1. Give priority to the hereafter over this world, because you will then gain both of them.
2. Before you can preach to others, there is a necessary precondition to be met: you must be a Believer. It is not proper for the servant to summon his fellow creatures to the Lord of Truth before having personally attained Him.
3. Every single one of the people of Allah has a police force to protect his heart, they combat the lower self, the natural urges, the passions and highway robbers on the road to Allah.
4. You must soon return to the Lord of Truth, who will ask about your deeds. He created you for a purpose of affirming His Oneness.
5. He did not create you for the sake of this world, nor for the sake of the hereafter -- but rather He created you for Himself.
6. This world can neither satisfy your hunger nor quench your thirst. It is deceitful and cunning. Your tragedy is due to the attachment you pay to your lower self.
7. Your fascination with the superficial aspect of this world is due to the controlling influence of your lower self.
8. If you become detached from your lower self, your heart will speak to you. Then the inner most being will relate to you both. Then the Lord of Truth will befriend you.
9. Assign your outer being to the creation and your heart to the hereafter. As for the inner most being you must lodge it to the Lord of Truth, beyond both this world and the hereafter. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Friday, November 29, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Who do we really love?
A man asked the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), "When will the Hour be established O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "I haven't prepared for it much of prayers or fast or alms, but I love Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "You will be with those whom you love." [Bukhari]
Three important points to be noted are:
1. There is something more important than knowing when the Day of Judgement will occur. The more important thing is our preparation for that Day. What good or bad deeds have you sent forth for that Day? Each person's Judgement begins as soon as they die, and their grave becomes either a pit of fire or a garden of Paradise. Therefore, the most relevant thing to worry about is our daily deeds, as we never know when we will die and our Judgement commence.
2. The questioner in the hadith did the Fardh (required) prayers, fasts, and charity but not a whole lot extra. Some people do the opposite; they neglect the Fardh while doing a lot of the nafil (supererogatory). This is misguidance, because the greatest reward is for Fardh deeds and punishment is for neglecting the Fardh, not the nafil
3. Most sobering is that we will be with the people we love on the Day of Judgement. If we love the righteous, God fearing Believers, we will be with them and will follow them to Jannah. We can peek into our heart to see who it is we really love -- the proof of love is in appreciating and trying our best to do what they. This will tell us where we will be on the Day of Judgement.
May Almighty Allah fill our hearts with the love of His lovers, ameen.
Three important points to be noted are:
1. There is something more important than knowing when the Day of Judgement will occur. The more important thing is our preparation for that Day. What good or bad deeds have you sent forth for that Day? Each person's Judgement begins as soon as they die, and their grave becomes either a pit of fire or a garden of Paradise. Therefore, the most relevant thing to worry about is our daily deeds, as we never know when we will die and our Judgement commence.
2. The questioner in the hadith did the Fardh (required) prayers, fasts, and charity but not a whole lot extra. Some people do the opposite; they neglect the Fardh while doing a lot of the nafil (supererogatory). This is misguidance, because the greatest reward is for Fardh deeds and punishment is for neglecting the Fardh, not the nafil
3. Most sobering is that we will be with the people we love on the Day of Judgement. If we love the righteous, God fearing Believers, we will be with them and will follow them to Jannah. We can peek into our heart to see who it is we really love -- the proof of love is in appreciating and trying our best to do what they. This will tell us where we will be on the Day of Judgement.
May Almighty Allah fill our hearts with the love of His lovers, ameen.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Lesson of the day 1342
Ayahs of the day:
If you avoid the worst of what you are forbidden, We will efface your evils from you and introduce you to noble behavior. [4: 31]
Hadith of the day:
None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Every one in this world is a guest, and his wealth is but a loan. The guest must go sooner or later and the loan must be returned. [Ibn Mus'ud radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the day:
Night vigils are among the most difficult things for the soul, especially for one to rise after having slept little. However, they become lighter to bear when one becomes accustomed to them and performs them regularly, when one has patience in enduring hardship and strives hard at the beginning. Then the door is opened to intimate comfort with God, the sweetness of communing with Him, and the pleasure of being alone with Him.
At this point one not only no longer finds night vigils too difficult, nor is inclined to surrender to indolence, but on the contrary remains ever eager for more. This happens to the virtuous among God's servants. So much so that one of them said, "If the people of the Gardens are in a state similar to ours during night, they are living pleasantly indeed." Another said, "The people of the night in their nights have more pleasure than the people of frivolity in their play." Yet another said, "Were it not for the night vigils and the company of the brothers in God, I would not have wished to remain in this world." There are innumerable well known anecdotes to this effect. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
A happy family is but an earlier heaven. The family is one of the nature's masterpieces. Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.
If you avoid the worst of what you are forbidden, We will efface your evils from you and introduce you to noble behavior. [4: 31]
Hadith of the day:
None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Every one in this world is a guest, and his wealth is but a loan. The guest must go sooner or later and the loan must be returned. [Ibn Mus'ud radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the day:
Night vigils are among the most difficult things for the soul, especially for one to rise after having slept little. However, they become lighter to bear when one becomes accustomed to them and performs them regularly, when one has patience in enduring hardship and strives hard at the beginning. Then the door is opened to intimate comfort with God, the sweetness of communing with Him, and the pleasure of being alone with Him.
