Occasionally, a man has to pass through events and experiences that are not to his liking. In these circumstances, his felicity and good fortune would lie in reconciling himself to adversity and quietly submitting to the Divine Will, believing that Allah is Omniscient and All-wise, and Most Kind and Gracious to His believers. Allah says in Qur’an:
“But it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you like a thing which is bad for you, Allah knows, you not. (al-Baqarah 2:216)
Besides, the Believer should always beseech Allah to decide what is good for him in His judgment. The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said that it was the height of misfortune for a man not to entreat Allah for prosperity and welfare. In the same way, it is most lamentable for a believer to feel sore and unhappy over what the Almighty decides or prefers for him.
The state of wholehearted submission to the Divine Will be attained only when a man has a complete faith in Divine Attributes, as mentioned in the Qur’an, and the love for Allah pervades his heart and takes hold of it as a result of this belief and conviction.
Tuesday
Wednesday
The keys to victory
* The key to glory: Obedience to Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alaihe wassalam
* The key to provision: Striving hard whilst praying for forgiveness and fearing Allah
* The key to Paradise: Tawhid
* The key to righteousness: Sincerity
* The key to a spiritual life: Studying the Qur'an, beseeching Allah in the hours before dawn, and giving up sin
* The key to knowledge: Asking the right questions and listening attentively
* The key to victory: Patience
* The key to success: Fearing Allah (piety)
* The key to getting more: Gratitude
* The key to longing for the Hereafter: Disinterest in worldly gain
* The key to a response: Du'a
... And bear with patience whatever befalls you... (Qur'an 31:17)
(from the book of Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni)
* The key to provision: Striving hard whilst praying for forgiveness and fearing Allah
* The key to Paradise: Tawhid
* The key to righteousness: Sincerity
* The key to a spiritual life: Studying the Qur'an, beseeching Allah in the hours before dawn, and giving up sin
* The key to knowledge: Asking the right questions and listening attentively
* The key to victory: Patience
* The key to success: Fearing Allah (piety)
* The key to getting more: Gratitude
* The key to longing for the Hereafter: Disinterest in worldly gain
* The key to a response: Du'a
... And bear with patience whatever befalls you... (Qur'an 31:17)
(from the book of Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni)
Saturday
Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihe wassallam's Advice
Narrates Abu Dhar Ghiffari radiallahu anhu that one day he asked Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam, “O Messenger of Allah! Give me some advice.” The Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied:
1) I exhort you to Taqwa, the piety of the Lord for it will embellish your deeds.
2) I exhort you to make a Tilawah and Zikr compulsory for yourself for Tilawah and Zikr will be the cause of your being mentioned in assembly of the angels and there will be light for you on the earth.
3) Cultivate the habit of keeping silence much and talk little for it the domain of Faith.
4) Do not laugh much for it kills the heart and deprives one’s face of radiance.
5) Speak always truth though it may be bitter (for the people).
6) Care not for the reproach of him who reproaches in the path of Allah.
7) What you know about yourself and your inmost self should be enough to prevent you from seeking out the faults of others.
In it the Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam, first of all, advised Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu to adopt Taqwa, observe piety and said that it will purify his action and make them beautiful. Indeed, if a man were to make the fear of Allah the guiding principle of his life, his entire existence would become on of loyalty and submission and both exterior and interior existence would be enriched and get adorned with beauty. The Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam then urges him to recite the Qur’an and celebrate the praises of the Lord much for his name will, thereby, be mentioned in the celestial world. As another saying of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has it: “When the believer remembers Allah in this world, Allah speaks about him in the company of angels.”
Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has, further told Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu to remain silent most of the time for it is very efficacious in keeping the devil away and also beneficial in many other ways to faith. Falsehood, backbiting, slander, abusiveness, and tale bearing are the commonest of sins. The believer who develops the habit of talking little will, thus, be more successful in guarding his faith against the intrusions of the devil. It should be remembered that what it means is that a person should not engage in vain and unnecessary talk which has no utility here in this world nor in the Hereafter and not that he kept silence just for the sake of it and refrained even from saying things that were good and useful.
The Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam also warned against laughing excessively as it benumbs the heart and makes the face lusterless. The benumbing of the heart denotes that it becomes neglectful and insensitive and a sort of gloom settles over it, an apparent effect which is, that the radiance which is, generally, noticed in the devout believer of Allah, with an awakened soul and illuminated heart, departs from the face.
The last exhortation to Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu is that the anxiety resulting from the awareness of his own faults and transgressions ought to be so overwhelming that it gave him no time to look into or talk about the sins and weakness of others. Anyone who keeps a watch on his own failings and moral and mental processes will always be ready to overlook the defects and shortcoming in other people. He will consider himself to be the worst of sinners. The fault and failings of others are, generally noticed by those who never care to look into themselves.
Although the advice of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam is very brief in words, but has a deep and wide meaning. May Allah help all of us to follow the advice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihe wasallam.
1) I exhort you to Taqwa, the piety of the Lord for it will embellish your deeds.
2) I exhort you to make a Tilawah and Zikr compulsory for yourself for Tilawah and Zikr will be the cause of your being mentioned in assembly of the angels and there will be light for you on the earth.
3) Cultivate the habit of keeping silence much and talk little for it the domain of Faith.
4) Do not laugh much for it kills the heart and deprives one’s face of radiance.
5) Speak always truth though it may be bitter (for the people).
6) Care not for the reproach of him who reproaches in the path of Allah.
7) What you know about yourself and your inmost self should be enough to prevent you from seeking out the faults of others.
In it the Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam, first of all, advised Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu to adopt Taqwa, observe piety and said that it will purify his action and make them beautiful. Indeed, if a man were to make the fear of Allah the guiding principle of his life, his entire existence would become on of loyalty and submission and both exterior and interior existence would be enriched and get adorned with beauty. The Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam then urges him to recite the Qur’an and celebrate the praises of the Lord much for his name will, thereby, be mentioned in the celestial world. As another saying of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has it: “When the believer remembers Allah in this world, Allah speaks about him in the company of angels.”
Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has, further told Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu to remain silent most of the time for it is very efficacious in keeping the devil away and also beneficial in many other ways to faith. Falsehood, backbiting, slander, abusiveness, and tale bearing are the commonest of sins. The believer who develops the habit of talking little will, thus, be more successful in guarding his faith against the intrusions of the devil. It should be remembered that what it means is that a person should not engage in vain and unnecessary talk which has no utility here in this world nor in the Hereafter and not that he kept silence just for the sake of it and refrained even from saying things that were good and useful.
The Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam also warned against laughing excessively as it benumbs the heart and makes the face lusterless. The benumbing of the heart denotes that it becomes neglectful and insensitive and a sort of gloom settles over it, an apparent effect which is, that the radiance which is, generally, noticed in the devout believer of Allah, with an awakened soul and illuminated heart, departs from the face.
The last exhortation to Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu is that the anxiety resulting from the awareness of his own faults and transgressions ought to be so overwhelming that it gave him no time to look into or talk about the sins and weakness of others. Anyone who keeps a watch on his own failings and moral and mental processes will always be ready to overlook the defects and shortcoming in other people. He will consider himself to be the worst of sinners. The fault and failings of others are, generally noticed by those who never care to look into themselves.
Although the advice of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam is very brief in words, but has a deep and wide meaning. May Allah help all of us to follow the advice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihe wasallam.
Wednesday
How do I prepare for Ramadan
I prepare for Ramadan throughout the year by developing few key habits that take me through this month in an appropriate way. For example, if my goal is to recite Quran four times in Ramadan and if I am not reciting every day through out the year then to achieve this goal would be pretty difficult. Therefore, I try to recite a portion of Quran everyday and have developed this into a habit. I try to fast in the month of Sha’baan in order to prepare myself for Ramadan. I put aside money for donation since this is a month in which hasanaat are multiplied. By developing good habits everything becomes more effective, more lasting and brings the result I want.
