Lesson of the day 1418

Ayahs of the Day: 
O you who believe! If you obey those who disbelieve, they will drive you back on your heels, and you will turn back (from faith) to your own loss. But Allah is your protector, and He is the best of helpers. Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they ascribe
partners to Allah, for which He had sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire; and evil is the home of wrongdoers. [3:149, 150,151]

Hadith of the Day: 
Bear in mind that if all the people combine together to grant you some benefit, they would not be able to do so except that which Allah has determined for you and that if all of them were combined together to harm you, they would not be able to do so except that which Allah has determined for you. The pens have been set aside and the writings of the book of fate have become dry.[Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
A man while he is alive, needs a decent house to live in respectably. If he has such a house, he should endeavor for a house in the next world.
[Imam abu Hanifah]

Guidance of the Day: 
The second cure for heedlessness is in visiting (ziyara) righteous people, those with sound heart and excellent character. More specifically, those who fulfill God's commandments, and avoid what is prohibited, who have excellent behavior towards other people, who do not cheat or lie. He or she is
the kind of person whom one should seek out as company. Scholars have always encouraged visiting righteous people as part of the protocol of the spiritual ascendency.

These people include the living as well as the dead. The Prophet (peace be upon him) visited the grave sites of his fallen companions. Visiting graves is a poignant reminder of death and the Hereafter. It is an armament against heedlessness.

When visiting a righteous person, the discourse should be substantive and not one of idle talk. The benefits one should seek are gaining knowledge and the supplication of the righteous person. In fact, ask them to remember you in their prayers, for their prayers might be more acceptable to God than yours. Just as one is recommended to visit the righteous, one should strive to be the righteous person that others seek out to visit. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Don't just retire from something, have something to retire to. If one does not know to which part one is sailing, no wind is favorable.

Pearls of Wisdom 419

1. We need our mistakes. We have to experience how error feels to begin to be free from it.

2. We may become wise enough to welcome difficult times because we can trust that they are,
in truth, opportunities for transformation.

3. Death sets a limit on our time in this life and urges us to do what we need to do in the time
we are given.

4. Death is a friendly but invisible companion, reminding us to live our lives and not just exist.

5. Whatever prepares us for death enhances our lives. Awareness of our mortality will facilitate
important shifts in our priorities and values.

6. The best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.

7. Prayer and meditation are disciplines on our life journey toward our spiritual journey.

8. Take the spiritual side of life seriously.

9. Practice forgiveness. It changes everything, and its rewards are permanent.

10. Sort out and pass along the things from your attic, garage, basement, closets that you no
longer use.

Salt-VS-Rice....

If you were to cook three cups of rice, would you add three cups of salt to it?

No.

So, in every preparation of rice, the rice always outnumbers the salt, yet a
little salt makes a huge difference/ impact in the overall outcome.

In the room which you currently are in, look up at the ceiling....
what is the size of the light bulb compared to the size of the room?

It is probably a ratio of 1:1500.

Yet, darkness flees the entire space once the small bulb is switched on.

If I am the salt of the earth, and a light in the world, then "the little me"has
the ability to make big things happen.

Sometimes because we feel outnumbered or overwhelmed at the sheer
magnitude of evil or wrong doers, we then choose powerlessness, and
decide to go with the flow, not standing up for what we believe is right.

Little doesn't mean insignificant.

You are significant. Your presence should make a BIG difference. Stop
waiting to be on the side of the minority. They may be the minority, but
they are the trivial minority, and you are the impact full minority.

They are the rice of the world, and you are the salt of the world....
They are the room and you are the light.

Make your influence felt!

Remember:
You are the seasoning, to make the world beautiful.
You are the light to chase away the darkness...

Lesson of the day 1417

Ayahs of the Day:
From what is left by parents and those nearest related, there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, a legal share. If at the time of division of the
relatives are present, give them out from the property, and speak to them kindly. [4: 7,8]

Hadith of the Day: 
A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not harm him nor does he hand him over to his enemy. One who fulfills the need of another Muslim, Allah the Supreme, will fulfill the former's need. [Bukhari 
& Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
I looked at my friends, and I did not find a better friend than safeguarding my tongue. I thought about all the outfits, but I did not find a better outfit than piety. [Omar Radi Allahu anhu]

Guidance of the Day: 
Derision or ridiculing people, making jest at their expense, is another disease. Mocking people is a form of ignorance, whether it is lampooning, caricaturing, or name calling. Humor and levity are important in life. But levity as a way of life harms the spiritual heart. And laughter and amusement at the expense of the dignity of others is wholly inappropriate, although it is the staple of the comedians of our day.

The cure for the psychology and practice of mockery is similar to that of arrogance, since a person who mocks another most likely sees himself as superior to his victim. Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "Do not belittle anyone, for he may be a saint of God." Only God knows the seal of people and their destinies. A Moroccon proverb says, "Never mock any creature of God, for it might be beloved to He Who created it."

Repentance is a recourse that the Lord of the Worlds has given humanity. Reflecting on the ethic that the Quran communicates to us, reveals that there is strength in dealing nobly with people. It is simply a better way to live. The treatment for derision is to realize that the essence of mockery is to humiliate people. Those who mock people in this life shall be mocked in the Hereafter, for it is a divine law that God recompenses people with the like of what they have done. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Healthy children will not fear life and their elders have integrity not to fear death. As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.

Pearls of Wisdom 418

1. Much may be done with those little shreds and patches of time which everyday produces,
and which most men throw away.

2. Minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars and each moment is a day.

3. Until you value yourself; you won't value time, until you value time; you will not do anything
with it.

4. Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.

5. To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom, and he who increases his riches increases
his cares, but a contented mind is a treasure hidden.

6. Patience is the companion of wisdom.

7. In seeking wisdom you are wise, in imagining that you have attained it, you are a fool.

8. Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time.

9. We are made wise not by the recollection of our past but by the responsibility of our future.

10. The art of wisdom is the art of knowing what to overlook.

The good deed's shaver.....

The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said: “The diseases of the nations before you,
malice and hatred, may also overtake you. Remember, they are like shavers; but they
do not shave hair, rather, they shave virtues.” [Tirmidhi]

If somebody bothers you, do you have to hate them? If they underestimate you, don’t
show you respect, or usurp your rights, do you have to hate them? If somebody has
plenty of what you would love to have in life but have none of, do you have to hate them?

No! No! No! Focus on how you can be a better Muslim, how you can draw closer to Allah
Most High, how you can increase your remembrance of Him so that He increases His love
of you. In other words, focus on your Akhirah/next life, so you can be happy and have all
you desire forever.

This life is only a test! All situations and circumstances are prescribed by Allah Most High
for His beloved slaves so that they can earn their unique way into Jannah/Paradise.

Malice is a desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite. Malice
arises out of hatred. If you allow yourself to feel hatred towards others you will then try
to harm them consciously or subconsciously. Your harming others will shave your good
deeds from your record. (Daily Hadith)

Lesson of the day 1416

Ayahs of the Day:
Do not kill your children out of fear of poverty; We will provide for them, and for you. Indeed, killing them is a great sin. And do not approach adultery, for it is an obscenity and an evil way. [17: 31,32]

Hadith of the Day:
Let your tongue never cease to be moist with the remembrance of God. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Only through detachment from Dunya (this world) does the slave reach his Lord. [Shaqeeq Balkhi]

Guidance of the Day:
Gratitude: Accepting that all benefit is from the True Benefactor, the effect of which is to be happy with the Benefactor and be ever ready to render obedience to Him, is the meaning of gratitude (shukr). This entails acceptance of the fact that all benefit is from the Creator, the True Benefactor. This acceptance induces happiness with the Benefactor, and eagerness to carry out the commands of the Benefactor and to abstain from His prohibitions. One should consider all benefits, goodness,
and pleasant conditions as the bounties of the Creator and regard these to be in greater measure than what one really deserves. Praise is to be offered to Allah and His bounties should not be employed in evil and sin. His favors should be used in obtaining His good pleasure. This is the true meaning of gratitude.