At this point one not only no longer finds night vigils too difficult, nor is inclined to surrender to indolence, but on the contrary remains ever eager for more. This happens to the virtuous among God's servants. So much so that one of them said, "If the people of the Gardens are in a state similar to ours during night, they are living pleasantly indeed." Another said, "The people of the night in their nights have more pleasure than the people of frivolity in their play." Yet another said, "Were it not for the night vigils and the company of the brothers in God, I would not have wished to remain in this world." There are innumerable well known anecdotes to this effect. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
A happy family is but an earlier heaven. The family is one of the nature's masterpieces. Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Unique quality of a Believer -- Never gets tired of doing good
The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A believer never gets satisfied doing good until he reaches Jannah.” [Tirmidhi]
According to this hadith, it is a quality of a Muslim that he or she is very concerned about acquiring virtues and doing good, and never tires of struggling for and living by virtuous deeds. This is because “a believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this. Abu Shihab (the sub-narrator of this statement of Abdullah ibn Masud’s) moved his hand over his nose in illustration.” [Sahih Bukhari]
High achieving students never stop studying because they never feel satisfied that what they know is sufficient. They don’t limit themselves to the bare minimum amount of knowledge needed to pass. One who does so is in danger of failing. Even when they are well prepared they feel that they could know more, or that they might make a mistake which they would have to compensate for with something else. Another reason that high achieving students keep on studying is because of their love for learning.
Similar is the case of a Muslim with good deeds. They love to please Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) and enter His Jannah. Additionally, they are afraid that what they have prepared of good deeds may not be sufficient so they keep doing what is pleasing to Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala). A borderline pass is not what they aim for, because one could easily make a mistake and end up failing. They aim for a high ‘A’. They do not underestimate the enormity of the sins that they commit and see their sins as a huge mountain looming over them. Thus, they are always trying to compensate for their shortcomings. In this struggle a Muslim reaches the end of his or her life. Such is the successful person for he achieves Jannah.
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
According to this hadith, it is a quality of a Muslim that he or she is very concerned about acquiring virtues and doing good, and never tires of struggling for and living by virtuous deeds. This is because “a believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this. Abu Shihab (the sub-narrator of this statement of Abdullah ibn Masud’s) moved his hand over his nose in illustration.” [Sahih Bukhari]
High achieving students never stop studying because they never feel satisfied that what they know is sufficient. They don’t limit themselves to the bare minimum amount of knowledge needed to pass. One who does so is in danger of failing. Even when they are well prepared they feel that they could know more, or that they might make a mistake which they would have to compensate for with something else. Another reason that high achieving students keep on studying is because of their love for learning.
Similar is the case of a Muslim with good deeds. They love to please Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) and enter His Jannah. Additionally, they are afraid that what they have prepared of good deeds may not be sufficient so they keep doing what is pleasing to Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala). A borderline pass is not what they aim for, because one could easily make a mistake and end up failing. They aim for a high ‘A’. They do not underestimate the enormity of the sins that they commit and see their sins as a huge mountain looming over them. Thus, they are always trying to compensate for their shortcomings. In this struggle a Muslim reaches the end of his or her life. Such is the successful person for he achieves Jannah.
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
Friday, November 15, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 341
1. If someone puts into practice the knowledge he has already acquired, Allah will endow him with knowledge of what he does not know.
2. If someone devotes himself sincerely to Allah for forty days, the fountains of wisdom will gush forth from his heart onto his tongue.
3. Conduct yourselves properly in this abode, so that your religion, your outward and inward may be kept safe and sound until you are made to stand before Him at the Resurrection.
4. Make no one but Him the object of your affection. Make friends with no one but Him. Open your feelings to no one but Him.
5. The believer must ask, as a way of calling himself to account and improving his behavior: "What did I intend by saying what I said? What did I intend by taking the step I took? What did I intend by eating what I ate? Why did I act as I did? Is this in accordance with the Book or Sunnah?"
6. If it should ever happen that your heart is tempted by the beauty and charm of this world, you must get away from it in a hurry, for it will no doubt chase after you.
7. Take from this world in proportion to your need, not for idle sport and to accumulate great wealth.
8. When Islam becomes real through submission, you will surrender your own self (nafs) to the hand of His destiny (qadar).
9. Wake up now, before death brings you to your senses! Be your own preacher and subdue your own self! Spread your wealth around! You are merely a traveler passing through.
10. Your true friend is he who warns you to take care (of your hereafter). [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. If someone devotes himself sincerely to Allah for forty days, the fountains of wisdom will gush forth from his heart onto his tongue.
3. Conduct yourselves properly in this abode, so that your religion, your outward and inward may be kept safe and sound until you are made to stand before Him at the Resurrection.
4. Make no one but Him the object of your affection. Make friends with no one but Him. Open your feelings to no one but Him.
5. The believer must ask, as a way of calling himself to account and improving his behavior: "What did I intend by saying what I said? What did I intend by taking the step I took? What did I intend by eating what I ate? Why did I act as I did? Is this in accordance with the Book or Sunnah?"
6. If it should ever happen that your heart is tempted by the beauty and charm of this world, you must get away from it in a hurry, for it will no doubt chase after you.
7. Take from this world in proportion to your need, not for idle sport and to accumulate great wealth.
8. When Islam becomes real through submission, you will surrender your own self (nafs) to the hand of His destiny (qadar).