We all have habits that we may not like or that which may not be liked by Allah. As of result of this, we feel its negative effects in our lives. The best way to get over it, is not to try to stop the habit straight away. Instead, work on a counter habit. It is difficult to overcome habits that are and have been long standing, but relatively it is easy to start new ones.
We all have habits that we may not like or that which may not be liked by Allah. As of result of this, we feel its negative effects in our lives. The best way to get over it, is not to try to stop the habit straight away. Instead, work on a counter habit. It is difficult to overcome habits that are and have been long standing, but relatively it is easy to start new ones.
Tuesday
Contentment of the heart
Among the moral virtues, which make a man beloved of the Lord, and raise him, also, in the estimation of the world, and save him from a lot of frustration is contentment. What it denotes, in a nutshell, is that one should rest satisfied with what one has and be not greedy of more. He, indeed, is fortunate who is blessed with a contented heart. There is special favor of Allah on him.
It is related by Abdullah ibn Amr radiallahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah said: “Successful is he who is blessed by Allah with the reality of Islam, and is granted enough provision to sustain life, and Allah, also made him satisfied with it.” (Muslim)
Happy is the man who is blessed with the wealth or Faith and with it he is also has enough worldly goods to meet his needs, and the Almighty has, further favored him with a content heart. Contentment can make even the life of a beggar happier than that of a king.
A person may have heaps of wealth, but if his acquisitive desire is beyond reason and it is ceaselessly urging him on to acquire more, he can never enjoy peace of mind, and will, in face be no better than a beggar. On the contrary, if his worldly possessions are sufficient to keep him going, and he is satisfied with what he has, he is rich at heart in spite of poverty, and his life will be a life of comfort and cheerfulness.
In truth, prosperity and poverty are related more to the heart than to wealth. Prosperity does not come from worldly possessions, but real prosperity is the contentment of the heart.
It is related by Abdullah ibn Amr radiallahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah said: “Successful is he who is blessed by Allah with the reality of Islam, and is granted enough provision to sustain life, and Allah, also made him satisfied with it.” (Muslim)
Happy is the man who is blessed with the wealth or Faith and with it he is also has enough worldly goods to meet his needs, and the Almighty has, further favored him with a content heart. Contentment can make even the life of a beggar happier than that of a king.
A person may have heaps of wealth, but if his acquisitive desire is beyond reason and it is ceaselessly urging him on to acquire more, he can never enjoy peace of mind, and will, in face be no better than a beggar. On the contrary, if his worldly possessions are sufficient to keep him going, and he is satisfied with what he has, he is rich at heart in spite of poverty, and his life will be a life of comfort and cheerfulness.
In truth, prosperity and poverty are related more to the heart than to wealth. Prosperity does not come from worldly possessions, but real prosperity is the contentment of the heart.
Sunday
Do not spend your time doing nothing
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihe wassallam said to Aisha radiallahu anha: "If you commit a sin, then ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him, for if a person acknowledges his sin and repents, Allah will accept his repentance."
Imagine that you possess all the money you ever wanted and achieved all you dreams and fulfilled all your wishes, then you lost everything. You would weep and complain, and be filled with regret; you would bite your fingers in sorrow for what you have lost. So what about your life which is slipping away from you without you even realizing it?
Our life is precious jewel whose value cannot be measured in material terms. Every minute of our life that passes can never come back. These minutes are our capital in this world, with which we can buy whatever we want of the delights of Paradise. In one minute we can do a lot of good and earn much reward. In just one minute, by giving in charity, studying, memorizing, or striving to do good deeds, we can make sure that this minute of our life is not wasted. One minute may be recorded in our book of good deeds if we know how to make the most of it and take care of it.
The time is too precious to be wasted or neglected, limit your time with worthy efforts and righteous deeds that please Allah and benefit other people.
Imagine that you possess all the money you ever wanted and achieved all you dreams and fulfilled all your wishes, then you lost everything. You would weep and complain, and be filled with regret; you would bite your fingers in sorrow for what you have lost. So what about your life which is slipping away from you without you even realizing it?