This conception of gratitude will be understood only when one has realized the purpose underlying creation and the functions of the various aspects of creation. For instance, the eye is a blessing of Allah Most High. Gratitude in relation to it is to employ it correctly-- to employ it only in lawful ways, such as reading the Glorious Quran, acquiring knowledge, studying the wonderful creation of Allah so as to learn and realize the greatness and splendor of Allah Most High, and so forth. The gratitude of the eye further demands that it be restrained from glancing at and viewing objects that Allah Most High has prohibited.

Likewise, the ear is a blessing. Gratitude in relation to it is to employ it correctly, such as in listening to the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah, to such talks that remind one of the Hereafter, and to prevent it from listening to evil, nonsensical, and useless talk. [The Path to Perfection]

Food for Thought:
Wisdom is:
To do what you should do when you should.
To refuse to do what you should not do;
And, when you are not clear, wait until you are sure.

Pearls of Wisdom 417

1. Science investigates, religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power, religion gives man wisdom which is control.

2. Winners never quit and quitters never win.

3. It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

4. I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

5. Try not to be a man of success, but rather try to become a man of values.

6. Failure is a success if we learn from it.

7. No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.

8. The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing to get along with people.

9. Let him know who would enjoy a good future, waste none of his present.

10. Men talk about killing time, while time is quietly killing them.

Lesson of the day 1415

Ayah of the Day: 
Serve Allah, and do not ascribe partners to Him. And show kindness to your parents, and to your close kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin, and the neighbor who is not of kin, and the fellow traveler and the wayfarer and (the bondsmen) whom your right hands possess. For Allah does not love the arrogant, the boastful. [4: 36]

Hadith of the Day: 
People are like mines of gold and silver. Those of them who are best before Islam are best in Islam, if they have religious knowledge and understanding. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
And love your Lord by serving Him. For lovers are but servants of the Beloved. [a poet]

Guidance of the Day: 
Dissatisfaction is a motivator to seek out better character. A human being is spiritually stalled as long as he is content and smug with his state. The basis of achieving good is knowing yourself. When this happens, a person becomes aware of his imperfections, minor and major, and ashamed of them to the point he strives to replace them with generosity, agreeableness, honesty, reliability, dignity, and other noble traits.

When the mind is given the responsibility to decide upon right and wrong it will usually base its judgment subjectively: what advances or thwarts one's whims? Our understanding of right and wrong, licit and illicit, needs a judge higher than ourselves and our whims. We are beings who are created and, therefore, have a Creator who brought us into existence for a reason. It is His purpose and guidance that informs our sensitivity and response to right and wrong. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought: 
If you want to talk to Allah perform salah, and if you want Allah to talk to you, read Quran.

Facts about alcohol consumption....

Brief Medical update:
How much Alcohol is good for you?
Naveed Akhtar, MD

This study published recently in the Lancet journal is sparking discussion in the medical community.

The study, entitled the Global Burden of Disease, looked at levels of alcohol consumption in 195 countries worldwide. In depth analysis of data from millions of alcohol consumers was collected from 1990-2016 in people aged 15-96 yo and compared against a control population of those that did not drink at all or had a minimum of one alcoholic beverage daily.

The final verdict of the study was that NO AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION WAS DETERMINED SAFE OR BENEFICIAL FOR OVERALL HEALTH.

This refutes data from prior smaller studies that stated that moderate alcohol consumption was beneficial for health. This new study indicates that any amount of alcohol consumption can lead to various health problems even in moderate drinkers. Physicians are now advised to counsel their patients to not drink alcohol. While it will be difficult for everyone to abstain, it is up to the individual to follow medical advice. The gist of the study is that the harm from drinking alcohol is much greater than thought previously and that no amount of consumption is considered safe. These verses from the Holy Quran revealed 1400 years ago has the same conclusion with regards to intoxicants. “In them is great harm, and a benefit for the people; but their harm is greater than their benefit. (2:219)

They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say: “In them is great harm, and a benefit for the people; but their harm is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you how much are they to give, Say: “The excess.” It is thus that God clarifies for you the revelations that you may think. (2:219)

Naveed Akhtar, MD
Oak Brook, IL

Pearls of Wisdom 416

1. Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.

2. Love does not dominate, it cultivates. Do all things with love.

3. The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree, but hold hands.

4. We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.

5. If we judge people, we have no time to love.

6. What counts in making a happy relationships is not so much how compatible we are, but how we deal with incompatibility.

7. Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.

8. We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

9. The saddest part of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than it gathers wisdom.

10. Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.

Lesson of the day 1414

Ayah of the Day: 
Those who spend their wealth by night and by day, secretly and openly, they will have their reward with their Lord. And they will have no fear nor will they grieve. (4: 274)

Hadith of the Day: 
Giving alms to a poor is one charity, and for a relative it amounts to two good deeds i.e. charity and benevolence to kinsmen. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Skyscraping material achievements are of no value to the true Muslim if they hinder rather than help his spiritual growth. [Abu Mohammad Asad]

Guidance of the Day: 
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If a person is given silence, he is given wisdom." The tongue is a great temptation. It is easy to say something that brings ruin upon its speaker. Learning how to control the tongue is an enormous discipline. If it is words for the sake of words, it is a waste of time and a sign of bad character.

Imam Mawlud mentions spiritual isolation for the purpose of reflection. Some remember death through visualization, using the puissance of imagination for visualizing their bodies being washed, wrapped and lowered in the grave. Others reflect on the tributes of God the Exalted by methodically pondering the meaning of each of His divine names that speak of God's awesome power, knowledge, clemency, mercy, creative powers, and more. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
If a person hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. The one who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.

The small gestures are really BIG....

1. Never underestimate the small gestures, the choice between micro aggression
and micro compassion.

2. The difference is between making someone feel like a real human being, or
crushing their soul.

3. The human heart is too fragile; that is why the Prophet of Islam (peace and
blessings upon him) was so adamant to teach us the etiquette of emotion, the
core of character.

4. Don't whisper between two if you are joined by a third.

5. Smile, its a charity.

6. Turn your full torso when someone speaks to you.

7. Don't take someone's seat when they get up temporarily.

8. Regard anything personal someone tells you as a secret to hold close
even if you aren't told to do so.

9. Make peace between people. This is one of the best things we can do, but
the most challenging because of the big egos -- not willing to take any responsibility
for their own actions.

10. Don't hold on to anger for more than three days.

11. The big things aren't that break the hearts, the big things aren't that
destroy relationships, its the little things and the big egos.

12. Its time we take the responsibility for how we make others feel, its all
in the little things we do with wisdom, love, and patience, for the pleasure
of Almighty Allah and nothing else.

Pearls of Wisdom 415

1. "I can forgive but I cannot forget," is only one way of saying, "I will not forgive."

2. Forgiveness aught to be like a canceled note, torn into two, and burned up, so
that it never can be shown against one.

3. The glory of Islam is to conquer by forgiveness.

4. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does change the future.

5. Life is an adventure in forgiveness. You are never so strong as when you forgive.

6. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself,
for every man has the need to be forgiven.

7. As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever will occupy rent free space in your mind.

8. To err is human, to forgive is divine.

9. Forgive all who have offended you, not for them but for yourself.

Lesson of the day 1413

Ayahs of the Day: 
These are the limits set by Allah; those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (forever) and that will be the supreme achievement. But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits, will be admitted to a fire, to abide therein; and they shall have a humiliating punishment. [4: 13,14]

Hadith of the Day: 
A father is the strongest doors of Paradise. If you wish you may pull it down, or if you wish you may protect it. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
The primary meaning of the word Jihad is struggle or effort. This is a very important religious principle. It reminds us that religion is never something achieved or finished. The revelation is given, but those who follow it have to make it a constant effort, day by day, year by year, to put it into practice in a flawed and tragic world. [Karen Armstrong]

Guidance of the Day: 
Next in the overall treatment for the heart is the importance of keeping the company of good people, which is God's command: O You who believe, fear God and be among the truthful ones(Quran, 9:119). It is astonishing how people can influence others simply by being in each other's company. The company one keeps has major effects. It may lead to either benefit and improvement or harm and corruption, depending on whether the company is that of pure and eminent people or those who are immoral and evil. This effect does not appear suddenly, but is a gradual process that unfolds with time.

