgraced. Take heed, time and again our Lord warns us against the ills of envy.
4. Do not be ruled by lust; seek freedom by following the righteous. Mere claims of piety will not earn you inner freedom. Remain patient in adversity to attain peace, for adversity is the threshold to freedom. Those who cannot persevere are held back from the doors of Mercy.
5. When you purify your hearts just as you purify your raiment, union with God will follow. You cannot become a sufi by merely wearing coarse woolen shirts and and following strict rituals, pretending to be pious while inside your hearts you bear malice and avarice. A real Sufi has attained a state of perfection on the inside. If you sincerely seek union with God, then seek Him inside your hearts and leave the world alone. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Monday, May 06, 2013
Alexander the great.....
Alexander the great's last words
"Ice melts when heated"
"Eyes melt when hated"
Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed.
With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.
He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.
He called his trusted generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon and I have three wishes, please carry out them out without fail."
With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.
"My first desire is that", said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin."
After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury".
The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin."
The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "Oh! our king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"
At this, Alexander took a deep breath and said: "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learned."
"I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.
The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty into this world and empty handed I go out of this world".
With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last..!!
LESSONS WE CAN LEARN
Our good health is in our own hands, we should look after it.
Wealth is only meaningful if we can enjoy while we are still alive and kicking.
What we do for ourselves dies with us but what we do for others, lives on.
It is called our "Legacy."
Friday, May 03, 2013
Lesson of the day 1330
Ayahs of the day:
Believers, do not consume usurious interest, multiplied and compounded; and be conscious of God, that you may thrive. And be wary of the fire that is prepared for the scoffers. [3: 130,131]
Hadith of the day:
Richness is not having a great deal of wealth; rather richness is richness of the soul. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
The worshippers of Allah do not worship in anyway better than avoiding what Allah has forbidden. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the day:
Using destiny as an argument when legal injunctions are in question is forbidden and blameworthy -- beware of this. But when hardship strikes it is beneficial. For the servant afflicted of misfortune, to remember God's promises of high degrees and good things and of forgiveness of sins is a good thing that is of benefit for most Muslims, and easy for them to understand. Promises and threats concerning the hereafter are easy for everyone to understand; these are of widespread benefit, both when one is engaged in acts of obedience, or when one is committing a sin, or when one is afflicted with hardship.
The Qur'an is full of promises and threats, and exhortations containing reminders of both. Understand this and reflect on it, you will thus be wisely guided. Rely on God, for He likes those who rely on Him. There is neither power nor ability save by God, the High, the Formidable. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue. Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of the pleasures; costs nothing but conveys much. It pleases him who gives and him who receives, and thus, like mercy, it is twice blessed. The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ennoble it. We must be as courteous to people as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light.
Monday, April 29, 2013
To tattle tale is an enormity....
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He who stirs enmity among people, by quoting their words to each other, will not enter Paradise.” [Bukhari]
Unfortunately, this is a common social evil these days. Rather than mend relations among people, Shaytaan has us excited about carrying tales to each other. “You won’t believe what he did!...Can you imagine what she said?...”
Refuse to listen to what other people have said or done. It is backbiting, just to hear it. If what we are being told about is not true, it is an even bigger sin, both for the person telling it and the person listening to it. If we tell ourselves not to believe everything we hear, our heart will nevertheless be tainted by it. That is why the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told his companions not to say things about each other to him, since he didn't want to meet them with disquiet in his heart. If Rasul Allah's feelings for people had the possibility of getting soured by hearing tales about them, despite his being rehmat-ul-lil-alameen, then we are certainly not above being corrupted by listening to tales.
The people who carry tales from one person to another, do it in the guise of well wishers. First they sympathize with one party. Then they take what they have gleaned to other people and sow discord, ruining relations between people, by repeating things. A person who behaves in such a manner is being two faced. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “You find that among the worst people is someone who is two-faced, showing one face to some and another face to others.” [Bukhari]
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
Monday, April 22, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 329
1. Surrender yourselves before God in the manner of the devout saints; then God will hold you just as dearly as He did the devout who went before you. Therefore 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.
2. 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. Every day that you persevere, you grow closer to perfection. Thus your present despair may be the beginning of an infinite blessing.
3. If you are destined for good fortune you will be blessed; if afflictions have been ordained, no matter where you hide they will seek you out. Submit therefore before the will of God; be grateful in well-being and endure adversity with fortitude that His light may radiate within your being.
4. Do not be confused by ignorance; turn toward and not away from Allah. Have faith in Him and refrain from transgression. For it is Allah and no other creature who can grant or take away life. He is the Infinite and will always reign Supreme. He bestows prosperity, and decrees poverty. Fear Him alone and none other; adhere to Him that you may prevail.
