Blessed is he who is so busy with his own faults that he becomes unaware of the faults of others.
Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him), al-Bazzaar hadith collection (Twitter)
Do something that challenges you to change
Do something meaningful, do something difficult, do something that challenges you to change. Too often we become complacent and lazy, coasting through life thinking that the easy life is the good life. When in reality we stagnate, and like stagnent water we spoil.
Imran Hussein (Twitter)
The All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah (The One and only God). Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Al-Quran 39:53, Saheeh International Translation
It takes real courage to admit fault
Some love to blame others when things are not going their way. Looking for a scapegoat is easy. Blaming keeps people from having to look at what they did to get into the mess. But it takes real courage to admit fault and show remorse. Only then are we able to grow.
Mufti Ismail Menk (Twitter)
Being amongst the righteous
If you see people forsaking basic standards of decency.
If lying and deceit are seen as necessary traits to gain the upper hand.
If being a person of principle means missing out on profit or inviting ridicule.
Know that being amongst the righteous is that much more rewardable.
Dr. Omar Suleiman (Twitter)
We’re all God’s children
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
NIV, Book of Romans, 14-15
Every morning is a new opportunity
When Allah returns your soul every morning and you wake up by His Mercy alone, remember to say “Subhanallah” and give thanks for another chance to do good deeds. So many didn’t wake up at all.
Dr. Bilal Philips (Twitter)
Will you be patient?
Some people can be very difficult to deal with. They will hurt you with their words and actions. It’s easy to just be angry and shut them out of your lives. But at times you can’t. They may be family members. Remember, they are a test from the Almighty. Will you be patient?
Mufti Ismail Menk (Twitter)
Perhaps you will be mindful
Indeed, Allah (God) commands justice, grace, as well as courtesy to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful.
Qur’an 16:90, Translation by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Pure evil doesn’t exist
Evil, as an independent phenomenon whereby no dimension of good is involved, has no existence in this world. There is nothing in our existence that can be called pure evil, because every evil in this world is good from one angle or another. For instance, sickness harms the body from one angle, while from other angles tests patience, evokes resilience, and may even strengthen immunity. Most disliked things are usually this way; never void of some benefit or another for the human being.
Ibn al-Qayyim, Shifā’ al-‘Alīl fī Masā’il al-Qaḍā’i wal-Qadari wal-Ḥikmati wat-Ta‘līl (Cairo: Dar at-Turath, 1978), pp. 380-413. Referenced in Yaqeen Institute website.