9. Wake up now, before death brings you to your senses! Be your own preacher and subdue your own self! Spread your wealth around! You are merely a traveler passing through.
10. Your true friend is he who warns you to take care (of your hereafter). [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, November 11, 2013
First things first....
وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ
"And I hurried to You, my Lord, so that You'll be pleased."
[Taahaa, [20: 84]
A Qur'aan teacher always advised her students to live by this Ayah:
She told them, "This Ayah is what moves me. When I hear the Adhaan and I'm occupied and in the middle of something, I remind myself of this Ayah and so I get up to pray."
"When my alarm goes off at 2am and I want to go back to sleep I remember: "And I hurried to You, my Lord, so you'll be pleased", and so I get up.
Her husband had the following arrangement with her: On his way home from work he'd call her so she'll get the food hot & ready, so he can come home and eat & sleep.
One day he asked her to make Mahshi (stuffed grape leaves) - very time consuming. You wrap many of them and put the pot of them on the stove to cook. She had 3 more to wrap then she had to put them on the stove to cook.
But the Adhaan came in. So she left the 3 remaining grape-leaves (which would have taken her 5 mins) and went to pray. Her husband kept calling & calling her phone but there was no answer.
He came home and found her in Sujood and food not ready. He saw there were only 3 grape-leaves left. So he got upset & said, "You could have just finished them & put the pot to cook then pray!"
No response.
He went to her to discover she had died in her Sujood!
SubhaanAllaah, had she waited like any of us to "finish whats in her hand" she would have died in the kitchen! But a person dies upon what they lived on. And they are resurrected on what they died on.
When we keep our priorities straight, insha'Allah we will find amazing results --barakah in our time and much more.
"And I hurried to You, my Lord, so that You'll be pleased."
[Taahaa, [20: 84]
A Qur'aan teacher always advised her students to live by this Ayah:
She told them, "This Ayah is what moves me. When I hear the Adhaan and I'm occupied and in the middle of something, I remind myself of this Ayah and so I get up to pray."
"When my alarm goes off at 2am and I want to go back to sleep I remember: "And I hurried to You, my Lord, so you'll be pleased", and so I get up.
Her husband had the following arrangement with her: On his way home from work he'd call her so she'll get the food hot & ready, so he can come home and eat & sleep.
One day he asked her to make Mahshi (stuffed grape leaves) - very time consuming. You wrap many of them and put the pot of them on the stove to cook. She had 3 more to wrap then she had to put them on the stove to cook.
But the Adhaan came in. So she left the 3 remaining grape-leaves (which would have taken her 5 mins) and went to pray. Her husband kept calling & calling her phone but there was no answer.
He came home and found her in Sujood and food not ready. He saw there were only 3 grape-leaves left. So he got upset & said, "You could have just finished them & put the pot to cook then pray!"
No response.
He went to her to discover she had died in her Sujood!
SubhaanAllaah, had she waited like any of us to "finish whats in her hand" she would have died in the kitchen! But a person dies upon what they lived on. And they are resurrected on what they died on.
When we keep our priorities straight, insha'Allah we will find amazing results --barakah in our time and much more.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Lesson of the day 1341
Ayahs of the day:
O human kind, be conscious of your Lord, who created you from one soul, and created its mate from it, and propagated from the two, many men and women. And be conscious of God, by whom you ask of each other; and of relationships; for God is watching you. [4: 1]
Hadith of the day:
Fear the supplication of the one who has been wronged, for there is no barrier between it an Allah. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Raise your words not your voice -- it is rain that grows flowers, not the thunder. [Mawlana Runi]
Guidance of the day:
It is part of keeping the prayer with care and propriety to be humble therein, presence of heart, reflect on what one is reciting, understand its meanings, feel submission and powerlessness before God when bowing or prostrating, have a heart full of magnitude and holiness of God when uttering the takbir and tasbih, as well as throughout every part of the prayer, avoid incidental thoughts and worldly preoccupations, and turn away from the ego's ruminations.
One should concentrate solely on the proper performance of the prayer, in the exact manner that God has prescribed, for prayer accompanied with distraction and lack of humility or presence is not good enough. Strive to be humble and present in your prayer. Reflect on what you recite of the words of your Lord. Do not be hasty in your recitation, for reflection cannot co-exist with haste. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
The highest form of vanity is love of fame. (George Santayan)
Fame is vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. (Harace Greeley)
O human kind, be conscious of your Lord, who created you from one soul, and created its mate from it, and propagated from the two, many men and women. And be conscious of God, by whom you ask of each other; and of relationships; for God is watching you. [4: 1]
Hadith of the day:
Fear the supplication of the one who has been wronged, for there is no barrier between it an Allah. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Raise your words not your voice -- it is rain that grows flowers, not the thunder. [Mawlana Runi]
Guidance of the day:
It is part of keeping the prayer with care and propriety to be humble therein, presence of heart, reflect on what one is reciting, understand its meanings, feel submission and powerlessness before God when bowing or prostrating, have a heart full of magnitude and holiness of God when uttering the takbir and tasbih, as well as throughout every part of the prayer, avoid incidental thoughts and worldly preoccupations, and turn away from the ego's ruminations.
