Ayahs of the day:
Heed God, and heed the messenger, and be cautious; if you turn away, know that the only duty of Our messenger is clear communication. [5: 92]
Hadith of the day:
Part of the excellence of a person's Islam is in leaving alone what does not concern him. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
Keeping the company of those who are intimate with the Divine is the best of affairs. [Sahl bin Abdullah]
Guidance of the day:
Marriage requires patience in treating women with kindness, fulfilling their rights, and providing for them and the children. There is great merit in this, in addition to the merit of being the cause of procreating righteous offspring that will worship God the Exalted, pray for their parents, and ask forgiveness for them during the latter's lifetimes and after their death. Some of the children may die before puberty, which attracts immense reward for the parents.
He who wishes to marry should do so intending it to be of assistance to him in both his religious and worldly affairs, while he who abstains should intend thereby to protect his religion and opt for caution so as to be safe. Thus should both marriage and abstention be according to righteous intention that will draw one nearer to God. God is the One to grant success and assistance, there is no Lord other than He. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
War destroys men, but luxury destroys mankind -- at once corrupts the body and mind. We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. A simple and unassuming life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Pearls of Wisdom 369
1. How strange is the one who claims to know death's reality and yet can go on enjoying himself heedlessly.
2. How strange is the one who recognizes the evanescence of the world yet longs after it tirelessly.
3. How strange is the one who believes in destiny yet cries over the loss of that which is fleeting.
4. How strange is the one who knows Reckoning to be true and yet goes on hoarding ceaselessly.
5. Silence -- the best remedy for anger.
6. Wanting more when sufficient sustenance and well-being has been given is also a form of complaint.
7. Seek not to burden anyone of God's creature with it be something large or small.
8. null -- Any action undertaken without Allah's pleasure as its goal.
9. This world is merely a way station which Allah has placed on the road of those traveling to Him.
10. Put your hopes in no one except your Lord, have fear of nothing other than your sins.
[Othman radi Allah anhu]
2. How strange is the one who recognizes the evanescence of the world yet longs after it tirelessly.
3. How strange is the one who believes in destiny yet cries over the loss of that which is fleeting.
4. How strange is the one who knows Reckoning to be true and yet goes on hoarding ceaselessly.
5. Silence -- the best remedy for anger.
6. Wanting more when sufficient sustenance and well-being has been given is also a form of complaint.
7. Seek not to burden anyone of God's creature with it be something large or small.
8. null -- Any action undertaken without Allah's pleasure as its goal.
9. This world is merely a way station which Allah has placed on the road of those traveling to Him.
10. Put your hopes in no one except your Lord, have fear of nothing other than your sins.
[Othman radi Allah anhu]
Friday, February 20, 2015
Limitless Praise due to the One and Only (part 2)
Oh Forgiving! Grant a turning away (from the wrong action) to which will undo
what happened in early years.
Increase us in blessing, light and unveiling, and strengthen us in guidance,
with idhn (permission) and secret.
Support us in words and deeds, and make our provision easy for us from
where we know not!
Here are we standing at the door of favor, waiting without hardship for the
Beloved to turn to us.
Swiftly, send us Your ease, oh Answerer, for You are the possessor of
generosity, liberality and goodness.
Your Bounty exists without existence, and Your Generosity pour down on
us, undenied.
Give us success in the thankfulness which is our duty and which itself
calls for increase from You without loss to us.
Free us from the prison of our bodies and raise us up to the presence of
the spirits as a reward for our gratitude. [Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib]
what happened in early years.
Increase us in blessing, light and unveiling, and strengthen us in guidance,
with idhn (permission) and secret.
Support us in words and deeds, and make our provision easy for us from
where we know not!
Here are we standing at the door of favor, waiting without hardship for the
Beloved to turn to us.
Swiftly, send us Your ease, oh Answerer, for You are the possessor of
generosity, liberality and goodness.
Your Bounty exists without existence, and Your Generosity pour down on
us, undenied.
Give us success in the thankfulness which is our duty and which itself
calls for increase from You without loss to us.
Free us from the prison of our bodies and raise us up to the presence of
the spirits as a reward for our gratitude. [Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib]
Monday, February 16, 2015
Lesson of the day 1372
Ayahs of the day:
Satan only wants to sow hostility and hatred among you with wine and gambling, and to hinder you from remembrance of God, and from prayer. So will you refrain? [5: 91]
Hadith of the day:
Be in the world as a stranger or a passer by. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
The heights of a person's wisdom are commensurate with his nearness to the Divine. [Sari Suqati]
Guidance of the day:
Marriage has many merits, advantages, and benefits, both in this life and the next. There is much encouragement toward it in the Book and Sunna. There is no reason for not marrying save incapacity or debauchery.
