The friends of God when they do speak,
It is the truth that flows from their mouths.
When they are silent, think them not to be mute,
For their silence is inward remembrance.
The friends of God, their glances pierce the veils of darkness,
Their ears harken to the call of the Friend for whom they are friends.
Their will surrendered to His will,
Their footsteps tracing the path to His abode.
They are immersed in the ocean of His light,
And although among us, drunk by the wine of His love,
Scintillating in the luminosity of His proximity.
O friend become a friend of God before this life ceases to flow
Enter the inner courtyard of His intimacy.
Breathe that air filled with the fragrance of His Beauty
And leave the care of the world to those whose only friend is the world.
By
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Friday, January 30, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
Lesson of the day 1370
Ayahs of the day:
And whoever chooses friendship with God and God's messenger and those who believe, it is the partisans of God who are the triumphant. [5: 56]
Hadith of the day:
Read the Qur'an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection interceding for its companions. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Of all the possessions, few are more precious than a grateful heart. It is a well-spring of belief, attaining us to the Divine presence and driving us to His worship. [Imam Magid bin Muhammad]
Guidance of the day:
Let the servant who is providentially assisted strive to nurture his ties of kinship in whatever manner he is able to -- kindness, service, gifts, donations, visits, and comforting. He should make the appropriate choice as to which of these is suitable with each of his relatives, so he will have discharged his duties toward them, nurtured his kinship bonds, and comforted them.
He should never fail to nurture his kinship bonds out of indolence or avarice, treating lightly those bonds to which God has attributed so much importance and severely threatened those who sever them. It is the servant's to do his best, according to his means, and it is God's to assist and forgive. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
No one will dare maintain that it is better to do injustice than to bear it. If you suffer injustice, console yourself, the true unhappiness is in doing it. The one who commits injustice bears the greatest burden -- he is made more wretched than he who suffers it.
And whoever chooses friendship with God and God's messenger and those who believe, it is the partisans of God who are the triumphant. [5: 56]
Hadith of the day:
Read the Qur'an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection interceding for its companions. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Of all the possessions, few are more precious than a grateful heart. It is a well-spring of belief, attaining us to the Divine presence and driving us to His worship. [Imam Magid bin Muhammad]
Guidance of the day:
Let the servant who is providentially assisted strive to nurture his ties of kinship in whatever manner he is able to -- kindness, service, gifts, donations, visits, and comforting. He should make the appropriate choice as to which of these is suitable with each of his relatives, so he will have discharged his duties toward them, nurtured his kinship bonds, and comforted them.
He should never fail to nurture his kinship bonds out of indolence or avarice, treating lightly those bonds to which God has attributed so much importance and severely threatened those who sever them. It is the servant's to do his best, according to his means, and it is God's to assist and forgive. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
No one will dare maintain that it is better to do injustice than to bear it. If you suffer injustice, console yourself, the true unhappiness is in doing it. The one who commits injustice bears the greatest burden -- he is made more wretched than he who suffers it.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Pearls of Wisdom 366
1. Be mindful of God by obeying Him, and obey God by being mindful of Him.
2. Restrain your hand that it never sheds the blood of a Muslim.
3. Restrain your stomach that it never consumes the wealth of others. [unlawfully].
4. Restrain your tongue that it is never defiled by transgressing against their honor.
[Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
5. Be pleased with what God has measured out for you and you will be the wealthiest of people.
6. Avoid what God has forbidden for you and you will be the most impeccable of people.
7. Perform the obligatory acts God, Most High, has imposed upon you and you will be the most devout of people.[Ibn Mas'ud radi Allah anhu]
8.There is no good in people who do not give sincere advice, and there is no good in people who do not love those who offer sincere advice. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
9. Do not talk about things that do not concern you, and leave much of what does concern you.
10. Do not argue with fools or clement people.
11. Only mention your brother in ways that you would love to be mentioned.
[Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
2. Restrain your hand that it never sheds the blood of a Muslim.
3. Restrain your stomach that it never consumes the wealth of others. [unlawfully].
4. Restrain your tongue that it is never defiled by transgressing against their honor.
[Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
5. Be pleased with what God has measured out for you and you will be the wealthiest of people.
6. Avoid what God has forbidden for you and you will be the most impeccable of people.
7. Perform the obligatory acts God, Most High, has imposed upon you and you will be the most devout of people.[Ibn Mas'ud radi Allah anhu]
8.There is no good in people who do not give sincere advice, and there is no good in people who do not love those who offer sincere advice. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
9. Do not talk about things that do not concern you, and leave much of what does concern you.
10. Do not argue with fools or clement people.
11. Only mention your brother in ways that you would love to be mentioned.
[Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allah anhu]
Monday, January 19, 2015
The Most Beloved Human Being who ever lived.....