One should concentrate solely on the proper performance of the prayer, in the exact manner that God has prescribed, for prayer accompanied with distraction and lack of humility or presence is not good enough. Strive to be humble and present in your prayer. Reflect on what you recite of the words of your Lord. Do not be hasty in your recitation, for reflection cannot co-exist with haste. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
The highest form of vanity is love of fame. (George Santayan)
Fame is vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. (Harace Greeley)
Monday, November 04, 2013
Muharram Mubarak!!!!
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
Friday, November 01, 2013
Diffused Congruence: Zahra Billoo of CAIR
For the second episode of the new podcast examining the many fascinating conversations within the American Muslim community, co-hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco-Bay Area chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), for an in-depth conversation on the goals, history, and criticisms of the venerable civil rights organization (it marks its second decade next year), and her own efforts to bridge interfaith understanding both before and after becoming a part of it. Download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes. Send any questions and concerns to DiffusedCongruence@gmail.com.
Monday, October 28, 2013
We are the Carpenter....
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah prepares a house in Paradise for every believer who offers twelve Raka'at of voluntary prayer everyday beyond that which is obligatory for him.” [Muslim]
Although this Hadith specifies voluntary prayer but our every act of obedience of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) is an act of workmanship towards the properties we are preparing for ourselves in Jannah.
A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this would be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."
The carpenter was in shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he had ever built!
Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) has sent us to this world to build our homes in Paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes in which we will live forever.
Every work can be our last; every Salah can be our last; let's pray and work with this realization.
Although this Hadith specifies voluntary prayer but our every act of obedience of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) is an act of workmanship towards the properties we are preparing for ourselves in Jannah.
A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this would be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."
The carpenter was in shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he had ever built!
Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) has sent us to this world to build our homes in Paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes in which we will live forever.
Every work can be our last; every Salah can be our last; let's pray and work with this realization.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 340
1. If you are sensible, count yourself among the people of the fire (of Hell), because this will encourage you to improve your conduct. If you are in fact one of the people of the Garden (of Paradise), you will have demonstrated your gratitude to Him.
2. Your ultimate destination is uncertain, so do not over estimate the purity of your spiritual state.
3. If you are still alive in the morning, do not take evening for granted, and if you are here when evening comes, do not take the next morning for granted.
4. Yesterday is past and gone with everything it contained, to be a witness for you or against you. As for tomorrow, you do not know whether you will survive till then or not. The proof of your heedlessness is your addiction to foolish company.
5. To deserve the company of your Lord, you must carry out His commandments, observe His prohibitions and comply with His wishes by accepting whatever has been decreed by Him.
6. In preserving the integrity of the heart there is indeed a job to keep one fully occupied.
7. One tiny fraction of the deeds of the heart is a thousand times better than all the deeds of the outer limbs.
8. How great is the loss of those who waste their time in the shops of greedy ambition, expectation and reputation! Your inner being will surely die, and your heart will turn dark.
9. If someone tries to worship Allah in a state of ignorance, he will do more harm than good. You must take along with you the lantern of your Lord's sacred law. By the light of law, you will enter into the domain of knowledge. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. Your ultimate destination is uncertain, so do not over estimate the purity of your spiritual state.
3. If you are still alive in the morning, do not take evening for granted, and if you are here when evening comes, do not take the next morning for granted.
4. Yesterday is past and gone with everything it contained, to be a witness for you or against you. As for tomorrow, you do not know whether you will survive till then or not. The proof of your heedlessness is your addiction to foolish company.
5. To deserve the company of your Lord, you must carry out His commandments, observe His prohibitions and comply with His wishes by accepting whatever has been decreed by Him.
6. In preserving the integrity of the heart there is indeed a job to keep one fully occupied.
7. One tiny fraction of the deeds of the heart is a thousand times better than all the deeds of the outer limbs.
8. How great is the loss of those who waste their time in the shops of greedy ambition, expectation and reputation! Your inner being will surely die, and your heart will turn dark.
9. If someone tries to worship Allah in a state of ignorance, he will do more harm than good. You must take along with you the lantern of your Lord's sacred law. By the light of law, you will enter into the domain of knowledge. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, October 21, 2013
Time to experience the effects of gratitude....
And your Lord had made the proclamation, "If you are grateful, I will grant you increase, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe indeed." (14: 7)
1.Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
2.Gratitude turns denial into acceptance.
3. Gratitude turns chaos into order.
4. Gratitude turns confusion into clarity.
5. Gratitude turns a meal into a feast.
6. Gratitude turns a house into a home.
7. Gratitude turns a strangers into a friend.
8. Gratitude turns problems into gifts -- we discover our capacity to see the solutions, and strength to solve our problems.
9. Gratitude turns failures into successes.
10. Gratitude turns unexpected to perfect timing.
11. Gratitude turns mistakes into important events -- lessons learned.
12. Gratitude turns an existence into real life -- full of obedience to our Creator.
13. Gratitude turns disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons.
14. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow.
15. Gratitude makes things right -- turns negative energy into positive.
16. Gratitude is the easiest way to defeat our sworn enemy Iblis.
17. Gratitude protects us from going into despair -- which may lead to going into deep depression.
18. Gratitude is susceptible to all situations and circumstances -- whether small or large. We can start with who we are and what we have right now.
When we say "thank You O' our Lord" long enough -- we will mean it and believe it -- that is when we will see the above mentioned effects of gratitude.