Good company includes those who are in the state of gratitude; they are thankful for what they have and do not waste time complaining. One takes on their excellent qualities. One should befriend people who elevate one's station. Anyone who tells you to indulge in the world is defrauding you. When it comes to worldly possessions; it is good to associate with people who have lesser means. The company of wealthy people opens a person to coveting what they have. When it comes to Hereafter; it is better to associate with people who are superior to you in their desire for the understanding for it. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

Taqwa -- God Consciousness

What is Taqwa?

Taqwa is not just about manners.
Taqwa is not just about looking Islamic
Taqwa is not just about sporting a beard
or wearing a hijab.
Taqwa is not just about appearance

But

Taqwa is when we miss a prayer, we feel
uneasy the whole day.
Taqwa is when we speak a lie, we feel bad.
Taqwa is the guilt that follows when we hurt
someone knowingly or unknowingly.

Taqwa is the shame and regret that follows a
sin we committed knowing very well how it
stands in the sight of Allah.
Taqwa is when we cannot sleep after disobeying
or disrespecting our parents.
Taqwa is the cry in the depths of night fearing
none but the One about the Arsh (Throne).

Taqwa is the fear that refrains us from sinning
when nobody familiar is around.
Taqwa is the guts and the will to please Allah,
even when the whole world is bent on displeasing
Him.
Taqwa is to wear the beard and hijab for the sole
reason of pleasing the Creator and keep it on as
per the Sunnah.

Taqwa is to stay happy and smiling, knowing that
this world is a prison for the Believers.
Taqwa is the good manners and character we
practice for the sake of Creator.
Taqwa is the struggle to better ourselves according
to the teachings of Islam with consistency.

Taqwa is not just rising in Deen, but about falling,
and rising back again after every fall.

Taqwa is the commitment of the heart to make
everyday better than yesterday, in preparation
for the eternal life after death.

Pearls of Wisdom 414

1. The only way to have a friend is to be one.

2. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

3. It's not what you look at matters, it's what you see.

4. Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those we hold well.

5. The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

6. Life is like a coin, we can spend it any way we wish, but we can only
spend it once.

7. It is not the length of life, but the depth of life that matters.

8. The great use of life is to spend it for something that will out last it.

9. Life is not a sum of what we are but what we yearn to be.

10. Live everyday as if it were your last, because one of these days it will be.

Lesson of the day 1412

Ayah of the day
Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy; for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until Death faces one of them, and he says, "Now have I repented indeed; nor of those who die rejecting faith; for them We have prepared a punishment most grievous. [4:17, 18]

Hadith of the Day: 
Allah has forbidden you from the disobedience of your parents, stinginess, usurping the properties of others, and the burying alive of female infants; and has disapproved for you useless talking, excessive questioning and waste of property. [ Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Allah's generosity is connected to gratitude, and gratitude is linked to increase in His generosity. The generosity of Allah will not stop increasing unless the gratitude of the servant ceases. [Ali (radi Allahu anhu)]

Guidance of the Day: 
Companionship yields two kinds of impact: one that drags a person down to the compost of the world and the other that points toward God the Exalted and an existence that lasts for ever. A companion who tries to sell the ephemeral stuff of this life and makes it the substance of conversation and pursuit in dragging the soul earthward.

It is better, beyond compare, to seek out the company of those who help one achieve contentment with God. When one is content, little will suffice. But without contentment, nothing suffices.

Seeking refuge with God is the most efficacious treatment for all diseases of the heart, i.e., to go to God with complete unconditional imploring. What is meant here is urgently seeking refuge in God's protection and guidance, to seek this as if one were holding on to a thread over a canyon. It is begging, which before God is honorable. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance, it is a better safe guard of liberty than a standing army, it's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open mind.

Recipe for getting rid of disputes....

 The Foundation for Eliminating Disputes

Disputes, in whatever manner they appear, should be resolved immediately.  Human life being what it is, there is no guarantee as to who will be carried into the grave first. At the occasion of death, friends, enemies, all gather to mourn anyway.

It is best that one’s heart be cleansed of all grudges regarding all Muslims. Soothe the angry hearts of others, and see how tranquil life becomes.

The weightiness in one’s own heart is removed.Always act towards mending relationships. As a result, one will attain barakah in one’s time and provision.

Admission

The primary act which ends a dispute is admitting one’s fault.  If it is your fault then admit it and take account of your faults. It is essential to recognize the excesses one has taken to transgress upon others.

Ultimately, the greatest reality of life is recognition of one’s faults. The secret of all forms of betterment in life lies in this recognition, because man always errs.  If he does not recognize his faults, then there is no other course for his betterment.

Recognition is the door to all successes, but seldom it is that man is willing to subject himself to it.  When such an occasion arises, it becomes a matter of ego. Instead of admitting his fault, he
attempts to cover it up. The result is that this fault of his continues to grow unchecked.

Making Excuses and Reconciling

Regardless of whose fault it is, when a dispute occurs, you will always share its blame to a certain extent.  This being the case, you should rise to the occasion and apologize for that which is of your own doing.  Consequently, the one with whom your are disputing will soften his attitude towards you.
You should always have a positive attitude towards others. Keep a goodly opinion regarding
others. A misunderstanding should be clarified by discussing it as soon as possible.Establish an attitude of selflessness and sacrifice.

Save yourself from stubbornness and obstinacy. Suppress your anger. Adopt a manner which always seeks reconciliation. Pray for your friends, family, and those with whom you have disputes.

Satan struggles tirelessly to create disputes between Muslims. Truly the greatest weapon he wields to destroy this Ummah is to make Muslims fight each other over any excuse. Remember that non-Muslims CANNOT overcome Muslims under any circumstance.  Thus, we are made to fight each other.

Leave behind obedience and slavery to Satan! Attain firmness in the virtues of admitting one’s faults, asking forgiveness, and forgiving!

Above and beyond this, strive to make peace between two Muslims, for this is a tremendous act of worship indeed!

By Muhammad Bashir Jumah
(An excerpt from his work in Urdu,  The Journey to Success on the Road of Life)

Pearls of Wisdom 413

1. Science investigates, religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power,
religion gives man wisdom which is control.

2. Winners never quit and quitters never win.

3. It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

4. I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

5. Try not to be a man of success, but rather try to become a man of values.

6. Failure is a success if we learn from it.

7. No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both,
he is twice blessed indeed.

8. The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing to get
along with people.

9. Let him know who would enjoy a good future, waste none of his present.

10. Men talk about killing time, while time is quietly killing them.

Lesson of the day 1411

Ayahs of the Day: 
O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of their dower you have given them--except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them it may be that you dislike
a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good. [4: 19]

Hadith of the Day: 
The noblest deed is that a person should be benevolent towards his father's friends. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Actions are but lifeless forms, whose soul is the secret of sincerity in them. [Ibn Ataillah]

Guidance of the Day: 
As for the action that is beneficial in purifying the heart, none is more effective than what is consistent, even if it is slight. It is important to know that "purification" is not a state, but an ongoing process. Just as we go through a day careful about our bodily cleanliness, we must similarly tend to our spiritual purity, for purification and sincerity do not survive a passive relationship. They are not qualities that are ignited and glow on without attendance. Left unattended, the heart becomes encrusted.

Unwholesome deeds accumulate and take away its purity. But with consistent work on self purification, the heart becomes cleansed and is kept that way. The Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were consistent with their actions once they commenced them, when they took on supererogatory rites of worship (nawafil) they did so for the duration of their lives.
It was something they embraced as a spiritual practice, and they did not abandon it.

This is not to say that this is an obligation. But if people wish to climb straight and climb right in their journey, their acts of worship should be regular and consistent. If a person sees himself inclined to a certain supererogatory worship rite, then he should follow it and be consistent. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
Education is being able to differentiate between what you know and what you do not know. It is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self confidence.