5. Give up deception and take heed. You say you fear Allah; in truth you fear His creatures. Fear neither jinn, nor humans, nor angels. Fear not the beast, nor the scourge of this world, or the hereafter. Fear only the Creator, the Sovereign who created all. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]
Friday, April 19, 2013
Story worth reading....
There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
...
He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy should now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same!"
*********************************
(When we say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one! It won’t matter how many times we say 'I'm sorry', the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one! We need to learn to control our anger and we need to learn to forgive and Forget!)
Monday, April 15, 2013
Lesson of the day 1329
Ayahs of the day:
And those who remember God and seek forgiveness for their sins if they have done something shameful or wronged themselves -- and who forgives sins but God? -- and those who do not knowingly persist obstinately in what they have done. Their reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with rivers flowing below them, where they are to abide; and how gracious the reward for workers! [3: 135,136]
Hadith of the day:
The upper hand (the one that gives) is better than the lower (the one that receives). [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
The bounty that comes from Allah to a believer due to his trials is greater than the bounty that comes from Allah during his times of ease.[Ibn Rajab]
Guidance of the day:
He who strives in earnest in good works, then depends on them, is guilty of self-admiration and impudence toward his Lord. He may very well be tried so that he may come to realize his powerlessness and inability to do anything good without God's favor and mercy.
It is now clear that two things are necessary -- the first is to make one's works good, while the second is to depend on God, not on one's works. Effort without God's favor is ineffective, yet effort is indispensable in submission to God's orders. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
True courage is like a kite -- a contrary wind raises it higher. One man with courage makes a majority. The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. "O God, give us the fortitude to endure the things which cannot be changed, and the courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to know one from the other."
Friday, April 12, 2013
Broken hearts -- an opportunity for soul searching....
1. We need to realize that we are created only for Allah Most High. To have our hearts broken is a reminder that it is Allah Alone Who should be our objective in life.
2. Broken hearts is a test of our taqwa (God consciousness) to Allah Most High. Unless we are tested, we will not know if we truly and genuinely dedicate ourselves to Allah Most High, and if we are accepting His Qada and Qadr (divine decree).
3. Broken hearts bring depth and dimension to our Imaan (faith) and Taqwa, unless our hearts are broken, we won't understand genuinely what it is to have Imaan and Taqwa and Ikhlaas (sincerity).
4. Broken hearts tell us about our own character traits. It may be highly possible that we ourselves do not have good adab (etiquettes), and akhlaq (good character traits) towards others, such that our own flawed character traits make them flee from us and create the painful situation in our lives.
5. Broken hearts give us an opportunity to look honestly deep inside ourselves and realize our own bad adab and bad akhlaq and transform them into good adab and good akhlaq -- it is neither too early nor too late to fix ourselves.
6. Once we realize our own short comings what we need to do first and foremost is to make frequent dua to Allah Most High to mend our broken hearts and to help us fix our own selves -- "O Allah now that I realize I need to fix myself please help me to become a better person -- O Allah with Your help nothing is difficult, and without Your help nothing is easy".
Monday, April 08, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 328
1. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq once said, "This world is transitory and our life therein but a moment borrowed, our breaths numbered, yet our indifference reckless."
2. Being observant of God is an act of devotion toward God. Sleep is an act of God drawing us near. That which is conferred upon us by God without our choice is positively superior to that which we send to Him. Sleep therefore is a wonderful gift of God bestowed upon His creatures.
3. Those loved by God are held in contempt by the vulgar, and those who deem themselves virtuous may not be so in the eyes of God. Public ridicule is the very sustenance of the chosen of God. They rejoice in it, just as others rejoice in popularity, for they know that it is a sign that they are close to Him. As God said, "My chosen are hidden under My cloak. Besides Me, only the elect know who they are."
4. Once Ibrahim bin Adham saw a stone with the inscription, "Turn me over and read!" When he did an inscription appeared: "You do not practice what you know. Why do you seek what you do not know?"
5. God fills the hearts of those who love Him with peace, thus enabling them to endure afflictions with ease. And they also plead, "We shall bear every torment (of this world) with joy, but never shall we be able to endure being separated from You. When Your Magnificence illumines our hearts, all our pain, our sorrows seem meaningless and vanish. [Shaykh Ali al Hujwiri]
Friday, April 05, 2013
A new born's conversation with God....
A baby asked God, "They tell me You are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to
understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to You?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see You anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."
M- My
O- Only
M- Mentor
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