1.Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
2.Gratitude turns denial into acceptance.
3. Gratitude turns chaos into order.
4. Gratitude turns confusion into clarity.
5. Gratitude turns a meal into a feast.
6. Gratitude turns a house into a home.
7. Gratitude turns a strangers into a friend.
8. Gratitude turns problems into gifts -- we discover our capacity to see the solutions, and strength to solve our problems.
9. Gratitude turns failures into successes.
10. Gratitude turns unexpected to perfect timing.
11. Gratitude turns mistakes into important events -- lessons learned.
12. Gratitude turns an existence into real life -- full of obedience to our Creator.
13. Gratitude turns disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons.
14. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow.
15. Gratitude makes things right -- turns negative energy into positive.
16. Gratitude is the easiest way to defeat our sworn enemy Iblis.
17. Gratitude protects us from going into despair -- which may lead to going into deep depression.
18. Gratitude is susceptible to all situations and circumstances -- whether small or large. We can start with who we are and what we have right now.
When we say "thank You O' our Lord" long enough -- we will mean it and believe it -- that is when we will see the above mentioned effects of gratitude.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Lesson of the day 1340
Ayahs of the day:
O believers, be constant, excel in patience, and be firm. Be conscious of God, so that you may thrive. [3: 200]
Hadith of the day:
When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity ( sadaqa jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous son who will pray for him. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
O son of Adam, you are but a few days, whenever a day is gone, part of you is gone too. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the day:
The ritual prayer has an outward form and an inward reality. No prayer can be perfect or complete without both being performed properly.
As for the outward form, it is its standing up, recitation, bowing down, prostrating, and other such components of outward prayer. As for the inward reality, it is humility, presence of heart, perfect sincerity, reflection, and understanding of the meanings of what is being recited, tasbih, and all other components of inward prayer.
The outward form of prayer thus belongs to the body and the senses, while inward belongs to the heart and the secret. The heart and secret are the location upon which falls the gaze of the Real (Al Haqq). [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
"Failures are divided into two classes -- those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought." - John Charles Salak
"A failure is a man who has blundered but is not able to cash in the experience." - Elbert Hubbard
"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - John Burroughs
O believers, be constant, excel in patience, and be firm. Be conscious of God, so that you may thrive. [3: 200]
Hadith of the day:
When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity ( sadaqa jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous son who will pray for him. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
O son of Adam, you are but a few days, whenever a day is gone, part of you is gone too. [Hasan al Basri]
Guidance of the day:
The ritual prayer has an outward form and an inward reality. No prayer can be perfect or complete without both being performed properly.
As for the outward form, it is its standing up, recitation, bowing down, prostrating, and other such components of outward prayer. As for the inward reality, it is humility, presence of heart, perfect sincerity, reflection, and understanding of the meanings of what is being recited, tasbih, and all other components of inward prayer.
The outward form of prayer thus belongs to the body and the senses, while inward belongs to the heart and the secret. The heart and secret are the location upon which falls the gaze of the Real (Al Haqq). [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
"Failures are divided into two classes -- those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought." - John Charles Salak
"A failure is a man who has blundered but is not able to cash in the experience." - Elbert Hubbard
"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - John Burroughs
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Eid Mubarak!!!!
In the Company of Prophets.
"To have just met Adam, I would give sixty cubits of gold,
Again and again, and over again, many times, manifold.
To have just met Enoch (Idris), I would give silk to cover the heavens,
Spread out, draped through the trees and rivers, covering all seven.
To have just met Noah, I would give the seas and oceans,
With their powerful waves and endless motion.
To have just met Hud, I would give the grandest mansions and towers,
Of the finest design, surrounded by gardens and daintiest flowers.
To have just met Saleh, I would give jets, horses, cars, and camels,
The fastest, gaudiest, priciest, with seats and saddles enameled.
To have just met Abraham, I would give my intelligence, sanity,
For surely, thereafter, I would lose to insanity.
To have just met Lot, I would give salt, sugar, and spices,
Cinnamon, cloves, saffron: so much to exceed all prices.
To have just met Ishmael, I would build mosques truly grand,
To cover every inch of this Earth’s land.
To have just met Isaac, I would sacrifice every ram,
Goat, horse, elephant, cow, and even clam.
To have just met Jacob (Yaqub), I would give my sight,
For certainly, thereafter, I could see much more light.
To have just met Joseph, I would give the sun, moon, and stars,
And along with them the cycles of Nisan to Adar.
To have just met Job (Ayub), I would suffer the most terrible illness,
Waiting for God’s salvation in endless quiet stillness.
To have just met Jethro [Shu’aib], I would give all to charity,
From the smallest particle to the priciest rarity.
To have just met Aaron (Harun), I would abandon speech,
Yet turn to God, and in silence beseech.
To have just met Moses, I would give the mountains,
With gushing geysers, and sparkling fountains.
To have just met David, I would give the elements,
From the toughest diamond to the thinnest filament.
To have just met Solomon, I would give every bird,
Peacocks, parrots, falcons, and penguins, furred.
To have just met Elijah [Ilyas], I would preach the Way of God,
Night and day, so we could discard all frauds.
To have just met Elisha [Alyasa’], I would give the most exceptional art,
So that I could, then, return with a purer heart.