Pearls from the khutba in Arafat....2

1. Our death and meeting with our Creator is approaching and yet our biggest
worries are about the petty things of this world.

2. Soon we will just be a memory for people, and a lesson for others. We need
to try our best to be a positive influence and a good lesson for people around us.

3. Just imagine how many people were here with us last year, but no longer with
us now. Our turn is soon approaching, may Allah allow us to prepare for it.

4. We walk with our heads high up in the sky, heedless that one day we will be
trapped six feet under the ground.

5. How do we expect to get the Paradise without working for it in this world.
That is like expecting to pass an exam we never took a class for.

6. A believer may be penniless, homeless, unemployed, sick and feel like
he has nothing, but he has One thing -- he has Allah.

7. Allah knows what we want, what we need, what we deserve. We need
to trust Him, and know that His decisions are best for His creation, He
knows while we don't.

8. We need to make Qur'an our companion and a part of our life. We shouldn't
become a stranger to it. It is like a friend, the longer the friendship the more
we will know of its secrets.

9. We wouldn't throw away a diamond to pick up a rock, then how can we
throw away the Paradise by chasing after the worldly.

10. We only appreciate blessings after we lose them. The time of this world
 is the most precious thing we have to earn our Paradise, we need to make
the most of our time and not waste it.

Pearls from the khutba in Arafat....

1. Surround yourself with Muslims who practice the Deen. They are your true friends in this life and
the hereafter.

2. Not every body is out there to judge you, there are some who want the best for you and want to
help you get into Al-Jannah, value them.

3. Indeed, a friend who doesn't care about your Aakhirah (after life) is not really your friend.

4. Sometimes the hardest person for you to correct is yourself. There is no shame in being wrong,
the shame is in choosing to stay on the wrong path.

5. Whatever takes you closer to Allah, takes you away from Hellfire. Whatever takes you away
from Allah, takes you closer to Hellfire.

6. We all take tomorrow for granted because we believe tomorrow will always be there. Tomorrow
may be there, but we may not!

7. Who said tomorrow is guaranteed? Make the best use of today that you are blessed with.

8. Yesterday many thought that they would see today, and today many will think they will see
tomorrow.

9. Death could be tonight, in the next hour, the next second, yet we live as if we still have
so many years to live.

10. You may be rich, famous or have a high status in this world, but to the Angel of death
you are just another name on the list.

Lesson of the day 1420

Ayah of the Day: 
And your Lord had the proclamation made, "If you are grateful, I will grant you increase; but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe indeed." [14: 7]

Hadith of the Day: 
No one may dissociate himself from his brother for more than three nights to such an extent that when they meet, they turn away from each other. The best of them is the one who is first to greet the other. [Bukhar & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
If someone gave you a beautiful, expensive new hat, wouldn't you be grateful for the generous gift? But shouldn't you be even more grateful for the One Who gave you the head to put that hat on. [Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak]

Guidance of the Day: 
Money rules our lives. You can rail against it. You can claim to be above it or indifferent to it. You can do all the moral and intellectual gymnastics that you will. But when all is said and done, money is at the very center of our existence. Yet money is not of central importance. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the lasting values that make life worth living. This is one of our great dilemmas. How are we to reconcile ourselves to something that is not important but is at the very center of our lives?

People who measure their money against their desires will never be happy, because there is always another desire waiting to lure them. People who measure their money against their needs can gain control over their life by gaining control over their needs.There are certain needs that have to be met. If the burden of poverty comes over you, do not look for money. Look for work. The money will follow, and you can begin to move money out of the center of your life and return it to its rightful place as a tool that helps you live a meaningful life.Financial well-being is nothing more than a balancing act on the back of circumstance. You can be thrown off at any time.

If you know how to be poor with dignity and grace, nothing short of massive financial disaster can disturb your peace of mind. Knowing how to be poor means developing an unerring instinct for the difference between what is essential and what is desirable. It means knowing how to take control of your life--how to repair and maintain the things around you, how to purchase wisely and well, how not to purchase at all when you do not have the means to do so, how to take joy in simple pleasures of life. It means not getting caught up in what is lacking, but finding meaning in what you have. It means knowing how to live with style and creativity without basing your life on money. [Simple Truths by Kent Nerburn]

Du'a of the Week: 
Allhumma innee as'aluka'l huda, wa'ttuqa, wa'l afaafa,wa'l ghina. (O Allah I ask You for guidance, piety, dignified restraint, and freedom from need).

Food for Thought: 
There are many ways to seek wisdom. Life itself will grant you wisdom in ways you may neither understand nor choose. The true measure of your education is not what you know, but how you share what you know with others.
Posted b

Pearls of Wisdom 412

1. Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.

2. Love does not dominate, it cultivates. Do all things with love.

3. The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree, but hold hands.

4. We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.

5. If we judge people, we have no time to love.

6. What counts in making a happy relationships is not so much how compatible we are, but how we deal with incompatibility.

7. Let our religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.

8. We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

9. The saddest part of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than it gathers wisdom.

10. Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.

18 Signs of Maturity....

How mature are we?

1. Maturity is when we stop trying to change people and instead focus on changing ourself.

2. Maturity is when somebody hurts us and we try to understand their situation instead of
trying to hurt them back.

3. Maturity is when we accept people for who they are.

4. Maturity is when we understand that everyone is right in their own perspective.

5. Maturity is when we realize nothing is more important in this world than us and our
family.

6. Maturity is when we understand that whatever we do, we do for our own peace.

7. Maturity is when we stop proving to the world how intelligent we are.

8. Maturity is when we focus on positives in people.

9. Maturity is when we do not seek approval from others.

10. Maturity is when we stop comparing ourselves to others.

11. Maturity is when we are at peace with ourself.

12. Maturity is when we can differentiate between Need and Want, and we can let
go of our wants.

13. Maturity is when we stop attaching Happiness to material things.

14. Maturity is when we learn to Let go, accept the situations and move on.

15. Maturity is when we don't react to the behavior of insane people.

16. Maturity is when we are able to drop expectations from a relationship and
give for the sake of giving.

17. Maturity is learning to walk away from people and situations that threaten our
peace of mind, self-respect, values, morals and self-worth.

18. Maturity is when we have a lot to say, but we choose to remain silent in front of fools.

Lesson of the day 1419

Ayah of the Day: 
The acts of those who repudiate their Lord are like ash blown violently by the wind on a stormy day.
They have no control over any thing they have earned, that is the outlandish error. [14: 18]

Hadith of the Day: 
Do not hate or envy one another. Instead, be slaves to Allah and brothers. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Understanding is what makes relationships. Many a spoken word is more piercing than an attack.
[Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day: 
Stay away from debt in your personal life. Debt, not poverty, is the greatest enemy of financial
well-being and peace of mind. There are massive forces arrayed in the world to tell you of the
great benefits of debt. They will tell you that by borrowing you establish your legitimacy in the
eyes of lenders, and that you can have tomorrow's pleasures at today's prices.

They will present arguments and inducements that are convincing and seductive. They dress
debt in a suit and call it credit. But it all comes down to the same thing: You have mortgaged
your future to pay for your present, and this is something you don't ever want to do. Debt can
make you money because it allows you to invest. Debt can help you in the present and leave
your problems for what you hope will be a better time in the future.

But debt defines your future, and when your future is defined, hope begins to die. You have
committed your life to making money to pay for your past. Stay away from debt if you can.
There is no sadder sight than the person with dreams and promise whose eyes have dulled
and whose days are spent pushing the heavy wheel of debt toward an endless horizon.
[Simple Truths]

Food for Thought: 
Be careful what you wish for. The faculties of humanity were not given in order to gain
worldly life like an animal.

Eid Mubarak....

Seven Truths of Life

1. We shouldn't let someone become a priority in our life, when we are
just an opinion in their life. Relationships work best when they are
balanced.

2. We should never explain ourself to anyone. Because the person
who likes us doesn't need it, and the person who doesn't like us
won't believe it.