He is the human being who made us believe God exists.
He is the human being who helped us become more humans.
He is the human being who showed us what success looks like.
He is the human being who humbled us more than any other.
He is the human being who inspired us more than anyone else.
He is the human being who taught us what justice is.
He is the human being who demonstrated what it is to be truly free.
He is the human being who lived like a pauper when the world was at his feet.
He is the human being who forgave those who had been trying to kill him and
his family and friends for decades.
He is the human being who we want to be like.
He is Muhammad, may blessings and peace be upon him and his family.
He is the human being who helped us become more humans.
He is the human being who showed us what success looks like.
He is the human being who humbled us more than any other.
He is the human being who inspired us more than anyone else.
He is the human being who taught us what justice is.
He is the human being who demonstrated what it is to be truly free.
He is the human being who lived like a pauper when the world was at his feet.
He is the human being who forgave those who had been trying to kill him and
his family and friends for decades.
He is the human being who we want to be like.
He is Muhammad, may blessings and peace be upon him and his family.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Lesson of the day 1369
Ayahs of the day:
Your only friends are God, the messenger of God, and the believers, those who pray regularly, give alms, and bow down. [5: 55]
Hadith of the day:
The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
As long as you neglect to guard your limbs you have neglected to fulfill what you owe to Him. [Sahl bin Abdullah]
Guidance of the day:
A person should nurture the bonds between him and his kin, even if they do not reciprocate. He should treat them kindly even if they show no such kindness to him. One should also bear whatever harm comes to him from them with patience and not retaliate. On the contrary, he should forgive and pardon, keep speaking to them, and treat them kindly.
The nearer the relative the more rights he has and the more deserving of benevolence. The weak, destitute next of kin are more deserving of help and kind treatment than more affluent ones. This is because the poor relative has two rights, that of blood relations and that of poverty. God coupled together the commands to do good to blood relations and the poor in the verses of His Book. There is no doubt that treating kindly he who has two rights takes precedence over treating kindly he who has one right only. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury. It is more noble by silence to avoid an injury than by argument to overcome it. No man ever did a designed injury to another, but at the same time he did a greater to himself.
Your only friends are God, the messenger of God, and the believers, those who pray regularly, give alms, and bow down. [5: 55]
Hadith of the day:
The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
As long as you neglect to guard your limbs you have neglected to fulfill what you owe to Him. [Sahl bin Abdullah]
Guidance of the day:
A person should nurture the bonds between him and his kin, even if they do not reciprocate. He should treat them kindly even if they show no such kindness to him. One should also bear whatever harm comes to him from them with patience and not retaliate. On the contrary, he should forgive and pardon, keep speaking to them, and treat them kindly.
The nearer the relative the more rights he has and the more deserving of benevolence. The weak, destitute next of kin are more deserving of help and kind treatment than more affluent ones. This is because the poor relative has two rights, that of blood relations and that of poverty. God coupled together the commands to do good to blood relations and the poor in the verses of His Book. There is no doubt that treating kindly he who has two rights takes precedence over treating kindly he who has one right only. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury. It is more noble by silence to avoid an injury than by argument to overcome it. No man ever did a designed injury to another, but at the same time he did a greater to himself.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Pearls of Wisdom 365
1. One who rectifies his inner self with an awareness of God's surveillance and sincerity; God adorns his outer self with devotional acts and adherence to the Prophetic way.
2. Anyone divested from the world finds his divestment in proportion to his knowledge, his knowledge in proportion to his intellect, and his intellect in proportion to the strength of his faith.
3. Knowledge bequeaths fear, divestment from the world bequeaths comfort, and gnosis bequeaths self criticism.
4. The basis of obedience is impeccability. The basis of impeccability is God-consciousness. The basis of God-consciousness is [balancing between] fear and hope, and the basis of those two is the knowledge of the promise and threat.