To have just met Jonah (Yunus), I would give every pearl,
From the depths of the sea, worthy of queens and earls.
To have just met Ezekiel [Dhulkifl], I would give the newer inventions,
Given us by God, for none is from apprehension.
To have just met Zechariah, I would fast year round,
Even if around me, there were delicacies abound.
To have just met John, I would purify myself completely,
So as to present myself purely and neatly.
To have just met Jesus, I would suffer great persecution,
So that, by God’s mercy I would not suffer devolution.
To have just met Muhammad, I would give the heavens and earth and that therein,
He marked the end of Revelation and marked where the end did begin.
To have met just one prophet, would be this world’s greatest blessing,
They were the same message spreading, the same belief professing. "
Malik
"To have just met Adam, I would give sixty cubits of gold,
Again and again, and over again, many times, manifold.
To have just met Enoch (Idris), I would give silk to cover the heavens,
Spread out, draped through the trees and rivers, covering all seven.
To have just met Noah, I would give the seas and oceans,
With their powerful waves and endless motion.
To have just met Hud, I would give the grandest mansions and towers,
Of the finest design, surrounded by gardens and daintiest flowers.
To have just met Saleh, I would give jets, horses, cars, and camels,
The fastest, gaudiest, priciest, with seats and saddles enameled.
To have just met Abraham, I would give my intelligence, sanity,
For surely, thereafter, I would lose to insanity.
To have just met Lot, I would give salt, sugar, and spices,
Cinnamon, cloves, saffron: so much to exceed all prices.
To have just met Ishmael, I would build mosques truly grand,
To cover every inch of this Earth’s land.
To have just met Isaac, I would sacrifice every ram,
Goat, horse, elephant, cow, and even clam.
To have just met Jacob (Yaqub), I would give my sight,
For certainly, thereafter, I could see much more light.
To have just met Joseph, I would give the sun, moon, and stars,
And along with them the cycles of Nisan to Adar.
To have just met Job (Ayub), I would suffer the most terrible illness,
Waiting for God’s salvation in endless quiet stillness.
To have just met Jethro [Shu’aib], I would give all to charity,
From the smallest particle to the priciest rarity.
To have just met Aaron (Harun), I would abandon speech,
Yet turn to God, and in silence beseech.
To have just met Moses, I would give the mountains,
With gushing geysers, and sparkling fountains.
To have just met David, I would give the elements,
From the toughest diamond to the thinnest filament.
To have just met Solomon, I would give every bird,
Peacocks, parrots, falcons, and penguins, furred.
To have just met Elijah [Ilyas], I would preach the Way of God,
Night and day, so we could discard all frauds.
To have just met Elisha [Alyasa’], I would give the most exceptional art,
So that I could, then, return with a purer heart.
To have just met Jonah (Yunus), I would give every pearl,
From the depths of the sea, worthy of queens and earls.
To have just met Ezekiel [Dhulkifl], I would give the newer inventions,
Given us by God, for none is from apprehension.
To have just met Zechariah, I would fast year round,
Even if around me, there were delicacies abound.
To have just met John, I would purify myself completely,
So as to present myself purely and neatly.
To have just met Jesus, I would suffer great persecution,
So that, by God’s mercy I would not suffer devolution.
To have just met Muhammad, I would give the heavens and earth and that therein,
He marked the end of Revelation and marked where the end did begin.
To have met just one prophet, would be this world’s greatest blessing,
They were the same message spreading, the same belief professing. "
Malik
Friday, October 11, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 339
1. Do not exploit your religion for worldly gain, only the hereafter can be gained through religion.
2. Death will come to you inevitably, so work to be ready for it.
3. Just two steps and you would reach the All Merciful. The lower self (nafs) and creatures, are the two things you need to step away from. Just two steps and you will reach your goal both in this world and the hereafter.
4. If you stand in the presence of any creature, trying to obtain what he has at his disposal, Allah will despise you.
5. If someone devotes himself entirely to Allah Most High, He will provide him with everything he needs, and if a person devotes himself to this world, Allah will leave him in its care.
6. If you realized that this world was sure to leave you in the lurch, you would not ask so much of it.
7. When your inner (batin) becomes worthy to serve Allah, only then will this world become fit to serve you.
8. The wine of dunya is poison, it may taste sweet at first, but it soon turns bitter. Once it has filtered through your heart and you have come under its control, it converts into a poison and kills you.
9. The best piece of advice is concerning your lower self, if you can control it, well and good, otherwise it will control you.
10. As a general rule, your closeness to the sons of this world keeps you far away from Allah Almighty. The right course for you is to concentrate your attention on the hereafter and on worshipful obedience, then you may be saved, while your allotted shares will come to you even if they are unwelcome. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. Death will come to you inevitably, so work to be ready for it.
3. Just two steps and you would reach the All Merciful. The lower self (nafs) and creatures, are the two things you need to step away from. Just two steps and you will reach your goal both in this world and the hereafter.
4. If you stand in the presence of any creature, trying to obtain what he has at his disposal, Allah will despise you.
5. If someone devotes himself entirely to Allah Most High, He will provide him with everything he needs, and if a person devotes himself to this world, Allah will leave him in its care.