Marriage frees the heart from the whisperings of the Devil concerning women, such as may occur to a man during ritual prayer as he stands before God. Marriage helps keep one's gaze down and protect one's private parts. The merits of such benefits have been detailed in the Book and Sunna in such a manner as not to escape the notice of any knowledgeable, insightful person. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life. Life is like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale, is registered and recorded. Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day dragging, 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.
Satan only wants to sow hostility and hatred among you with wine and gambling, and to hinder you from remembrance of God, and from prayer. So will you refrain? [5: 91]
Hadith of the day:
Be in the world as a stranger or a passer by. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
The heights of a person's wisdom are commensurate with his nearness to the Divine. [Sari Suqati]
Guidance of the day:
Marriage has many merits, advantages, and benefits, both in this life and the next. There is much encouragement toward it in the Book and Sunna. There is no reason for not marrying save incapacity or debauchery.
Marriage frees the heart from the whisperings of the Devil concerning women, such as may occur to a man during ritual prayer as he stands before God. Marriage helps keep one's gaze down and protect one's private parts. The merits of such benefits have been detailed in the Book and Sunna in such a manner as not to escape the notice of any knowledgeable, insightful person. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life. Life is like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale, is registered and recorded. Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day dragging, 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.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Pearls of Wisdom 368
1. The strength in one's resolve is that one does not leave for tomorrow what one can do today.
2. Know that it is with ilm (knowledge) that you must speak, and that it is with hilm (forbearance) that you must remain silent.
3. Iman (faith) is that one recognizes the One True God in the depths of his heart, and that he confirms it with his tongue, and that he acts upon the Divine Prescriptions of the Shariah.
4. Covetousness itself is poverty regardless of how rich one is; detachment itself is wealth regardless of how poor one is.
5. Doing good for a good done to you is simply repayment, whereas doing good for an evil done to you is a tremendous virtue.
6. When both the lawful and the prohibited are present in a thing, it is its prohibited aspect which will always be most prominent.
7. Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom; decrease in one's food brings health; decrease in one's sleep brings worship.
8. Lofty stations are attained only through humility.
9. Worldly honor may be through wealth, but heavenly honor is certainly through works.
10. Death -- A single word which contains within it every goodly advice. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
2. Know that it is with ilm (knowledge) that you must speak, and that it is with hilm (forbearance) that you must remain silent.
3. Iman (faith) is that one recognizes the One True God in the depths of his heart, and that he confirms it with his tongue, and that he acts upon the Divine Prescriptions of the Shariah.
4. Covetousness itself is poverty regardless of how rich one is; detachment itself is wealth regardless of how poor one is.
5. Doing good for a good done to you is simply repayment, whereas doing good for an evil done to you is a tremendous virtue.
6. When both the lawful and the prohibited are present in a thing, it is its prohibited aspect which will always be most prominent.
7. Decrease in one's speech brings wisdom; decrease in one's food brings health; decrease in one's sleep brings worship.
8. Lofty stations are attained only through humility.
9. Worldly honor may be through wealth, but heavenly honor is certainly through works.
10. Death -- A single word which contains within it every goodly advice. [Omar radi Allah anhu]
Monday, February 09, 2015
Limitless Praise due to the One and Only....(part 1)
Praise is due to You, the possessor of serenity, forgiveness and veiling.
My praise is part of Your blessing, oh abundant Giver.
Praise is due to You, in number as great as the drops of rain, the grains of sand,
the pebbles, the plants of the earth and the fish of the sea.
Praise is due to You in number as great as the ants, jinn, men, in quantity as
great as the sky, the throne, and the stars like scattered pearls.
In quantity as great as space itself, and the tablet of forms, the footstools, the
moist earth, and the number of all created beings on the day of gathering.
Praise is due to You, oh my Lord, as You deserve it, for I cannot praise
You fittingly to the full extent of time.
Praise is due to You, oh endless Giver of gifts, the One who grants
opening and triumph to the people of Allah.
Praise is due to You with every breath with the body and the heart.
Look kindly on a slave who is perplexed by the command.