3. When we keep saying we are busy, then we are never free. When
we keep saying we have no time, then we will never have time. When
we keep saying we will do it tomorrow, then our tomorrow will never
come.

4. When we wake up in the morning, we have two simple choices --
Go back to sleep and dream, or wake up and chase those dreams,
choice is ours.

5. We make them cry who care for us. We cry for those who never
care for us. And we care for those who will never cry for us. This is
the truth of life, it's strange but true. Once we realize this, it's never
too late to change.

6. We shouldn't make promises when we are in joy. We shouldn't
reply when we are sad, and we shouldn't take any decisions when
we are angry. We need to think twice, and act once.

7. Time is like a river. We can't touch the same water twice, because
the flow that has passed will never pass again. We need to value our
time the most.

Reformation of family life -- 3

Islamic Upbringing of Children

These are summary of lecture series @ Islamic Center of Fremont, CA
by Mufti Muddassir Owais.

1. Parents must make an effort to understand their children well.
Each child is different.

2. Don't reprimand elder kids in front of younger kids.

3. Try to find out root cause for everything that might seem wrong
in your children. Ponder over where that came from.

4. Talk to children to understand where the bad habits are coming
from.

5. Talk at the level of the child.

6. Have at least one meal together as a family.

7. Talk to have a conversation during meal.

8. Try to instill the love of Allah, the love of the Prophet (peace
and blessings upon him), and the love of the family of the Prophet.

9. Teach the children to ponder and meditate over:
Allah is with me, Allah is watching me, Allah is present with me.

10. Parents should realize that their children are a blessing as
well as a test for them.

11. Increase shukr and sabr, make your life an example, improve
relationship with each other, correct the environment at home
through kindness, love and respect for each other.

May Almighty Allah make it easy and grant us success, ameen.

Reformation of Family Life -- 2

Islamic Upbringing of Children

These are summary of lecture series @ Islamic Center of Fremont, CA
by Mufti Muddassir Owais.

1. Bring those qualities in yourself that you want to see in your children.

2. Bring excellence of those qualities in yourself, become a role model.
This is an important and basic rule.

3. Take guidance from seerah of the Prophet (peace and blessings
upon him).

4. Give lots of love, balance softness with reprimanding.

5. Make a lot of dua along with regular sadaqa, never ever despair.

6. Make dua at tahajjud time. Do nafl fast and make dua for your
children -- these are the times when duas are answered.

7. Give your children the proper Islamic environment.

8. Parents should respect each other and teach the children to
respect their parents, teachers, elders and each other.

9. Parents must never contradict each other.

10. Parents and teachers need to have a lot of patience.

Reformation of family life -- 1

Islamic Upbringing of Children

These are summary of lecture series @ Islamic Center of Fremont, CA
by Mufti Muddassir Owais.

1. Upbringing does not mean harshness.

2. Reprimand your children without harshness.

3. Make a lot of dua for your children. This is an important aspect of
upbringing.

4. Become a role model for your children. Change yourself first.

5. Repercussions of sins/disobedience is that Allah Most High
removes the respect/dignity of elders from the hearts of youngers.

6. Try your utmost to abstain from sin and disobedience of Allah Most
High, seek a lot of forgiveness, make a lot of istighfar.

7. Do the upbringing focussing on the hereafter.

8. Upbringing in its intrinsic nature has to be done gradually
and consistently.

9. Upbringing has two aspects -- Planning and Patience.

10. Guard yourself against cursing your children.

Beautiful advice....

Imam Ibn al-Jawzi (ra) in his letter of advice to his son, wrote:

Know, dear son, that days are but hours, and hours are but breaths, and every soul is a container, hence let not any breath pass without any benefit, such as on the Day of Judgment you find an empty container and feel regret! Be aware of every hour and how it passes, and only spend it in the best possible way; do not neglect yourself, but render it accustomed to the noblest and best of actions, and send to your grave that which will please you when you arrive to it."

This world is transitory and our life therein but a moment borrowed, our breaths numbered, yet our indifference reckless. [Abu Bakr al Siddiq]

Strive for Paradise. A small nook within its bliss is better than the whole world and all the riches within. [al Hadith]

A believer is never tired of hearing about good deeds until he enters Paradise. [al Hadith]

Pearls of Wisdom 411

1. Nothing will work until you do. Every noble work at first is impossible.

2. To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness.

3. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

4. Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.

5. The one thing that over comes hard luck is hard work.

6. The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

7. The best prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

8. Sometimes it takes a disaster to wake us up and make us realize the blessings we have.

9. Too often it takes a direct confrontation with one's mortality to learn the value of the
limited time we have on earth.

10. Many of us believe that time is money. Time isn't money; time is everything. The way
we spend our time is what our life is all about.

Lesson of the day 1418

Ayahs of the Day:
If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden, WE will remit from you your evil deeds, and make you enter a Gate of Honor. And do not covet the things in which Allah has made some of you excel others. To men is allotted a share of what they earn, and to women a share of what they earn, (Do not fall prey to envy), but ask Allah of His bounty. For Allah has
full knowledge of all things. [4: 31,32]

Hadith of the Day: 
The most excellent worship is expectation of relief. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
You can't separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. [Malcolm X]

Guidance of the Day: 
The root cause of all of the diseases of the heart is love of the temporal world and self satisfaction. The source of every disobedience, indifference, and passion is self satisfaction. The source of every obedience, vigilance, and virtue is dissatisfaction with one's self. It is better for you to keep company with an ignorant man dissatisfied with himself than to keep company with a learned man satisfied with himself. For what knowledge is there in a self satisfied scholar? And what ignorance is there in an unlearned man dissatisfied with himself?

There are three signs of being overly content with the soul. First is being sensitive to one's own rights and indifferent to the rights of others. In Islam, one's responsibilities preponderate over one's rights. The second is ignoring one's faults, as if he has none, while being preoccupied with the faults of others. A contented eye does not see faults. The third sign is giving oneself too much leniency. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
An educated person learns from all ages, even from the last minutes of his life, he accepts and understands his own mortality and its reasons. he understands that without death and aging nothing would have any meaning.

Secrets of Success....

When I woke up this morning I asked myself;
What are some of the secrets of success in life?

I found the answer right there in my room;

The fan said; Be cool.
The roof said; Aim high.

The window said; See the world.
The clock said; Every minute is precious.

The mirror said; Reflect before you react.
The door said; Push hard for you goals.

And don't forget, the carpet said;
Kneel down and pray.

Have a beautiful day!

Pearls of Wisdom 410

1.People look at secondary causes and think they are the origin of everything
that happens, but it has been revealed to the saints that secondary causes
are no more than a veil.

2. Each and every part of the world is a snare for the fool, and a means of
deliverance for the wise.

3. When patience and intellect go, your ego incites to evil.

4. The sensual ego is blind and deaf to God.

5. Things become clear through their opposites. God created suffering
and heartache so that joyful-heart might appear through its opposite.

6. No opposite can be known without its opposite. Having suffered a
blow, you will know a caress.

7. Everything is good and perfect in relation to God. For example; in a
king's realm there are prisons, gallows, robes of honor, estates, banquets,
etc. In relation to the king, everything is good.

8. Knowledge and wisdom exist to distinguish the right from the wrong,
if everything were the right way, the wisdom would be useless.

9. Commands are only proper if the act which is commanded is disliked
by him who is commanded to perform it. Like wise, it is not proper to prohibit
things which man dislikes. You cannot say; "Do not eat stones and thorns,"
and if you say it, it is not a prohibition. [Spiritual Teachings of Rumi]

Lesson of the day 1417

Ayah of the Day: 
The acts of those who repudiate their Lord are like ash blown violently by the wind on a stormy day.
They have no control over any thing they have earned, that is the outlandish error. [14: 18]

Hadith of the Day: 
Do not hate or envy one another. Instead, be slaves to Allah and brothers. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Understanding is what makes relationships. Many a spoken word is more piercing than an attack.
[Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Stay away from debt in your personal life. Debt, not poverty, is the greatest enemy of financial
well-being and peace of mind. There are massive forces arrayed in the world to tell you of the
great benefits of debt. They will tell you that by borrowing you establish your legitimacy in the
eyes of lenders, and that you can have tomorrow's pleasures at today's prices.

