Lesson of the day 1425

Ayahs of the Day: 
Is the man who follows the good pleasure of Allah, like the one who draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and whose abode is in Hell? A woeful refuge! They are in varying grades in the sight of Allah, and Allah sees well, all that they do. [3: 162, 163]

Hadith of the Day: 
Hell lies hidden behind evil (worldly desires) and Paradise is screened behind hard labour. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Organize your devotional practices and you will find your time is extended due to the baraka (blessings) in it. [Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]

Guidance of the Day: 
Fakhr is the loathsome practice of bragging. Exceptionally odious is the practice of bragging about what one has not done or exerted any effort toward, like bragging about one's ancestry and borrowing from some past nobility.

Boasting is a problematic behavior that universally evokes objection and is considered a spiritual disease. No one likes a boaster, the person who cannot be in the company of others without speaking about himself or drawing attention to what he has done.

The force behind the culture of boasting is kibr (arrogance). The most villainous beings in history were filled with arrogance and false pride. God recompenses the arrogant ones by turning them away from understanding His Book, His Prophets, and His Signs placed in the horizons and in one's own self. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought: 
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you really want to test a man's character, give him power.

Pearls of Wisdoms 426

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.

Life Advice....

1. Always be the best person you can be.

2. Be kind even when you are tired.

3. Be understanding even when you are angry.

4. Do more than you are asked, and don't ask
for anything in return.

5. Don't silently expect anything either.

6. Listen when someone talks, and really
listen too, stop just thinking of how you'll
reply.

7. Tell people that you love them and that
you appreciate them.

8. Go out of your way to do things for people.

9. When you mess up, make up for it in the next
moment or minute or day.

10. Never spend your time trying to prove anyone
that you are great, your actions will speak for
themselves.

11. We only have limited time on this earth, don't
waste it.

12. If someone doesn't see your light, don't worry.
Like moths, good people are attracted to flame
and to light, and they will come.

Lesson of the Day 1424

Ayahs of the Day: 
If Allah helps you, none can overcome you. If He forsakes you, who is there, after that,
that can help you? In Allah, then, let believers put their trust. No Prophet could (ever) be
false to their trust. If any person is so false, He shall on the Day of judgment, restore what
he misappropriated, then shall every soul receive its due, whatever it earned and none shall
be dealt with unjustly. [3: 160, 161]

Hadith of the Day: 
Should you come across some mishap, do not say: "Had I only done this and that things would
have turned out so and so; but say only Allah so determines and did as He willed." Because the
Phrase; "Had I" only opens the gates of evil conduct. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
You possess only whatever will not be lost in a ship wreck. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day: 
Ghill is a malady of the heart that is closely related to rancor, extreme anger, and malice.Rancor
is a pungent emotion that is rooted in being extremely angry at a person to the point that one
wishes harm to come to him. But the ultimate victim of rancor is its carrier.

If a person feels rancor toward a particular person, he should show that person good will. By nature,
people are naturally inclined to love those who do good to them. And if one shows a person good,
feelings of rancor will fall to the wayside. Satan rejoices when believers fight with one another and
bear negative thoughts.

If a person has rancor toward another believer, God shall not forgive that person until he forgives
his brother, for rancor is a serious affliction that festers in one's heart and blocks good things from
coming to one. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought: 
Don't let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego
doesn't go with it.

Pearls of Wisdom 425

1. War destroys men, but luxury destroys mankind; at once corrupts the body and the mind.

2. Luxury may possibly contribute to give bread to the poor; but if there were no luxury, there
would be no poor.

3. We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities.

4. A simple and unassuming manner of life is best for every one, best for both the body and
the mind.

5. The liar's punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone.

6. Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all.

7. A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.

8. Marriage is that relationship between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the
dependence mutual, and the obligation reciprocal.

9. The mind is like the stomach. It is not how much you put into it that counts, but how much it digests.
Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.

10. Life is not a static thing. The only people who do not change their minds are incompetents
in asylums, who can't, and those in cemeteries.