5. Good character is bearing abuse, rarely becoming angry, a pleasant face, and sweet speech.
6. Everything has an essence. The essence of human being is his intellect, and the essence of his intellect is patience.
7. The oppressor is remorseful even if people praise him. The oppressed is safe even if people condemn him.
8. The content person is wealthy even if he is hungry. And the covetous is impoverished even if he owns [plenty].
9. One who does not thank God for a blessing has called for its eradication.
10. The best person is one who does not allow his Hereafter to preoccupy him from his worldly affair, nor does he allow his worldly affair to preoccupy him from his Hereafter. [Imam Harith al Muhasibi]
2. Anyone divested from the world finds his divestment in proportion to his knowledge, his knowledge in proportion to his intellect, and his intellect in proportion to the strength of his faith.
3. Knowledge bequeaths fear, divestment from the world bequeaths comfort, and gnosis bequeaths self criticism.
4. The basis of obedience is impeccability. The basis of impeccability is God-consciousness. The basis of God-consciousness is [balancing between] fear and hope, and the basis of those two is the knowledge of the promise and threat.
5. Good character is bearing abuse, rarely becoming angry, a pleasant face, and sweet speech.
6. Everything has an essence. The essence of human being is his intellect, and the essence of his intellect is patience.
7. The oppressor is remorseful even if people praise him. The oppressed is safe even if people condemn him.
8. The content person is wealthy even if he is hungry. And the covetous is impoverished even if he owns [plenty].
9. One who does not thank God for a blessing has called for its eradication.
10. The best person is one who does not allow his Hereafter to preoccupy him from his worldly affair, nor does he allow his worldly affair to preoccupy him from his Hereafter. [Imam Harith al Muhasibi]
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Thoughts on the Charlie Hebdo Attack
Being a part of this world means living with things you disagree with. The way to combat bad ideas is with better ideas. These are the twin thoughts swirling in my head as I've struggled to take in the totality of the terrible news of this morning's attack in Paris, ostensibly carried out by militant Muslims "defending" Islam's Prophet Muhammad from the poison pens of political cartoonists and caricaturists.
Now, to be clear, as a Muslim I find such portrayals offensive and often unnecessary. And, to be equally clear, my sense of self isn't so fragile that it can't withstand folks taking potshots at my faith. In other words, I get over it and get on with it. Yes, the target of this attack, France's long-running satire magazine Charlie Hebdo has often been critical of religion in general, Islam in particular, and Prophet Muhammad even more particular still. So are a lot of other people.
Continue reading...
Now, to be clear, as a Muslim I find such portrayals offensive and often unnecessary. And, to be equally clear, my sense of self isn't so fragile that it can't withstand folks taking potshots at my faith. In other words, I get over it and get on with it. Yes, the target of this attack, France's long-running satire magazine Charlie Hebdo has often been critical of religion in general, Islam in particular, and Prophet Muhammad even more particular still. So are a lot of other people.
Continue reading...
Friday, December 26, 2014
The most appropriate response to praise....
All praise is Allah's alone....
Two things one should bring to mind when one is praised:
1) "I know myself, and my own shortcomings, better than the one praising me."
2) "Allah knows my shortcomings and the darknesses within my soul better than me and the one praising me."
(As such I know I do not deserve any praise -- all praise belongs to the One Who has concealed my faults from others.)
Two prayers one should implore Allah with when one is praised:
1) "O Allah, please do not hold me accountable to what they think and say about me! For you know my shortcomings dearly!"
2) "O Allah, make me better than what they think and say about me! For you know how far I have yet to go!"
Two things one should bring to mind when one is praised:
1) "I know myself, and my own shortcomings, better than the one praising me."
2) "Allah knows my shortcomings and the darknesses within my soul better than me and the one praising me."
(As such I know I do not deserve any praise -- all praise belongs to the One Who has concealed my faults from others.)
Two prayers one should implore Allah with when one is praised:
1) "O Allah, please do not hold me accountable to what they think and say about me! For you know my shortcomings dearly!"
2) "O Allah, make me better than what they think and say about me! For you know how far I have yet to go!"
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Lesson of the day 1368
Ayahs of the day:
Believers, if any of you turns from religion, God will bring forth a people whom God loves and who love God, humble toward believers, powerful against scoffers, struggling for the sake of God without fearing the blame of the critic. That is the blessing of God on whomever God wills. And God is all-encompassing, all-knowing. [5: 54]
Hadith of the day:
Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge thereby, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for him. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
A sign that Allah has turned away from a servant is that He makes him busy with matters that are of no concern to him. When a person reaches such a point, he must repent and ask Allah to guide him to those matters that are important and beneficial. [Hasan al-Basri]
Guidance of the day:
Among the things that God had bid them join are kinship bonds. Be careful to preserve the kinship bonds. Beware of severing them, for it is one of the greatest sins and its punishment is hastened in this life, after which there shall be severe punishment and painful torment prepared by God in the hereafter. Similarly, the reward for benevolence and nurturing kinship bonds is hastened in this life, after which there shall be immense reward in the hereafter.