They will present arguments and inducements that are convincing and seductive. They dress
debt in a suit and call it credit. But it all comes down to the same thing: You have mortgaged
your future to pay for your present, and this is something you don't ever want to do. Debt can
 make you money because it allows you to invest. Debt can help you in the present and leave
your problems for what you hope will be a better time in the future.

But debt defines your future, and when your future is defined, hope begins to die. You have
committed your life to making money to pay for your past. Stay away from debt if you can.
There is no sadder sight than the person with dreams and promise whose eyes have dulled
 and whose days are spent pushing the heavy wheel of debt toward an endless horizon.
[Simple Truths by Kent Nerburn]

Food for Thought:
Be careful what you wish for. The faculties of humanity were not given in order to gain
worldly life like an animal.

Purification....

 

Pearls of Wisdom 409

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

2. Every attribute that appears in the heart leaves traces on the limbs, and every action
of the limbs can leave traces in the heart, so the relationship is reciprocal. [Zafar Othmani]

3. The quality of our supplication (dua) depends upon the purity of our hearts, for it is
with our hearts that we connect to God. [Imam Mohammad Magid]

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

5. Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, can never be retrieved. Do not be like the
deceived fools who are joyous because of an increase in their wealth while their life
shortens. [Imama al Haddad]

6. The disobedience that begets humility and broken heartedness is better than the
obedience that begets honor and pride. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

7. Whoever truly follow the Prophet (peace be upon him) do not have their own
choice in matters. Rather, nothing stirs in their hearts except that which Allah and
His messenger love. [Sahl al Tustari]

8. Be with the people in such a way that if you should die, they weep for you; and if
you live, they long for you. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

9. If you do not believe that God can take you at this moment and make you one of
His saintly believers (awliya), then you are ignorant of His power. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

10. Be not content with the stories of those who went before you -- go forth and create
your own story. [Maulana Rumi]

Family, place of forgiveness....

There is no perfect  family. We do not have perfect parents, we are not perfect,
we do not marry a perfect person or have perfect children. We have complaints
from each other. We disappoint each other.

As such there is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of
forgiveness.Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival.
Without forgiveness the family becomes an arena of conflict and a stronghold
of hurt.

Without forgiveness, the family becomes ill. Forgiveness is the strength of the soul,
the cleansing of the mind and the liberation of the heart. Whoever does not forgive
does not have peace in the soul nor communion with God. Hurt is poison that
intoxicates and kills.

Keeping heartache in the heart is a self destructive gesture. Those who do not
forgive are physically, emotionally and spiritually ill.

That is why the family must be a place of life, not of death; Territory of cure and
not of illness; Stage of forgiveness and not of guilt.

Forgiveness brings joy where sorrow has produced sadness; Healing, where sorrow
has caused disease.

Lesson of the day 1416

Ayahs of the day:
To God belongs the East and the West; and wheresoever you turn, there is the presence
of God. For God is omnipresent and omniscient. [2: 115]

Hadith of the day:
Anyone who shows the way to something good has the same reward as the person who
does it. [Muslim]

Wise quote of the day:
Give priority to the Hereafter over this world, because you will then gain both of them
together. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Guidance of the day:
God revealed religion out of His mercy, because we need it and cannot be truly human
without it. Only those who have passed through the trials of religious experience are
worthy of eternal happiness and will be distinguished in the Hereafter.

True religion is the assemblage of Divine Revelations and Divine Laws by which we can
know bliss in this world and the next. Our peace and happiness depend upon leading a
religious life, for only through religion can the Law be observed in all the inner and outer
spheres of our existence. Only religion makes it possible for us to deserve Paradise and
the vision of God. Such achievements are beyond the power of every human-made
civilization, regardless of how advanced they are. [M. Fethullah Gulen]

Food for thought:
So little done; so much to do. Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed,
nothing else can be managed. Don't simply retire from something, have something
to retire to.

Pearls of Wisdom 408

1. Live with heart, body, and soul for today only, without dwelling upon the past
and without being anxious for the future.

2. Being preoccupied with the past and dragging past woes into present -- these are
the signs of an unstable and unsound mind.

3. Idleness is destructive, and most people who suffer from worries and anxieties
are the same people who are idle and inactive.

4. Rumors and gossip are the only dividends for those that are bankrupt of
meaningful and fruitful work.

5. Do what is right, and turn your back to every vulgar criticism.

6. Forbearance buries the faults, tolerance is superior, silence conquers the
enemy, and forgiveness is honor for which we shall be rewarded.

7. When facing criticism or unjust rebuke, those who have sensitive feelings
must pour a certain amount of coolness into their nerves by force.

8. Forbearance in the times of distress is the path to both success and happiness.

9. Higher goals are not achieved through dreaming or fantasizing; they can only
be reached through dedication and commitment.

10. Hardships strengthen our heart, atones for our sins, and helps to suppress
an inclination towards pride and haughtiness.

Thanksgiving is the gratitude we need to develop....

1. "Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you." Eileen Caddy

2. "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

3. "Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude." Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. "Perhaps you went to bed last night thinking about the overdue bills, the lack of finances, the problematic people and situations you have to face. This morning you woke up. Did you give thanks? If you didn't, it is probably because you forgot that when praise goes up, the blessings come down. That should be enough to inspire you to be thankful." Iyanla Vanzant

5. "Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings." Elizabeth Gilbert

6. "Gratitude is like a magnet; the more grateful you are, the more you will receive to be grateful for."  Iyanla Vanzant

7. "The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” Neale Donald Walsch

8. "Real love is opening your heart to the unlovable. Real gratitude is giving thanks when things aren't perfect. Real generosity is sharing when you have very little. Real courage makes the 'impossible' --possible, with real faith." Bryant McGill

9. "I would like to thank every single person who has ever been unkind to me.  You taught me to be even kinder to others." Steven Aitchison

10."When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow." Shauna Niequist

11. "There will always be people in your life who treat you wrong. Be sure to thank them for making you strong."  Zig Ziglar

12. "Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life."Jack Canfield

13. "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."Marianne Williamson

14. "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." Meister Eckhart

15. "The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” -- Dalai Lama

16. "Happy are those who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things in life." Unknown Author

17. "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

18. "When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day." Paulo Coelho

19. "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” Maya Angelou

20. "The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” Henry Ward Beecher

Understanding Jihad....

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.

Lesson of the day 1415

Ayahs of the day:
And do not insult what they pray to besides God, lest they revile God in a hostile way, without knowledge. Thus do We make every people's actions seem charming to them; but then their return will be to their Lord, who will inform them of what they had been doing. [6: 108]

Hadith of the day:
Whoever desires that Allah increase his provision and extend his life, let him maintain his family ties. [Bukhari]

Wise quote of the day:
O my people prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani]

Guidance of the day:
The essence of gratitude is for the servant to know that all the favors in his possession, outward as well as inward, are from God and by His grace and munificence. It is part of gratitude to rejoice and to thank in the presence of favors because they are the means to work in God's obedience and attain to His proximity.

It is part of gratitude to busy oneself with God's obedience, use His favors as a help in doing so, and use them as God likes them to be used - this is the utmost gratitude. One should not become arrogant, boast before others of the blessings he has been granted, transgress, wrong others, or overstep the limits in dealing with them. He who does so has not been thankful, but has denied God's favors. Denial leads to dispossession and to one's blessings being changed into afflictions. He who shows gratitude deserves goodness and increase. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]

Food for thought:
Marriage, like money is still with us, and, like money, progressively devalued. In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.The bonds of matrimony are like any other bond -- they come slowly.

Wonderfully described definitions...

*CIGARETTE:*
A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other!

*MARRIAGE:*
It's an agreement wherein a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman
gains her master

*LECTURE:*
An art of transmitting Information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes
of students
without passing through the minds of either

*CONFERENCE:* 
The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present

*COMPROMISE:*
The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes
he got the biggest piece

*TEARS:*
The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine
water-power!