Alone....

Responsibility is upon our shoulders:

(And Allah will say): "Now you have come to Us alone even
as We had created you in the first instance...."
[surah Al Anaam: 94]

Our survival on the Day of judgment is a personal project....

On this day, we will stand alone....

We will not be able to use the shortcomings of scholars or
people as an excuse for our own,

nor can we blame it on the deviation of the famous or those
who are unknown,

nor on the abandonment and betrayal of those closest to
us or those who are far....

Our life is a test we take alone...

We need to do good for ourself and strive for our soul's salvation,

even if all the people around us are tempted to sin,

and are negligent in religious matters,

and abstain from doing good....

Remember.... We alone will be held accountable for our
actions and not others.

Lesson of the day 1423

Ayah of the Day: 
It is part of the mercy of Allah that you deal gently with them, If you were severe and harsh hearted, they would have broken away from about you, so pardon their faults, and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them, and consult them in affairs (of the community). Then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him). [3: 159]

Hadith of the Day: 
People are great losers in respect of two bounties, i.e. health and affluence, as a result of which they do not worship Allah as much as they ought to. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day: 
Be extremely vigilant about avoiding positions of leadership, but should you be tried with such matters at least know your limitations. [Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]

Guidance of the Day: 
People who turn away from the truth, God increases there heedlessness. What is interesting about heedlessness is that every one will eventually be cured of it, no matter the extent of this disease. The challenge is to be cured in this life, when it counts, when our obedience in the arena of tests and trials holds out meaning.

The moment a person dies, veils are let down. Even the denizens of Hellfire will no longer live in the Hell of heedlessness. We were created to remember God, and if it takes the heat of Hell to remind some, then so be it.

We ask God to make us among those who remember Him in this life and among those who are saved in the Hereafter, ameen. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought: 
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Pearls of Wisdom 424

1. Your souls are precious and can only be equal to the price of Paradise,
therefore sell them only for that.

2. Islam is not just a religion, Islam is everything.

3. When you mention your companion's faults, remember your own faults.

4. Learn silence as you have learned speech. Speech will guide you, and
silence will protect you.

5. Whoever desires Paradise proceeds towards goodness, whoever fears Hell
refrains from the impulses of passions.

6. Many things in life will catch your eye, but few will catch your heart, pursue
those.

7. If you are good, try to be better.

8. Only someone who is sincere recognizes what showing off is.

9. Knowledge is not merely the narrating of texts. Rather knowledge is fear of
Allah.

10. The root of good character is humility and the root of base character is
arrogance.

Ten signs of good manners....

Yusuf ibn Asbat said:

There are ten signs of good manner, and they are:

1. Little arguing;

2. Listening well;

3. Avoiding searching for short comings;

4. Covering mistakes;

5. Finding excuses;

6. Patience when annoyed;

7. Blaming one's own self;

8. Seeking one's own faults rather than other
people's faults;

9. Having a beaming face with the young and
old;

10. Saying kind words to those who are below
or above one (with regards to religious knowledge,
righteousness, social status, and so forth).

[Al-Ihya, vol.3,]

Lesson of the day 1422

Tips to make the upcoming Ramadan more blessed and productive towards attaining taqwa/righteouness:

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 extravagantIftars.

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 423

1. If someone wants to know what position he enjoys in the eyes of God, he has only to look at what place he gives God in his heart and life.

2. Do not sit idle, for indeed death is seeking you.

3. Meet people in such a manner that if you die, they should weep for you, and if you live they should long for you.

4. Whoever desires to purify his heart then let him prefer Allah to his desires.

5. What we love to have with us in the Hereafter we should advance today, and what we hate to have with us in the Hereafter we should abandon today.

6. If we want to talk to Allah, we should perform salah, if we want Allah to talk to us, we should read Qur'an.

7. Be hard on yourself, easy on others.

8. Action is the biggest measurement of knowledge.

9. Love your Lord by serving Him, for lovers are but servants of the Beloved.

10. Put down your pride, set down your arrogance and remember your grave.

Practical Advice on Parenting....