Ali by al_Husayn (may God be pleased with both) counseled one of his children thus, "Beware of keeping the company with one who has severed his kinship bonds, for I have seen such a one being cursed in the Book of God the Exalted". The prophet (may blessings and peace be upon him) said: "Mercy doesn't descends on people among whom is one who has severed his kinship bonds." Now if mercy doesn't descend on people in the midst of whom is one who has severed his kinship bonds, how much more does the man himself deserve this? How immense shall God's loathing for him be and His cutting off from all goodness! [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Bad temper is a sign of inferiority. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Exaggerated sensitiveness is an expression of the feeling of inferiority. The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful is the urge to conquest and the more violent the emotional agitation. The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
Believers, if any of you turns from religion, God will bring forth a people whom God loves and who love God, humble toward believers, powerful against scoffers, struggling for the sake of God without fearing the blame of the critic. That is the blessing of God on whomever God wills. And God is all-encompassing, all-knowing. [5: 54]
Hadith of the day:
Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge thereby, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for him. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
A sign that Allah has turned away from a servant is that He makes him busy with matters that are of no concern to him. When a person reaches such a point, he must repent and ask Allah to guide him to those matters that are important and beneficial. [Hasan al-Basri]
Guidance of the day:
Among the things that God had bid them join are kinship bonds. Be careful to preserve the kinship bonds. Beware of severing them, for it is one of the greatest sins and its punishment is hastened in this life, after which there shall be severe punishment and painful torment prepared by God in the hereafter. Similarly, the reward for benevolence and nurturing kinship bonds is hastened in this life, after which there shall be immense reward in the hereafter.
Ali by al_Husayn (may God be pleased with both) counseled one of his children thus, "Beware of keeping the company with one who has severed his kinship bonds, for I have seen such a one being cursed in the Book of God the Exalted". The prophet (may blessings and peace be upon him) said: "Mercy doesn't descends on people among whom is one who has severed his kinship bonds." Now if mercy doesn't descend on people in the midst of whom is one who has severed his kinship bonds, how much more does the man himself deserve this? How immense shall God's loathing for him be and His cutting off from all goodness! [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Bad temper is a sign of inferiority. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Exaggerated sensitiveness is an expression of the feeling of inferiority. The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful is the urge to conquest and the more violent the emotional agitation. The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Pearls of Wisdom 364
1. Laziness of the common folk in worshiping their Lord is a grave matter, but that same laziness from the teachers and students of Sacred Knowledge is even more so.
2. The arrogance of wealthy is something to be detested, but that shown by the poor is even more so.
3. It is Jihad which lays down the last brick of Imaan.
4. Rein in your tongue from complaining about others, and you will be granted a life of happiness.
5. Weep regarding that day which passed by without any goodly acts adorning it.
6. The reward for every virtue has its measure, yet the reward for patience has no measure.
7. The thankful Believer is closest to well-being.
8. Your fear of Allah is commensurate of how well you know Him, and your lack of fear regarding Him is commensurate with your ignorance of Him.
9. You are determined to lose yourself in the baggage of this world, while the world is equally determined to remove you from itself.
10. Taking pains to remove the pains of others is the true essence of generosity. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
2. The arrogance of wealthy is something to be detested, but that shown by the poor is even more so.
3. It is Jihad which lays down the last brick of Imaan.
4. Rein in your tongue from complaining about others, and you will be granted a life of happiness.
5. Weep regarding that day which passed by without any goodly acts adorning it.
6. The reward for every virtue has its measure, yet the reward for patience has no measure.
7. The thankful Believer is closest to well-being.
8. Your fear of Allah is commensurate of how well you know Him, and your lack of fear regarding Him is commensurate with your ignorance of Him.
9. You are determined to lose yourself in the baggage of this world, while the world is equally determined to remove you from itself.
10. Taking pains to remove the pains of others is the true essence of generosity. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Friday, December 12, 2014
Latest means to understanding "hijab"
Once, a girl bought an iPad. When her father saw it he asked,
"What was the first thing you did when you bought it?"
"I put an anti-scratch sticker on the screen and bought a cover for the iPad," she replied.
"Did someone force you to?"
"No."
"Don't you think it's an insult to the manufacturer??"