*DICTIONARY:*
A place where divorce comes before marriage and success before work.

*CONFERENCE ROOM:*
A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees
later on

*CLASSIC:*
A book which people praise, but never read

*SMILE:*
A curve that can set a lot of things straight!

*ETC:* 
A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do

*COMMITTEE:* 
Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing
can be done together

*EXPERIENCE:*
The name men give to their Mistakes

*ATOM BOMB:* 
An invention to bring an end to all inventions

*DIPLOMAT:*
A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look
 forward to the trip

*OPPORTUNIST:*
A person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river

*MISER:*
A person who lives poor so that he can die RICH!

*FATHER:*
A banker provided by nature

*CRIMINAL:*
A guy no different from the other, unless he gets caught

*BOSS:*
Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early

*POLITICIAN:* 
One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence
Later

*DOCTOR:* 
A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by his bills!

What we can learn from a donkey....

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries – Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have - Avoid "Israf" (extravagance, waste).
4. Give more - Charity purifies the soul.
5. Expect less from people but more from yourself -  Practice "Ihsan" (perfect goodness).
____
Source: haqislam.org

Pearls of Wisdom 407

1. There is a big difference between having a good time, and having time to be good.

2. A credit card adds to your credit; but adds even more to your creditors.

3. A truth told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent.

4. Friendship is a living thing that lasts as long as it is nourished with kindness, sympathy,
and understanding.

5. True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.

6. Discussion is an exchange of knowledge. Argument is an exchange of ignorance.

7. Tell your child to lie for you, and your child will learn to lie to you.

8. A good leader takes a little more than his share of blame, and a little less than his share
of credit.

9. The pursuit of happiness is the wrong goal. You don't become happy by pursuing
happiness. You become happy by living a life that means something.

10. One human being is no human being. None of us can truly be human in isolation.
The qualities that make us human emerge only in the ways we relate to other people.

Lesson of the day 1414

Ayahs of the Day:
Say, "Travel the earth and see how those before you ended up; most of them were idolaters." so set your aim for true religion before there comes a day from God that cannot be averted -- on that day they will be divided. [30: 42,43]

Hadith of the Day:
The one who is unthankful for whatever little he gets will not become thankful when he is given a lot. [Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
You disobey Him using His favors, yet disobedience does not make Him withhold His favors. How can you love other than this Generous God? Or how could you disobey this Compassionate Lord? [Imam al-Haddad]

Guidance of the Day:
Are you dedicated to your development physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually? Dedicate yourself above all else to becoming the-best-version-of-yourself. It is the best thing you can do for your spouse, your children, your friends, your colleagues, your employees, your employer, your nation, your family, and yourself. The best thing you can do is to become the-best-version-of yourself, because it is doing with a purpose. Embrace your essential purpose. Celebrate your best self. [Kelly, The Rhythm of Life]

Food for Thought:
Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with the things that move us toward progress and peace. Think in terms of day's resolutions, not the year's. To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy -- is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them.

Acceptance and Surrender....

Acceptance

1. When we don't accept an undesired event, it becomes anger;
when we accept it, it becomes tolerance.

2. When we don't accept uncertainty, it becomes fear;
when we accept it, it becomes adventure.

3. When we don't accept bad behavior of others towards us, it becomes
hatred; when we accept it, it becomes forgiveness.

4. When we don't accept success of others, it becomes jealousy;
when we accept it, it becomes inspiration.

Surrender

1. When we are wrong and we surrender, it means we are
honest.

2. When we are in doubt and we surrender, it means we are
wise.

3. When we are right and we surrender, it means we value
our relations.

Worst Container....

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and a third for his breath.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

Eating and drinking is not the be all and end all of man’s life. The main purpose of our creation is to fulfill our oath of allegiance to Allah [Quran, Surah Al-A’raaf] and earn our place in Jannah. To do so a healthy body helps and a healthy body is maintained by keeping a part of our stomachs empty at meal times. We need to stop eating while we still feel a little hungry. To constantly keep eating till we feel satiated causes our stomachs to go bad. We would, therefore, be well advised to eat only as much as is necessary. [Daily Hadith]

Cure in forgiveness....

Watch "Forgiveness is medicine . according to scientists. .as indicated by our prophet Muhammad Peace and blessings upon him" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/7iMsYKCkKdg

Pearls of Wisdom 406

1. Other people may complicate our lives, but life without them would be unbearably desolate.

2. Don't just do what you feel like doing; instead do what the Lord asks of you.

3. Who is wealthy? He who is content with what he has.

4. The fear of God may indeed be the beginning of wisdom and the corner stone of proper living.

5. When we have learned how to live, life itself is a reward.

6. It is only when you are no longer afraid to die that you can say that you are truly alive.

7. It is a sign of maturity when we stop asking -- what does life have in store for me?
And start asking -- what am I doing with my life?

8. There is no way to prevent dying. But the cure for the fear of death is to make sure
that you have lived according to the commandments of the Lord Almighty.

9. Having an impact on another person, shaping his or her life in some small but vital way,
is one of the most enduring satisfactions we will know.

10. Life, if you will, is a work of art, and if we paid loving attention to its details, we will
be able to take pride in the finished product.

Incomplete Day.....

The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Fear Allah wherever you may be,

follow an evil deed with a good one and it will erase it, and treat people well.” [Tirmidhi]



Commentary: How many a person there is who has met a day he didn't complete! \

How many wait for tomorrow who don't find it!



Each one of us will meet a day that we will not complete. And none of us knows which

day it will be.

Therefore, don't procrastinate and stop playing around with your Akhirah. Fix your deeds

today. Do whatever good you can and drop evil today, just in case today is destined to be

your incomplete day.

Surely when Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala) wills good for a servant He puts his sins before his

two eyes. When He wills bad for a servant He makes him forget his sins.

Don't look at the smallness of the sin, rather look at the One you disobeyed!



Taking Minor Sins For Granted ᴴᴰ ┇ Thought Provoking ┇ By Sheikh Bilal Assad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNpC8UPGBW0
---

Time -- the most precious thing

1. We need to live mindful of how brief our life is -- there is but a step
between us and death.

2. Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank -- the highest value of time is found in the stewardship of time.

3. The most important thing in our lives is what we are doing now -- wasted time means wasted lives.

4. Know the true value of time -- no idleness, no laziness, no procrastination, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

5. Time is the most precious gift of God -- so precious that it's given to us moment by moment.

6. As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time -- spend it wisely.

7. Dollars cannot buy yesterday, lost time is never found -- time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.

8. Time is the substance of life -- when anyone asks you to give your time, they are really asking for a chunk of your life.

9. Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of -- one man gets only a week's value out of a year while another man gets a full year's value out of a week.

10. Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and  place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.

11. The one who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life.

Lesson of the day 1413

Ayah of the Day: 
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor; for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do. [4: 135]

Hadith of the Day: 
Leave those things which create doubts in your mind and adopt that which does not create any doubt in your mind. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
It was not the Muslims that had made Islam great, rather it was Islam that had made the Muslims great. [Mohammad Asad]

Guidance of the Day: 
Learn! for learning is an adornment for one who possesses it, a virtue and a prelude to every praiseworthy action. Profit each day by increasing (your) learning and swimming in the seas of beneficial knowledge.

Give yourself to the study of jurisprudence (fiqh), for the knowledge of jurisprudence is the best guide to piety and the fear of God, and it is the straightest path to the ultimate goal. It is the milestone leading to the ways of proper guidance; it is the fortress that saves (one) from all hardships. Indeed, one godly person versed in jurisprudence is more powerful against Satan than a thousand (ordinary) worshippers.

Likewise, knowledge has a bearing on all other human characters, such as generosity and avarice, cowardice and courage, arrogance and humility, chastity and debauchery, prodigality and parsimony, and so on. For arrogance, avarice, cowardice, and prodigality are illicit. Only through knowledge of them and their opposites is protection against them possible. Learning, then, is prescribed for all of us. [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al Zarnuji]

Food for Thought: 
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness, it is the sweetest revenge. The glory of Islam is to conquer by forgiveness. Forgiveness does not change the past but it changes the future. Forgiveness is a means letting go of the past.

