Content and thankful

Whoever among you wakes up physically healthy, feeling safe and secure within himself, with food for the day, it is as if he has acquired the whole world.

Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

Being content and thankful to Allah for the innumerable blessings He has bestowed upon us is the key to a sound and happy heart; recognizing that whatever Allah has bestowed upon us was never ours but was a gift in the first place that we were undeserving of.

Timeless Seeds of Advice by B. B. Abdulla

When preoccupied with one’s self development and spiritual growth, one continuously benefits from anything taking place in their life whether it is an apparent bad or good. When one is steadfast and patient, contentment and thankfulness will be present,leading to Allah being pleased with His servant.

Timeless Seeds of Advice by B. B. Abdulla

The secret to piety

Someone asked Al-Hasan Al-Basri (may God have mercy on him): “What is the secret to your piety?”

He replied: “I understood four things:

1. I understood that my rizq (provision/sustenance decreed by Allah) cannot be taken by anyone, so my heart became content.

2. I understood that no one can do my actions (worship) for me, so I started doing them myself.

3. I understood that Allah is watching me, so I became ashamed to do wrong.

4. I understood that death is waiting for me, so I started to prepare for my meeting with Allah.”

Timeless Seeds of Advice by B. B. Abdulla

Let your love show

Even when those close to you are unkind. Let your love for them show. Respond with patience and respect. Allah will reward you for it. He sees all, and He shall reward good with good.

Dr. Bilal Philips (via Twitter)

If you love someone, pray for them. Pray for their peace. Pray for their growth. Pray for their success. Pray for their happiness.

The most precious gift you can give someone is to mention their names in your du’a (supplication).

Unknown author

Success isn’t measured with worldly possessions

You’ll kill your happiness if you constantly compare your life to those who have been given more than you. Be content with what Allah (God) has given you and never measure success by the acquisition of material things.

Shaykh Azhar Nasser (via Twitter)

In this age of social media, pay close attention to your value system. It can be easily eroded if you don’t have a firm grounding. Don’t be in awe of anyone showing off worldly possessions online. Instead, focus on his/her character & good moral principles; they’re worth far more.

Mufti Ismail Menk (via Twitter)

Seeking answers and purpose

I once thought that if I could ask God one question, I would ask how the universe began, because once I knew that, all the rest is simply equations. But as I got older I became less concerned with how the universe began. Rather, I would want to know why he started the universe. For once I knew that answer, then I would know the purpose of my own life.

Albert Einstein

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason.

˹They are˺ those who remember Allah (God) while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and pray˺, “Our Lord! You have not created ˹all of˺ this without purpose. Glory be to You!

Qur’an 3:190-191

Gaining through loss

Once a man was asked, “What did you gain by regularly praying to God?” The man replied, “Nothing, but let me tell you what I lost: anger, ego, greed, depression, insecurity, and fear of death.”

Sometimes the answer to our prayers is not gaining but losing, which ultimately is the gain.”

Unknown author