"No dad, in fact they even recommend using a cover for the iPad."
"Did you cover it because it was cheap and ugly?"
"Actually, I covered it because I didn't want it to get damaged and decrease in value."
"When you put the cover on didn't it reduce the iPad's beauty?"
"I think it looks better, and its worth it for the protection it gives my iPad."
The father looked lovingly at his daughter and said ...
"Hijab..."
Nothing else..
"What was the first thing you did when you bought it?"
"I put an anti-scratch sticker on the screen and bought a cover for the iPad," she replied.
"Did someone force you to?"
"No."
"Don't you think it's an insult to the manufacturer??"
"No dad, in fact they even recommend using a cover for the iPad."
"Did you cover it because it was cheap and ugly?"
"Actually, I covered it because I didn't want it to get damaged and decrease in value."
"When you put the cover on didn't it reduce the iPad's beauty?"
"I think it looks better, and its worth it for the protection it gives my iPad."
The father looked lovingly at his daughter and said ...
"Hijab..."
Nothing else..
Monday, December 08, 2014
Lesson of the day 1367
Ayahs of the day:
But God is relenting toward anyone who repents and makes amends after having done wrong; for God is most forgiving, most merciful. [5: 39]
Hadith of the day:
May Allah make radiant the face of the one who hears something from us and conveys it as he heard it, for perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed will understand it better than the one who heard it. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
One who often thinks and reflects develops his foresight and vision. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the day:
The most important duty for parents as concerns their children is to teach them virtue and courtesy, so that they may grow up loving goodness, accepting truth, respectful of religious matters, but disdainful of worldly ones, always giving priority to things of the hereafter.
Those who fail to bring up their children in a disciplined and virtuous manner, but plant in their hearts the love of this world and its appetites, and render them careless as concerns religion, then they see them rebelling against them, let them blame only themselves. Loss is more likely to affect the neglectful. Much of the disloyalty witnessed these days is due to neglecting what has been mentioned earlier. This becomes evident to anyone who observes and reflects on how things are. Power and ability are only by God, the High and Formidable. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
If you have great talents, hard work will improve them; if moderate abilities, hard work will supply their deficiencies. Nothing is denied to well-directed labor; nothing is ever to be attained without it. Hard work is the soul of business and the keystone of prosperity in this life and the next. In ordinary business of life, industry can do anything which genius can do, and very many things it cannot.
But God is relenting toward anyone who repents and makes amends after having done wrong; for God is most forgiving, most merciful. [5: 39]
Hadith of the day:
May Allah make radiant the face of the one who hears something from us and conveys it as he heard it, for perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed will understand it better than the one who heard it. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
One who often thinks and reflects develops his foresight and vision. [Ali radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the day:
The most important duty for parents as concerns their children is to teach them virtue and courtesy, so that they may grow up loving goodness, accepting truth, respectful of religious matters, but disdainful of worldly ones, always giving priority to things of the hereafter.
Those who fail to bring up their children in a disciplined and virtuous manner, but plant in their hearts the love of this world and its appetites, and render them careless as concerns religion, then they see them rebelling against them, let them blame only themselves. Loss is more likely to affect the neglectful. Much of the disloyalty witnessed these days is due to neglecting what has been mentioned earlier. This becomes evident to anyone who observes and reflects on how things are. Power and ability are only by God, the High and Formidable. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
If you have great talents, hard work will improve them; if moderate abilities, hard work will supply their deficiencies. Nothing is denied to well-directed labor; nothing is ever to be attained without it. Hard work is the soul of business and the keystone of prosperity in this life and the next. In ordinary business of life, industry can do anything which genius can do, and very many things it cannot.