Long for the heart of a bird....

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) said: “There will enter Jannah people whose hearts will be like the hearts of birds.” [Muslim]

This hadith sums up the qualities of the people worthy of Jannah.

Firstly, just as the hearts of birds are free of jealousy, the hearts of the people deserving Jannah are free of jealousy, rancor, and envy.

Secondly, just as birds are always alert (cautious of any danger), the hearts of the people of Jannah are also alert and wakeful. They worry about their Akhirah, they are alert to not stray off the Straight Path, they are vigilant against the whispering of Satan, and their hearts are active in the remembrance of Allah Most High.

Thirdly, just as birds trust in Allah for their food, the people of Jannah have complete trust in Allah Most High. Birds don’t store food for the next day, nor indeed for any contingency. They go out hungry from their nests every morning but return with full stomachs every evening. The people worthy of Jannah similarly have complete trust (Tawakkul) in Allah regarding not only their sustenance, but, their very existence.

May my heart become like the heart of a bird. Ameen.

Pearls of Wisdom 405

1. There's only one thing more contagious than the measles; and that's a good example.

2. The reason many people don't climb the ladder of success is that they are waiting for
the elevator.

3. The human soul is not made for jealousy and revenge.

4. "Today is my only day" is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of
happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

5. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable -- but
desire to be accepted by God.

6. This is the way of the noble: they face difficulties with firm resolution, and they wrestle
hardship to the ground.

7. Do not be preoccupied with matters that are insignificant. If you follow this advice, you
will find that most of your worries will have left you.

8. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love for
spreading goodness to all those that are connected to it.

9. If you seek happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find
anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.

10. Live every day as if it were the last day of your life -- with this frame of mind and
outlook toward life, you have no reason to allow sadness or anger to steal the little time
you have.

Lesson of the day 1412

Ayahs of the Day: 
If He wished, He could destroy you, O mankind, and create another race; for He has power to do this. Anyone who wants a worldly prize (should know) God holds the worldly prize plus another in the Hereafter. God is Alert, Observant. [4: 133,134]

Hadith of the Day: 
None of you should pray for (his own) death, because if he is a good person, it is possible that he might add to his virtuous deeds, and if he is not a good person he might get a chance to rectify his (evil) past. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
The action which is sincere and incorrect is not accepted, and the one which is correct and insincere is not accepted. It is only accepted when it is sincere and correct. [Shaykh Faraz Rabbani]

Guidance of the Day: 
The true ascetic is he who is careful to protect himself from dubious and unsanctioned practices in commerce. The same (attitude) applies to all other occupations and professions. Anyone who works in a given field is duty bound to learn how to guard against what is forbidden therein. This is also obligatory with knowledge of the conditions of the heart, such as complete reliance on God, repentance, fear, satisfaction (with God's decree)----for this applies to people of every walk of life.

The nobility of learning is not foreign to anyone, since it is something peculiar to all mankind. With the exception of knowledge, humans as well as animals are associated with several virtues, such as valor, courage, strength, generosity, and compassion. Learning, however, is the exception. Through it, God revealed the preeminence of Adam (peace be upon him) over the angels whom He commanded to prostrate themselves before (this first human). Learning is indeed noble, for it leads to a fear of God which entitles (the believer to receive) God's benevolence and eternal bliss (in the Hereafter). [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al Zarnuji]

Food for Thought: 
Life is an adventure in forgiveness. It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every man has need to be forgiven.

Are We Brothers and Helpers?

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “All Muslims are sacred to Muslims: they are brothers and helpers to one another.” [Nasai]

Based on this hadith what I need to ask myself is:

Do I treat the honour and reputation of other Muslims as sacred and inviolable or do I backbite about them?

Do I treat the property and privacy of other Muslims as sacred and inviolable or do I steal, borrow without asking, or look through their private things?

Do I treat the life of other Muslims as sacred and inviolable or do I justify the actions of those who kill them?

Do I help other Muslims when they ask for help or do I withhold my time and resources from them?

Do I consider the problems of other Muslims as my problems or do I run away from them?
[Daily Hadith]

Most needed reminders.....

Ramadan Mubarak!!!

God says, concerning His Majestic Book: The Month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind, [containing] clear proofs of guidance, and the criterion of distinguishing right from wrong. Al-Qur’an 2:185

We encourage all of the believers to refrain from all of the ruinations of the tongue during Ramadan. In his seminal work, “Quickening the Religious Sciences,” Imam al-Ghazali mentions them as the following:

a) Speaking in matters that do not concern one.

b) Excessive speech.

c) Speaking about sinful matters.

d) Disputation and contestation.

e) Argumentation.

f) Excessively embellished speech.

g) Lewd, insulting, or crude speech.

h) Invoking the Curse of God on someone.

i) Singing indecent songs, or relating immoral poetry.

j) Excessive joking.

k) Sarcasm and ridicule.

l) Revealing secrets.

m) False promises.

n) Lying and false oaths.

o) Backbiting and slander.

p) Instigating tense relations between people.

q) Being two-faced.

r) Praising someone who is either undeserving, or unable to remain humble when praised.

s) Speaking about involved subjects and ideas one lacks the necessary knowledge or eloquence to adequately convey.

t) Ordinary folk speaking in subjects that are the domain of specialists.

May God spare us from these ruinations both during and after Ramadan.

The Prophet, Peace and Blessing of Almighty God be upon Him, said: “Whoever fails to leave off ruinous speech, and acting on it [during Ramadan], God does not need him to leave off eating and drinking.” Al-Bukahri

We encourage the believers to avoid all arguments, disputes, and unnecessary worldly entanglements during this blessed month. This is a time for deep devotion and dedication to Allah.

We encourage the believers to work to restore any severed relations or kinship ties they may be experiencing. This is a time when the gentle breezes of Divine Facilitation are blowing. Any good we endeavor during this blessed month will come to bear its proper fruits, Insha Allah.

We encourage all of the believers to eat simply during this month. One should try to make a vow to give up unnecessary, and generally unhealthy fare during this blessed month. Pizza, ice cream, fast food, pastries, and soda should all go. We should make our solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in other lands real, and not something confined to speeches and pamphlets.

If one is in the habit of watching television, or listening to commercial music, one should also try to give these things up for Ramadan. They are things that divert us from the remembrance of God in any case. During this special month when every letter we recite from the Majestic Qur’an is tremendously rewarded, we should busy ourselves with recitation, and drop other pastimes.

Married believers should encourage their wives to engage in spiritual pursuits during this month, i.e. reciting the Qur’an, attending Tarawih, etc. They should especially avoid burdening their wives with long hours in the kitchen in order to host extravagant Iftars. While it is certainly virtuous to provide the wherewithal for the believers to break their fast, dates, water, and simple dishes suffice in that regard.

These are some of the things we wanted to convey to you. Hopefully, they will prove of benefit. Again, we wish you a very successful Ramadan and would like to thank all of you for past, present, and future support. May Allah bless us to serve you better in the future.

On behalf of the Zaytuna Staff,

Your Brother in Islam,

Imam Zaid Shakir

Pearls of Wisdom 404

1. There's only one thing more contagious than the measles; and that's a good example.

2. The reason many people don't climb the ladder of success is that they are waiting for the elevator.

3. The human soul is not made for jealousy and revenge.

4. "Today is my only day" is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

5. If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable--But desire to be accepted by God.

6. This is the way of the noble: they face difficulties with firm resolution, and they wrestle hardship to the ground.

7. Do not be preoccupied with matters that are insignificant. If you follow this advice, you will find that most of your worries will have left you.

8. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love for spreading goodness to all those that are connected to it.

9. If you seek happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.

10. Live every day as if it were the last day of your life -- with this frame of mind and outlook toward life, you have no reason to allow sadness or anger to steal the little time you have.