Our life is precious jewel whose value cannot be measured in material terms. Every minute of our life that passes can never come back. These minutes are our capital in this world, with which we can buy whatever we want of the delights of Paradise. In one minute we can do a lot of good and earn much reward. In just one minute, by giving in charity, studying, memorizing, or striving to do good deeds, we can make sure that this minute of our life is not wasted. One minute may be recorded in our book of good deeds if we know how to make the most of it and take care of it.
The time is too precious to be wasted or neglected, limit your time with worthy efforts and righteous deeds that please Allah and benefit other people.
Saturday
You may hate a thing which is good for you...
Occasionally, a man has to pass through events and experiences that are not to his liking. In these circumstances, his felicity and good fortune would lie in reconciling himself to adversity and quietly submitting to the Divine Will, believing that Allah is Omniscient and All-wise, and Most Kind and Gracious to His believers. Allah says in Qur’an:
“But it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you like a thing which is bad for you, Allah knows, you not. (al-Baqarah 2:216)
Besides, the Believer should always beseech Allah to decide what is good for him in His judgment. The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said that it was the height of misfortune for a man not to entreat Allah for prosperity and welfare. In the same way, it is most lamentable for a believer to feel sore and unhappy over what the Almighty decides or prefers for him.
The state of wholehearted submission to the Divine Will be attained only when a man has a complete faith in Divine Attributes, as mentioned in the Qur’an, and the love for Allah pervades his heart and takes hold of it as a result of this belief and conviction.
“But it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you like a thing which is bad for you, Allah knows, you not. (al-Baqarah 2:216)
Besides, the Believer should always beseech Allah to decide what is good for him in His judgment. The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said that it was the height of misfortune for a man not to entreat Allah for prosperity and welfare. In the same way, it is most lamentable for a believer to feel sore and unhappy over what the Almighty decides or prefers for him.
The state of wholehearted submission to the Divine Will be attained only when a man has a complete faith in Divine Attributes, as mentioned in the Qur’an, and the love for Allah pervades his heart and takes hold of it as a result of this belief and conviction.
Thursday
Goals of fasting
I’ve dedicated the month of Ramadan to the topic of "Goals of fasting". Here’s what I am going to give you in Ramadan, insha Allah. Turn up your speaker and click the link
http://portal.sliderocket.com/AHJYS/Believer%E2%80%99s-Path-Institute
http://portal.sliderocket.com/AHJYS/Believer%E2%80%99s-Path-Institute
Zakia Usmani: When things become unbearable...
Zakia Usmani: When things become unbearable...: "Ibn al-Jawzi said: 'Something was causing me a great deal of grief and distress, and I started to think long and hard about how to get out o..."
When things become unbearable...
Ibn al-Jawzi said: "Something was causing me a great deal of grief and distress, and I started to think long and hard about how to get out of this situation by any means, but I could not find any way out. Then I came across this verse:
"...And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (of every difficulty)." 65:2
I realized that taqwa is the way out of every kind of grief and distress. As soon as I followed the path of taqwa, I found the way out."
For the wise believer, taqwa is the way that leads to everything good, for calamity happens only as the result of sin, and it can only be lifted through repentance. Sadness, grief and worry are punishments for sins that we have committed, by falling short in our prayers, or backbiting or committing a haram action. Whoever goes against the laws of Allah, has to pay the price for the shortcoming. The One Who created happiness is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, so how can we seek happiness from anyone other than Him? If people had control over happiness, there would be no deprived for grieving person left on earth.
"Cast away all discouraging thoughts that make you feel helpless, and focus on success, then you will never fail."
(from the book of Dr. A'id al Qarni)
"...And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (of every difficulty)." 65:2
I realized that taqwa is the way out of every kind of grief and distress. As soon as I followed the path of taqwa, I found the way out."
For the wise believer, taqwa is the way that leads to everything good, for calamity happens only as the result of sin, and it can only be lifted through repentance. Sadness, grief and worry are punishments for sins that we have committed, by falling short in our prayers, or backbiting or committing a haram action. Whoever goes against the laws of Allah, has to pay the price for the shortcoming. The One Who created happiness is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, so how can we seek happiness from anyone other than Him? If people had control over happiness, there would be no deprived for grieving person left on earth.