Friday, December 05, 2014
Pearls of Wisdom 363
1. Reliance on God, contentment, and frugality are such a treasury and wealth that they can be exchanged for nothing. [Badi Uzzaman Nursi]
2. When it has been said that the angels spread out their wings in the path of the one seeking sacred knowledge, then just imagine what Allah has in store for such a person. [Abu Ali Daqqaq]
3. Wisdom takes root in the heart only when dunya and its trappings have been uprooted from it. [Abu Ali al Daqqaq]
4. The greatest I'tikaf that one can observe is that the Divine commands and prohibitions never leave his sight. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]
5. The accomplished spiritual is he who has achieved the precarious balance between hope and fear. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]
6. Those who love the beloved of Allah (Awliyas) are counted by Allah as being from them. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]
7. The greatness of a believer is in his God-Consciousness, and his pride in his obedience and his courage lies in his display of good character under all circumstances. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
8. The tranquility of both worlds lies in the understanding of these two words -- generosity towards friends, and forbearance towards enemies. [Hafiz Shiraz]
9. Know that it is not your family and friends, but rather your deen which truly looks after you. [Hasan radi Allah anhu]
10. In the Divine court lineage has no place, rather it is the righteousness of action which is the ultimate arbiter. [Owais al Qarni]
2. When it has been said that the angels spread out their wings in the path of the one seeking sacred knowledge, then just imagine what Allah has in store for such a person. [Abu Ali Daqqaq]
3. Wisdom takes root in the heart only when dunya and its trappings have been uprooted from it. [Abu Ali al Daqqaq]
4. The greatest I'tikaf that one can observe is that the Divine commands and prohibitions never leave his sight. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]
5. The accomplished spiritual is he who has achieved the precarious balance between hope and fear. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]
6. Those who love the beloved of Allah (Awliyas) are counted by Allah as being from them. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]
7. The greatness of a believer is in his God-Consciousness, and his pride in his obedience and his courage lies in his display of good character under all circumstances. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
8. The tranquility of both worlds lies in the understanding of these two words -- generosity towards friends, and forbearance towards enemies. [Hafiz Shiraz]
9. Know that it is not your family and friends, but rather your deen which truly looks after you. [Hasan radi Allah anhu]
10. In the Divine court lineage has no place, rather it is the righteousness of action which is the ultimate arbiter. [Owais al Qarni]
Saturday, November 29, 2014
True Gratitude....
“Dare to Be
When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.
When times are tough, dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you, dare to love again.
When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.
When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.
When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.
Dare to be the best you can –
At all times, Dare to be!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.
When times are tough, dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you, dare to love again.
When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.
When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.
When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.
Dare to be the best you can –
At all times, Dare to be!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Monday, November 24, 2014
Lesson of the day 1366
Ayahs of the day:
Believers, be conscious of God, and seek the way to God, and struggle for the sake of God, that you may thrive. [5: 35]
Hadith of the day:
When Allah wills good for a person, He grants him understanding of the religion. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
The worst of men is the one who does not mind being watched while doing an evil deed. [Luqman Hakeem]
Guidance of the day:
Children have rights over their parents. They should be provided for as long as they need to be, educated with excellence, taught praiseworthy traits of character, excellent attributes, and beautiful moral qualities, and protected from the contrary of these. They should receive good names, and prior to all this, their mothers should have been chosen from blessed, virtuous origins.
Parents should be fair in providing for their children and not prefer one over the other simply because of his natural inclinations or other whimsical reasons. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
No one who is thoroughly occupied with something worthwhile is ever miserable. It is better to wear out than to rust out. The more we do, the more we can do. The one who gives his children habits of hard work provides for them better than by giving them a fortune.
Believers, be conscious of God, and seek the way to God, and struggle for the sake of God, that you may thrive. [5: 35]
Hadith of the day:
When Allah wills good for a person, He grants him understanding of the religion. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
The worst of men is the one who does not mind being watched while doing an evil deed. [Luqman Hakeem]
Guidance of the day:
Children have rights over their parents. They should be provided for as long as they need to be, educated with excellence, taught praiseworthy traits of character, excellent attributes, and beautiful moral qualities, and protected from the contrary of these. They should receive good names, and prior to all this, their mothers should have been chosen from blessed, virtuous origins.
Parents should be fair in providing for their children and not prefer one over the other simply because of his natural inclinations or other whimsical reasons. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
No one who is thoroughly occupied with something worthwhile is ever miserable. It is better to wear out than to rust out. The more we do, the more we can do. The one who gives his children habits of hard work provides for them better than by giving them a fortune.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Pearls of Wisdom 362