6. If you realized that this world was sure to leave you in the lurch, you would not ask so much of it.
7. When your inner (batin) becomes worthy to serve Allah, only then will this world become fit to serve you.
8. The wine of dunya is poison, it may taste sweet at first, but it soon turns bitter. Once it has filtered through your heart and you have come under its control, it converts into a poison and kills you.
9. The best piece of advice is concerning your lower self, if you can control it, well and good, otherwise it will control you.
10. As a general rule, your closeness to the sons of this world keeps you far away from Allah Almighty. The right course for you is to concentrate your attention on the hereafter and on worshipful obedience, then you may be saved, while your allotted shares will come to you even if they are unwelcome. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, October 07, 2013
The little girl and the plants.....
A little girl was enjoying the beauty of the garden in her home. Her father had a good collection of rare and exotic plants. He grew them with tender care.
The girl was fascinated by a plant full of fine and fragrant flowers. She went near the plant and enjoyed its beauty and the fragrance of its fine flowers. Suddenly she noted that the plant was growing in a heap of filth. She could not tolerate the presence of dirt at the bottom of the plant with such fantastic flowers.
She conceived a plan to clean the plant. She pulled the plant with all her might and uprooted it. She then carried it to the tap and washed the shoot and roots in running tap-water till all traces of dirt were washed away. She then placed the plant on a clean stone and went away, thinking that she had done a great deed indeed.
Later her father came to the garden and saw the uprooted plant. Its flowers and leaves had wilted and the plant had almost died in the scorching sun. His little daughter ran to him to exhibit her achievement. “I have cleaned it, Daddy”, she reported innocently. “It was placed in dirty soil. Now it is clean.”
The father showed her how her treatment had almost killed the plant. He told her that he had collected the filthy soil and placed it to cover the plant’s roots as it was the best medium to grow that plant. It could grow up healthily and produce fine flowers only if grown in filthy soil. She was sad that the plant had suffered and withered by her cleaning.
Flash:
Pain, poverty and illness may cause agony in our life. Sight of successful people may make us depressed and envious. A qualified gardener mixes the right soil for each plant. In the same way Allah (our Sustainer, the Knower of what is best for us) provides each of us with the best environment required for our optimum spiritual growth. Outwardly it may appear to be unpleasant, and we may even complain to God about our plight , with just a little bit of patience we will certainly see the need of all the negative things in our lives -- only the best possible results will be seen, inshaAllah.
Allah Almighty says "It may be that you dislike something that is good for you, and it may be that you like something that is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. [2: 216]
The girl was fascinated by a plant full of fine and fragrant flowers. She went near the plant and enjoyed its beauty and the fragrance of its fine flowers. Suddenly she noted that the plant was growing in a heap of filth. She could not tolerate the presence of dirt at the bottom of the plant with such fantastic flowers.
She conceived a plan to clean the plant. She pulled the plant with all her might and uprooted it. She then carried it to the tap and washed the shoot and roots in running tap-water till all traces of dirt were washed away. She then placed the plant on a clean stone and went away, thinking that she had done a great deed indeed.
Later her father came to the garden and saw the uprooted plant. Its flowers and leaves had wilted and the plant had almost died in the scorching sun. His little daughter ran to him to exhibit her achievement. “I have cleaned it, Daddy”, she reported innocently. “It was placed in dirty soil. Now it is clean.”
The father showed her how her treatment had almost killed the plant. He told her that he had collected the filthy soil and placed it to cover the plant’s roots as it was the best medium to grow that plant. It could grow up healthily and produce fine flowers only if grown in filthy soil. She was sad that the plant had suffered and withered by her cleaning.
Flash:
Pain, poverty and illness may cause agony in our life. Sight of successful people may make us depressed and envious. A qualified gardener mixes the right soil for each plant. In the same way Allah (our Sustainer, the Knower of what is best for us) provides each of us with the best environment required for our optimum spiritual growth. Outwardly it may appear to be unpleasant, and we may even complain to God about our plight , with just a little bit of patience we will certainly see the need of all the negative things in our lives -- only the best possible results will be seen, inshaAllah.
Allah Almighty says "It may be that you dislike something that is good for you, and it may be that you like something that is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. [2: 216]
Friday, October 04, 2013
Diffused Congruence Podcast: Usama Canon
Diffused Congruence is a new podcast celebrating the many facets of the American Muslim experience. For the first episode, hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by Usama Canon, founding director of the San Francisco Bay Area-based Ta'leef Collective, as he discusses his journey to Islam, the challenges facing young people in the 21st century, and what Ta'leef is all about. You can stream or download the episode below. Please send all questions and comments to DiffusedCongruence@gmail.com.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Lesson of the day 1339
Ayahs of the day:
Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding -- those who remember God while standing, sitting, and on their sides, contemplating the creation of the heavens and the earth -- "Our Lord! You did not create this in vain! Glory to You! Keep us, then, from the torment of the fire! [3: 190, 191]
Hadith of the day:
Allah loves the slave who is pious, independent of means and hidden from the people. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
How can the laws of nature be ruptured for you so that miracles result, while you, for your part, have yet to rupture your bad habits. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the day:
Prayer (Salaat) is to religion what the head is to the body -- just as there can be no life for a headless person, so there can be no religion for he who does not pray. Thus state many hadiths. He who establishes the prayer in the manner prescribed by God and His Messenger, his prayer rebukes him from doing anything that may displease God.