"Cast away all discouraging thoughts that make you feel helpless, and focus on success, then you will never fail."
(from the book of Dr. A'id al Qarni)
Tuesday
Zakia Usmani: How to Deal with Anxiety
Zakia Usmani: How to Deal with Anxiety: "One of the worst consequences of anxiety is that it makes us unable to focus. When we are anxious our mind is scattered, but we force oursel..."
How to Deal with Anxiety
One of the worst consequences of anxiety is that it makes us unable to focus. When we are anxious our mind is scattered, but we force ourselves to confront the worst-case scenario, we put ourselves in a position where we can focus our minds on the heart (core) of the matter.
We cannot be enthusiastic about an exciting task and feel worry at the same time; one of them will chase away the other.
When you feel anxious about something in the present, go back to the worst case of anxiety that you can remember. Thus, you will deal with your anxiety in two ways instead of one. The episode in the past was worse, but you coped with it, so you will be able to deal with the present problem which is less intense; one could say that there is nothing worse than the past episode, but you got through it successfully. If you faced that crisis and came through it safely, then how less serious and less dangerous the current problem is.
Anxiety is more likely to overwhelm you at times when you are not active, when your imagination runs wild and thinks of all possible scenarios. The remedy for that is to keep yourself busy with something useful.
"Trivial things may push wise people to the brink of insanity".
from the book of Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni
(from the book of Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni
We cannot be enthusiastic about an exciting task and feel worry at the same time; one of them will chase away the other.
When you feel anxious about something in the present, go back to the worst case of anxiety that you can remember. Thus, you will deal with your anxiety in two ways instead of one. The episode in the past was worse, but you coped with it, so you will be able to deal with the present problem which is less intense; one could say that there is nothing worse than the past episode, but you got through it successfully. If you faced that crisis and came through it safely, then how less serious and less dangerous the current problem is.
Anxiety is more likely to overwhelm you at times when you are not active, when your imagination runs wild and thinks of all possible scenarios. The remedy for that is to keep yourself busy with something useful.
"Trivial things may push wise people to the brink of insanity".
from the book of Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni
(from the book of Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni
Sunday
Zakia Usmani: Why answer to my supplications is delayed?
Zakia Usmani: Why answer to my supplications is delayed?: "There is an interesting situation that confuses many: the believer who is afflicted with a calamity and then invokes Allah constantly, yet s..."
Why answer to my supplications is delayed?
There is an interesting situation that confuses many: the believer who is afflicted with a calamity and then invokes Allah constantly, yet sees no signs of an answer to his prayers. Then when he comes near to the point to hopelessness, the true worth of his heart is found out. If he is pleased with what Allah (SWT) decreed for him, without losing hope of Allah's Favor, then in most situations it is at this point that such a person's supplications are answered, answered because his test is over: his faith has shined through and the Devil has been defeated. So it is at the time of near hopelessness that the worth of man is judged.
"...Surely, Allah's Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers. (7:56)
Never, therefore, should one feel that too much time has passed by without his supplications being answered. One should realize that, whenever one is tested with hardship, one's faith is being tested. To pass such as test, one must drive away the whispers of the Devil and then turn for help to the Most Merciful, the Most Generous, the Most Wise.
"And seek help through patience and as-Salah, and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for al-Khashi'in (i.e. the true believers in Allah - those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much of His punishment, and believe in His promise and in His Warnings). 2:45
"...Surely, Allah's Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers. (7:56)
Never, therefore, should one feel that too much time has passed by without his supplications being answered. One should realize that, whenever one is tested with hardship, one's faith is being tested. To pass such as test, one must drive away the whispers of the Devil and then turn for help to the Most Merciful, the Most Generous, the Most Wise.
"And seek help through patience and as-Salah, and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for al-Khashi'in (i.e. the true believers in Allah - those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much of His punishment, and believe in His promise and in His Warnings). 2:45
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