1. To repent from a sin is a necessary obligation, but to prevent oneself from sin is even more so.
2. Showing patience in adversity is difficult, but safeguarding the fruits of patience is even more so.
3. The changing of the times is always strange, but being heedless throughout them is even more so.
4. The unfolding of your affairs is always imminent, but the arrival of death is even more so.
5. Shyness and modesty of men is an excellent virtue, but the shyness and modesty of women is even more so.
7. Repentance of an old man is a wonderful thing, but that of the youth is even more so.
8. The generosity of a prince is an exalted affair, but that of a peasant is even more so.
9. The sin of the youth is a grave thing indeed, but that committed by an old man is even more so.
10. The fools indulgence in petty worldliness is an evil thing, but the indulgence of the learned is even more so. [Above quotes by Abu Bakr Radi Allah anhu]
2. Showing patience in adversity is difficult, but safeguarding the fruits of patience is even more so.
3. The changing of the times is always strange, but being heedless throughout them is even more so.
4. The unfolding of your affairs is always imminent, but the arrival of death is even more so.
5. Shyness and modesty of men is an excellent virtue, but the shyness and modesty of women is even more so.
7. Repentance of an old man is a wonderful thing, but that of the youth is even more so.
8. The generosity of a prince is an exalted affair, but that of a peasant is even more so.
9. The sin of the youth is a grave thing indeed, but that committed by an old man is even more so.
10. The fools indulgence in petty worldliness is an evil thing, but the indulgence of the learned is even more so. [Above quotes by Abu Bakr Radi Allah anhu]
Monday, November 17, 2014
Muslims always "On duty"
When an European Airline was initially launched, a Muslim gentleman was traveling in the first class section. An air hostess approached him with a complimentary drink, this was an alcoholic drink so that man politely refused.
The air hostess returned but this time brought the drink on a platter, designed to appeal and impress, however, the Muslim man again politely refused, explaining he doesn't drink alcohol.
...The air hostess was surprised and concerned and informed the manager. The manager approached the man with another platter, now designed with flowers and he questioned, “is there something wrong with our service? Please enjoy the drink, it is a complimentary offer.” The man replied, “Thank you, but I am a Muslim and I do not drink alcohol.” The manager still insisted that the man take the drink. The Muslim man then proposed that the manager should give the drink to the pilot first. The manager stated, “how can the pilot drink alcohol, he’s on duty!? And if he drinks there are very high chances for the plane to crash.”
The passenger with tears in his eyes replied, “I am a Muslim and I am always on duty in order to protect my Imaan (Faith) and if I drink I will crash my whole life here and in the Hereafter."
The air hostess returned but this time brought the drink on a platter, designed to appeal and impress, however, the Muslim man again politely refused, explaining he doesn't drink alcohol.
...The air hostess was surprised and concerned and informed the manager. The manager approached the man with another platter, now designed with flowers and he questioned, “is there something wrong with our service? Please enjoy the drink, it is a complimentary offer.” The man replied, “Thank you, but I am a Muslim and I do not drink alcohol.” The manager still insisted that the man take the drink. The Muslim man then proposed that the manager should give the drink to the pilot first. The manager stated, “how can the pilot drink alcohol, he’s on duty!? And if he drinks there are very high chances for the plane to crash.”
The passenger with tears in his eyes replied, “I am a Muslim and I am always on duty in order to protect my Imaan (Faith) and if I drink I will crash my whole life here and in the Hereafter."
Monday, November 10, 2014
Lesson of the day 1365
Ayahs of the day:
Believers, remember God's favor to you when some people intended to act against you, then withheld their devices from you. And be conscious of God; and let it be God in whom the believers trust. [5: 11]
Hadith of the day:
If the son of Adam had two valleys filled with wealth he would seek third, but nothing will fill the belly of the son of Adam but dust. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
It is harmful to avoid the thought of death. For no one can or will escape the sure and destined end that comes sooner or later to every mortal being. This meditation is therefore an essential necessity for every lover of God. [Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak]
Guidance of the day:
Let the parents beware to the extreme from praying against their disloyal child, for this can only increase him in harm, corruption, and disloyalty. Some of this damage is bound to cause more harm to the parents in this world. Since the prayers of the parents (for or against their children) are always accepted (by God), they should pray for, and not against them.
God may very well reform them through the baraka of their prayers, they may then revert to being loyal. The result will be that their parents will again benefit from their loyalty and be greatly pleased with them, while the children will obtain reward for being loyal and escape the sin of disloyalty. God it is who grants success and assistance. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as to smallness of his wants. Can anything be so elegant as to have few wants, and to serve them one's self?
Believers, remember God's favor to you when some people intended to act against you, then withheld their devices from you. And be conscious of God; and let it be God in whom the believers trust. [5: 11]
Hadith of the day:
If the son of Adam had two valleys filled with wealth he would seek third, but nothing will fill the belly of the son of Adam but dust. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
It is harmful to avoid the thought of death. For no one can or will escape the sure and destined end that comes sooner or later to every mortal being. This meditation is therefore an essential necessity for every lover of God. [Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak]
Guidance of the day:
Let the parents beware to the extreme from praying against their disloyal child, for this can only increase him in harm, corruption, and disloyalty. Some of this damage is bound to cause more harm to the parents in this world. Since the prayers of the parents (for or against their children) are always accepted (by God), they should pray for, and not against them.
