Salaam Alaikum: What a wonderful blog :) May Allah bless you for the work you do. I am the author of Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel and thought you would like to know that an old Sufi tradition advises us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through four gates. At the first gate, we ask ourselves, "Are these words true?" If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate we ask; "Are they necessary?" At the third gate we ask; "Are they beneficial?" and at the fourth gate, we ask, "Are they kind?" If the answer to any of these is no, then what you are about to say should be left unsaid.
Ya Haqq,
Irving
4:16 PM
Anonymous said...
I've just added you to my morning "favorites". Today's post really made me think about what I was doing in myself to be happy. AstaghfarAllah al azeem, I have a lot to learn.
6:42 PM
Ayah of the Day: So partake of what God has provided you as lawful and wholesome; and give thanks for the favor of God if it is God that you serve. [16: 114]
Hadith of the Day: When a person dies, his deeds die with him, except for three: charitable endowments, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who supplicate on his behalf. [Muslim]
Wise Quote of the Day: Spend from what Allah has given you. Do not fear poverty. Allah will give you as He has promised. No one who has been generous has ever perished in destitution. [Ibn al Arabi]
Guidance of the Day: The art of happiness. Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck by some unexpected misfortune.
Happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one's own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all these things until happiness becomes second nature. The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is life was created as a test. But you should as much as possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief. As for being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter.
So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. It is worthy of the intelligent person not to help in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. [Don't be Sad]
Food for Thought: Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping.
"LESSON OF THE DAY 530"
2 Comments -
Salaam Alaikum:
What a wonderful blog :) May Allah bless you for the work you do. I am the author of Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel and thought you would like to know that an old Sufi tradition advises us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through four gates. At the first gate, we ask ourselves, "Are these words true?" If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate we ask; "Are they necessary?" At the third gate we ask; "Are they beneficial?" and at the fourth gate, we ask, "Are they kind?" If the answer to any of these is no, then what you are about to say should be left unsaid.
Ya Haqq,
Irving
4:16 PM
I've just added you to my morning "favorites". Today's post really made me think about what I was doing in myself to be happy. AstaghfarAllah al azeem, I have a lot to learn.
6:42 PM