It is ugly of a believer, engaged in a worldly pursuit when the time for the prayer comes, not to abandon it and hasten to perform the duty that God has prescribed for him. This can be caused only by excessive heedlessness, lack of knowledge of God, or weakness in one's desire for the hereafter. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Our real enemies are the people who make us feel so good that we are slowly, but inexorably, pulled down into the quicksand of smugness and self-satisfaction. Five great enemies to peace inhabit with us -- avarice, ambition, envy, anger and pride. If those enemies were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding -- those who remember God while standing, sitting, and on their sides, contemplating the creation of the heavens and the earth -- "Our Lord! You did not create this in vain! Glory to You! Keep us, then, from the torment of the fire! [3: 190, 191]
Hadith of the day:
Allah loves the slave who is pious, independent of means and hidden from the people. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
How can the laws of nature be ruptured for you so that miracles result, while you, for your part, have yet to rupture your bad habits. [Ibn Ataillah]
Guidance of the day:
Prayer (Salaat) is to religion what the head is to the body -- just as there can be no life for a headless person, so there can be no religion for he who does not pray. Thus state many hadiths. He who establishes the prayer in the manner prescribed by God and His Messenger, his prayer rebukes him from doing anything that may displease God.
It is ugly of a believer, engaged in a worldly pursuit when the time for the prayer comes, not to abandon it and hasten to perform the duty that God has prescribed for him. This can be caused only by excessive heedlessness, lack of knowledge of God, or weakness in one's desire for the hereafter. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Our real enemies are the people who make us feel so good that we are slowly, but inexorably, pulled down into the quicksand of smugness and self-satisfaction. Five great enemies to peace inhabit with us -- avarice, ambition, envy, anger and pride. If those enemies were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Excellence of one's faith....
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It is the excellence of a man’s faith that he gives up meaningless work.” [Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
We need to check all our activities and label them to see which belong to the category of meaningless. If the activity is not taking us towards a meaningful goal for any of the roles that arise from our ideology (e.g. Muslim, parent, son/daughter, self, breadwinner, da'ee, etc), then it would be to our advantage to replace it with more meaningful activity.
Anything that does not bring us closer to Jannah and distance us from the Fire is meaningless in the long run, and will cause us to regret when it will be too late to realize why did we bother to waste your time with it.
Life is too precious to be wasted for worthless or meaningless matters. The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life -- i.e. akhira. Life is like a cash register, in that every thought, every deed -- like every sale is registered and recorded.
Life is not lost by dying; rather life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.
We need to check all our activities and label them to see which belong to the category of meaningless. If the activity is not taking us towards a meaningful goal for any of the roles that arise from our ideology (e.g. Muslim, parent, son/daughter, self, breadwinner, da'ee, etc), then it would be to our advantage to replace it with more meaningful activity.
Anything that does not bring us closer to Jannah and distance us from the Fire is meaningless in the long run, and will cause us to regret when it will be too late to realize why did we bother to waste your time with it.
Life is too precious to be wasted for worthless or meaningless matters. The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life -- i.e. akhira. Life is like a cash register, in that every thought, every deed -- like every sale is registered and recorded.
Life is not lost by dying; rather life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 338
1. Seekers of this world are many, but the seekers of the hereafter are few, and few indeed are those who seek the Lord of Truth.
2. You are caught up with this world of yours by night and day, it uses you and cuts you off.
3. You aspire to the heights, but you are struck in the mud, you aspire to the Garden (Paradise), but you are not doing the work that must be done in order to gain entry to it.
4. When the heart transcends this world and becomes the guest of the nearness of the Lord of Truth, it refuses to accept any kind of dependency on any creature.
5. The remedy to susceptibility to temptation (waswasa) is making sure to eat what is pure and uncontaminated by anything unlawful or dubious. The second is to refuse to let the lower self have its way, whenever it tries to make you do something that is forbidden.
6. When someone no longer has any need of creatures, he clings to the door of the Lord of Truth, who then enriches him with His nearness. When He has enriched him with His nearness, he becomes too preoccupied with remembering Him and thanking Him to consider asking Him for anything.
7. Creatures are the most powerful weapon Satan has against you. The whole distraction resides in the abode of creatures and their dwelling place.
8. Beautify your heart, then your external appearance.
9. When Allah wishes you well, He wakes you up and makes you aware of your own faults. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. You are caught up with this world of yours by night and day, it uses you and cuts you off.
3. You aspire to the heights, but you are struck in the mud, you aspire to the Garden (Paradise), but you are not doing the work that must be done in order to gain entry to it.
4. When the heart transcends this world and becomes the guest of the nearness of the Lord of Truth, it refuses to accept any kind of dependency on any creature.
5. The remedy to susceptibility to temptation (waswasa) is making sure to eat what is pure and uncontaminated by anything unlawful or dubious. The second is to refuse to let the lower self have its way, whenever it tries to make you do something that is forbidden.
6. When someone no longer has any need of creatures, he clings to the door of the Lord of Truth, who then enriches him with His nearness. When He has enriched him with His nearness, he becomes too preoccupied with remembering Him and thanking Him to consider asking Him for anything.
7. Creatures are the most powerful weapon Satan has against you. The whole distraction resides in the abode of creatures and their dwelling place.
8. Beautify your heart, then your external appearance.
9. When Allah wishes you well, He wakes you up and makes you aware of your own faults. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
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