Dalia Magahed

I often get asked for advice about how to parent rebellious
teenagers by struggling parents. I'am usually like "please
let me know when you find out."

So what I'm about to share is from the deepest part of humility.
It's hard as hell. But there are a few thoughts on the matter,
things that have helped me and that I've observed in the lives
of others.

1. Know this: your kids are separate human beings, not a
reflection of you. They are not trophies. They cannot be
extensions of your ambitions, unfulfilled dreams or to make
up for what you failed to achieve. They don't exist to be
your fulfillment. They are servants of God. Allow them their
individual dreams, personalities, goals.

2. Even if they don't tell you, you are still their first and
biggest example. Be a person they can respect and
admire without being shamed into doing so. Work on
yourself so that the kind of man or woman you wish them
to grow up to be would look up to someone like you. Be
a role model. Be kind, generous and patient if that's what
you'd like for them. Call your parents. Cook for your sick
friend. They will do what you do, not what you say.

3. Humans have at least three essential needs: security,
belonging and purpose. They will find and fulfill these
needs, or numb the unfulfillment of them, one way or
another. If the home doesn't provide a safe space to be
who they are and be loved, they will find that elsewhere.
If the home and the mosque isn't a place of belonging,
they will find that elsewhere. If they have no sense of
purpose other than avoiding punishment, they will
search for it elsewhere or numb it's absence.

4. Your kids will likely disappoint you on occasion, or a
lot. Refer to point number one. You can do everything
perfectly and you still won't have perfect kids. It's not
your fault. Prophets had kids who rebelled. It doesn't
mean you failed. They are not an extension of you.
They have agency. We are only accountable for our
intentions and actions, not the way others behave,
even our kids. Don't indulge in self flagellation.

5. If your kids are perfect, praise the Lord, not yourself.
Don't take credit. Children are a gift, like health or wealth.
Those who say "it's because of my own effort" weren't
dealt kindly in the Quran. Don't feel superior to another
parent who is struggling anymore than you should look
down on a person with less money than you. God gives
to who He pleases. It's not a sign of your awesomeness.
It's a sign of His generosity.

Lesson of the day 1421

Ayah of the Day 
When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed (close to them), I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me. That they may walk in the right way. (2: 186)

Hadith of the Day
If you were to rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full. (Tirmidhi).

Wise Quote of the Day 
If someone's state does not lift you up, and his words do not lead you to Allah, then do not keep his company. (Ibn ata Illah)

Guidance of the Day 
Ramadan is a merciful portal of time that opens and then closes, and none of us know whether or not we will see another Ramadan. So seize the moment to gain God's mercy, forgiveness and salvation. There is no capital more worthy of our concern and effort than this.

The time between late afternoon and sunset is a special time for Dhikr. Asr time is the signaling of the end of another day we have been blessed to see, the sunset signifies the end of a life time. Ramadan is an exceptional opportunity to cleanse our hearts of the diseases of them. Recitation of the Quran during Ramadan is especially effective in reviving one's relationship with the book of God. (Purification of the heart)

Food for thought
The beauty of life does not depend on how happy we are, but how happy others can be because of us.

Pearls of Wisdom 422

1. Try to gladden the hearts of believers in every possible way, as long as
these ways are not sinful.

2. A man of bad character punishes his own soul.

3. The straight path is the shortest distance between the two points.

4. To advice others is an easy matter, the difficulty is accepting advice, since it is bitter for those who follow their own inclinations and desires.

5. If men wish to draw near to God, they must seek Him in the hearts of the men. They should speak well of all men, whether present or absent.

6. Know that you should reflect on God's complete awareness of you, and His seeing and knowing all about you.

7. Islam will prevent us from sins, or sins will prevent us from Islam.

8. The spiritual warrior is the one who breaks an idol, and the idol of each person is his ego.

9. The lower self is greedy, teach it to be content.

10. Do not fix hopes on your health, and do not laugh away life. Remember how they walked and now their joints lie separately and the tongue with which they talked is eaten away by the worms.