If my actions weigh me down, I still have a good opinion of You
that You will mend my broken spirit. [Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib]
My praise is part of Your blessing, oh abundant Giver.
Praise is due to You, in number as great as the drops of rain, the grains of sand,
the pebbles, the plants of the earth and the fish of the sea.
Praise is due to You in number as great as the ants, jinn, men, in quantity as
great as the sky, the throne, and the stars like scattered pearls.
In quantity as great as space itself, and the tablet of forms, the footstools, the
moist earth, and the number of all created beings on the day of gathering.
Praise is due to You, oh my Lord, as You deserve it, for I cannot praise
You fittingly to the full extent of time.
Praise is due to You, oh endless Giver of gifts, the One who grants
opening and triumph to the people of Allah.
Praise is due to You with every breath with the body and the heart.
Look kindly on a slave who is perplexed by the command.
If my actions weigh me down, I still have a good opinion of You
that You will mend my broken spirit. [Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib]
Friday, February 06, 2015
Lesson of the day 1371
Ayahs of the day:
Believers, Wine and gambling and idolatry and divination are nothing but abomination from the works of Satan, so avoid them that you may thrive. [5: 90]
Hadith of the day:
Whoever would like to have his provision increased and his lifespan extended (and to be remembered after he dies), let him uphold his ties of kinship. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
The one who is distant from the love of this world tastes the sweetness of loving the Divine, and these are not attained but through His generosity. [Ma'ruf Kharkhi]
Guidance of the day:
These days, severing kinship bonds and lack of concern for helping and treating them kindly has become rife. It may be that this is why the land has become afflicted with poverty and scarcity of provision, for it has been handed down that preserving kinship bonds lengthens lives and increases wealth, and that God has increased certain people's provisions and accrued their wealth, although He has never looked at them since He created them, and this for their preservation of their kinship bonds. Severing bonds and abandoning kindness will have the opposite effect. And Allah knows best. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. Kindness is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear and understand. You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Kindness is loving people more than they deserve.
Believers, Wine and gambling and idolatry and divination are nothing but abomination from the works of Satan, so avoid them that you may thrive. [5: 90]
Hadith of the day:
Whoever would like to have his provision increased and his lifespan extended (and to be remembered after he dies), let him uphold his ties of kinship. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
The one who is distant from the love of this world tastes the sweetness of loving the Divine, and these are not attained but through His generosity. [Ma'ruf Kharkhi]
Guidance of the day:
These days, severing kinship bonds and lack of concern for helping and treating them kindly has become rife. It may be that this is why the land has become afflicted with poverty and scarcity of provision, for it has been handed down that preserving kinship bonds lengthens lives and increases wealth, and that God has increased certain people's provisions and accrued their wealth, although He has never looked at them since He created them, and this for their preservation of their kinship bonds. Severing bonds and abandoning kindness will have the opposite effect. And Allah knows best. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. Kindness is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear and understand. You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Kindness is loving people more than they deserve.
Monday, February 02, 2015
Pearls of Wisdom 367
1. The heart is dead, but its living again lies in knowledge, knowledge too is dead, but its living again lies in the seeking after it.
2. Erase old sins with new virtues.
3. He who busies himself in the Lord's work, finds the Lord busy in his work.
4. That amount of knowledge which suffices the Believer is that which keeps him in awe of the Divine.
5. The sole root of man's misery is his talking in excess.
6. Man knows that he is weak, yet how strange that he continues to disobey the One Who is strongest of all.
7. Wretched is the one who dies, and his inequity lives on.
8. A people who have left the struggle in Allah's way have shackled themselves in the dark caverns of disgrace and utter loss.
9. Through his knowledge the seeker of the deen increases in action, whereas the seeker of this world increases only in information.
[Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
2. Erase old sins with new virtues.
3. He who busies himself in the Lord's work, finds the Lord busy in his work.
4. That amount of knowledge which suffices the Believer is that which keeps him in awe of the Divine.
5. The sole root of man's misery is his talking in excess.
6. Man knows that he is weak, yet how strange that he continues to disobey the One Who is strongest of all.
7. Wretched is the one who dies, and his inequity lives on.
8. A people who have left the struggle in Allah's way have shackled themselves in the dark caverns of disgrace and utter loss.
9. Through his knowledge the seeker of the deen increases in action, whereas the seeker of this world increases only in information.
[Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]
Friday, January 30, 2015
The Friends of God....
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
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
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.
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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.
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