God may very well reform them through the baraka of their prayers, they may then revert to being loyal. The result will be that their parents will again benefit from their loyalty and be greatly pleased with them, while the children will obtain reward for being loyal and escape the sin of disloyalty. God it is who grants success and assistance. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as to smallness of his wants. Can anything be so elegant as to have few wants, and to serve them one's self?
Friday, November 07, 2014
Pearls of Wisdom 361
1. To know with certainty that you will never receive less than what was destined for you is the essence of reliance upon Allah. [Abul Hasan bu Shaikhi]
2. Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn Arabi]
3. Prayer and fasting are the greatest things a person can do, yet to remove all the evil traits from the heart such as pride, arrogance, rancor, malice, love of this world etc, rank even higher. [Shaykh al Kharqani]
4. Seek to keep the company of those who illumine one's inward and outward states with the light of their intimacy with the Divine. [Shaykh Abul Abbas]
5. There can be no good in excess, just as there is no excess in good. [Imam Abu Hanifah]
6. Who is better among Allah's worshippers than the one who sees others as better than him? [Abu Bakr Saidlani]
7. The greatest blessings is that one is freed from the shackles of ego, for what greater veil is there between us and the Creator other than the ego. [Abu Bakr Saidlani]
8. To be angered quickly is a sign that one is in the grip of his ego. [Abu Bakr Wasti]
9. The one who longs for Allah is blessed with limbs which are free from stains of sins. [Ahmad Masruq]
10. The one who has tasted the sweetness of slave hood finds no repose in leisure pursuits. [Abdullah Manazil]
2. Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn Arabi]
3. Prayer and fasting are the greatest things a person can do, yet to remove all the evil traits from the heart such as pride, arrogance, rancor, malice, love of this world etc, rank even higher. [Shaykh al Kharqani]
4. Seek to keep the company of those who illumine one's inward and outward states with the light of their intimacy with the Divine. [Shaykh Abul Abbas]
5. There can be no good in excess, just as there is no excess in good. [Imam Abu Hanifah]
6. Who is better among Allah's worshippers than the one who sees others as better than him? [Abu Bakr Saidlani]
7. The greatest blessings is that one is freed from the shackles of ego, for what greater veil is there between us and the Creator other than the ego. [Abu Bakr Saidlani]
8. To be angered quickly is a sign that one is in the grip of his ego. [Abu Bakr Wasti]
9. The one who longs for Allah is blessed with limbs which are free from stains of sins. [Ahmad Masruq]
10. The one who has tasted the sweetness of slave hood finds no repose in leisure pursuits. [Abdullah Manazil]
Monday, November 03, 2014
Just a reminder....
Opportunities for the Believers
Winter -- long nights and short days -- an opportunity to get closer to our Creator through our tahajjud at night and fasting during the day,inshaAllah. Let us get used to doing these (best possible things) when it is sooo easy, and afterwards inshaAllah they will still continue (during summer), because of the sweet taste we will develop for them and the result will be -- we will never want to quit.
These two things were always part of the routine of our righteous predecessors -- whose footsteps if we follow we will inshaAllah succeed in this world and the next. May Allah Most High give us the resolve to do them and make them easy for us, and make this new year a very special experience for us, ameen.
Please read the worthwhile articles below on how to get started and the proven spiritual and health benefits of regularly fasting.
http://productivemuslim.com/ramadan-series-creating-a-habit-of-fasting-after-ramadan-2/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/fasting-health_b_1557043.html
Winter -- long nights and short days -- an opportunity to get closer to our Creator through our tahajjud at night and fasting during the day,inshaAllah. Let us get used to doing these (best possible things) when it is sooo easy, and afterwards inshaAllah they will still continue (during summer), because of the sweet taste we will develop for them and the result will be -- we will never want to quit.
These two things were always part of the routine of our righteous predecessors -- whose footsteps if we follow we will inshaAllah succeed in this world and the next. May Allah Most High give us the resolve to do them and make them easy for us, and make this new year a very special experience for us, ameen.
Please read the worthwhile articles below on how to get started and the proven spiritual and health benefits of regularly fasting.
http://productivemuslim.com/ramadan-series-creating-a-habit-of-fasting-after-ramadan-2/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/fasting-health_b_1557043.html
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