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim's practical advice....

This is one of the most beautiful and amazing advice by the great scholar Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah):

A friend will not (literally) share your struggles, and a loved one cannot physically take away your pain, and a close one will not stay up the night on your behalf. So look after yourself, protect yourself, nurture yourself and don't give life's events more than what they are really worth.

Know for certain that when you break no one will heal you except you, and when you are defeated no one will give you victory except your determination. Your ability to stand up again and carry on is your responsibility.

Do not look for your self-worth in the eyes of people; look for your worth within your conscience. If your conscience is at peace then you will ascend high and if you truly know yourself then what is said about you won't harm you.

Do not carry the worries of this life because this is for Allah. And do not carry the worries of sustenance because it is from Allah. And do not carry the anxiety for the future because it is in the hands of Allah.

Carry one thing: How to please Allah. Because if you please Him, He pleases you, fulfills you and enriches you.

Do not weep for a life that made your heart weep. Just say, "O Allah compensate me with good in this life and the hereafter."

Sadness departs with a Sajdah. Happiness comes with a sincere Du'a. Allah does not forget the good you do. Nor does He forget the good that you did to others and the pain you relieved them from. Nor will He forget the eye which was about to cry but you made it laugh.

Live your life with this principle:
Be good even if you don't receive good, not because of others' sake but because Allah loves those who do good.

Lesson of the day 1420

Ayah of the day
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards east or west; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the book and the messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for him for your kin, for orphans, for needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves, to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity, to fulfill the contracts which you have made, and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of the panic. Such are people of truth, the God fearing. (2:177)

Hadith of the Day 
Any one who shows the way to something good has the same reward as the person who does it. (Muslim)

Wise Quote of the Day 
Goodness of character was the attribute of the master of messengers, and was ever the most righteous action of the truthful saints. (Imam Ghazali)

Guidance of the Day 
Taking control of the desires defeats satan. Patience is the key to spiritual wayfaring. If we do not learn patience from the act of fasting, then we have missed something about this great rite of worship.

Scholars throughout the ages recommended that in order to get the most from Ramadan one should not engage in excessive speech,this is an Islamic ethic that should be practiced in general. But in Ramadan, it is especially advised to be vigilant about what we say, since higher fasting involves the tongue. Also it is important to utilize our time well. (Purification of the heart)

Food for thought
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
__._,_.___

Pearls of Wisdom 421

1. When the inward is good the outward is also inevitably so, for the outward follows the inward,
whether for good or evil.

2. Prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by
arguing about it.

3. You must fill your time with worship so that no period of time elapses whether by night or by day,
without being used in some act of goodness.

4. Good character consists in three traits: avoiding that which is forbidden, seeking that which is
permitted, and being generous.

5. Whoever busies himself with that which does not concern him, then he misses out on much of
that which does concern him.

6. If we spend our time paying attention to the wisdom of our heart rather than the wisdom of our
head, we will benefit greatly.

7. Love is always the answer to every question and problem. We are here to love and be loved and
learn a few things in the process.

8. To begin anew, we must say good-bye to who we once were.

9. Have the courage to begin the new life that each day brings you. No matter what changes and
losses you have experienced, step back and see where you need to begin.

10. How do we find joy in our lives? Too often it comes at a significant price. We learn that we are
mortal and suddenly what used to seem important isn't. Things that used to bother us don't anymore.
What then becomes significant are the people who we love and who love us.

Lessons to be learnt.....

Steve Gouves dies a billionaire, with a fortune of $ 7 billion, at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer,
and here are some of his last words:

In other eyes, my life is the essence of success, but aside from work, I have a little joy, and in the end
wealth is just a fact of life to which I am accustomed.

At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death.

You can hire someone to drive a car for you, make money for you – but you can not rent someone to carry the disease for you. One can find material things, but there is one thing that can not be found when it is lost – “life”.

Treat yourself well, and cherish others. As we get older we are smarter, and we slowly realize that the watch is worth $ 30 or $ 300 – both of which show the same time.

Whether we carry a purse worth $ 30 or $ 300 – the amount of money in the wallets are the same.

Whether we drive a car worth $ 150,000, or a car worth $ 30,000 – the road and distance are the same, we reach the same destination.

If the house we live in is 300 square meters, or 3000 square meters – the loneliness is the same.

Your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you’re flying first class, or economy class – if the plane crashes, you crash with it.

So, I hope you understand that when you have friends or someone to talk to – this is true happiness!

Five Undeniable Facts-

1. Do not educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. – So when they grow up they will know the value of things, not the price.

2. Eat your food as medicine, otherwise you will need to eat your medicine as food.

3. Whoever loves you will never leave you, even if he has 100 reasons to give up. He will always find one reason to hold on.

4. There is a big difference between being human and human being.

5. If you want to go fast – go alone! But if you want to go far – go together!

And in conclusion,

The six best doctors in the world.

1. Sunlight
2. Rest
3. Exercise
4. Diet
5. Self-confidence
6. Friends

Keep them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life.

“Love the people God sent you, one day he’ll need them back.”

🙏🙏Something worth sharing!🙏🙏

Lesson of the day 1419

Ayah of the Day: 
O you who believe! Be not like the Unbelievers, who say of their brethren, when they are traveling through the earth or engaged in fighting; "If they had stayed with us , they would not have died, or been slain." This is that Allah may make it a cause of sighs and regrets in their
hearts, it is Allah that gives life and death, and Allah sees well all that you do. [3: 156]

Hadith of the Day: 
The wise man is one who keeps watch over his bodily desires and passions, and checks himself from that which is harmful and strives for that which will benefit him after death; and a foolish person is one who submits himself to his cravings and desires and expects from Allah the
fulfillment of his futile desires. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Do not sit idle, for indeed death is seeking you. [Hasan al Basri]

Guidance of the Day:
The third cure for heedlessness is to invoke benedictions (durood) on the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is, in fact, a command from God the exalted Himself: O you who believe, invoke benedictions upon (the Prophet) and salutations of peace (Quran, 33:56).

There is great light associated with invoking prayers of benediction upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). If one does not have a murabbi (a spiritual mentor), then saying prayers of blessings on the Prophet (peace be upon him), will act as a murabbi. Many scholars have accounted
for the fact that prayers of blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) purifies the soul. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Success and failure are caused more by mental attitude than by mental capacities. If you listen to your fears you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been.

Pearls of Wisdom 420

1. Nothing will work until we 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.

Dear Muslimah....

Modesty is a woman's best weapon!

Be like a diamond, precious and rare, not like a stone found every where.

Every precious thing is covered! A woman modestly dressed is like a pearl in its shell.

You may not be a fairy tale princess, but you are always a princess of Islam.

Your value as a women is not measured by the size of your waist or the number of men
who like you.

Your worth as a human being is measured on a higher scale of righteousness and piety.

Hijab includes the way you walk, talk, look, and think -- all of it should be done modestly.

The sun doesn't lose its beauty when its covered by the clouds, the same way your beauty
doesn't fade when you are wearing a hijab.

Your purpose in life despite what the fashion magazines say is something more sublime
than just looking good for men.

Your beauty is for your man (husband), not for the mankind.

Even though a man is responsible for his gaze, you are responsible for what you give him
to gaze at, so guard your modesty.

Hijab with a bad attitude isn't hijab. Hijab with tight clothes on isn't hijab.
Hijab with layers of makeup isn't hijab. Hijab is beautiful, so make it look beautiful.
Wear it with love, wear it with pride, and most of all wear it Right.

The nobel prize winner Tawakkul Kamran from Yemen, when asked about her hijab by
journalists and how it is not proportionate with her intellect and education, she replied:

"Man in the early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing
clothes. What I am today and what I am wearing represents the highest level of thought
and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It's the removal of clothes
again that is regressive back to ancient times."

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.