Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul . . . Gerçek zenginlik, mal çokluğu değil, gönül tokluğudur . . . The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

When we think of a religious person who Allah loves, we tend to think of a man who has a beard, wears an ‘imama and a juba, always lives in the mosque, constantly prays, fasts and recites the Qur’an.

*But you know who we tend to forget that Allah loves?*

▪The mother who manages to get up for Fajr despite sleeping less than an hour because her baby was up all night.

▪The young person who is fighting depression but still musters the strength to get through the day because of a belief that he has in Allah.

▪The woman who has to speed through her prayer because her little one is crying.

▪The man who lays down the mat and prostates whilst at work.

▪The lady who wears the hijab correctly in public despite the pressures.

▪The student who lowers his gaze in an environment in college and university because he is conscious of Allah.

▪The individual who wants to fast throughout the month but his medical situation doesn’t allow it.

▪The one who leaves the house in the morning to earn halal so he can feed the family and look after the kids.

▪The guy who leaves what he used to do because it was wrong and returns to Allāh in remorse such that he often feels down.

▪The one who can barely recite a page of the Qur’an and doesn’t have a great voice but still sits there and tries.

▪The people who didn’t know anything about religion until later on in life but still have the power to humble themselves and seek knowledge.

*Piety has many forms and comes in different shapes*

If you are obeying Allah in whichever way you can, then be pleased and know that Allah loves you. Something small for one man is like climbing a steep mountain for another, and Allah knows that. He won’t let the tears, the tiredness, the effort, the good intentions and the striving go to waste.

Allah bless us all with His love.

There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error…/… Dinde zorlama yoktur. Çünkü doğruluk sapıklıktan iyice ayrılmıştır.

The foundation stone of the whole scheme is service. Service to the people, a service that will lighten, brighten, and make more profitable the lives of the majority who do the necessary work of the world.

True freedom is like an evergreen tree, which is free as well as restrained. While every tree is subjected to the same restrictions by nature, these restrictions are imposed to optimize the growth and development of a tree’s latent potential.

Freedom is a natural right of man, a spiritual privilege, a moral prerogative, and, above all, a religious duty. The Islamic concept of freedom is an article of faith, a solemn command from the Supreme Creator. It is built on the following fundamental principles. First, man’s conscience is subject to Allah only, to Whom every man is directly responsible. Secondly, every human being is personally responsible for his deeds and he alone is entitled to reap the fruits of his work. Thirdly, Allah has delegated to man the responsibility to decide for himself. Fourthly, man is sufficiently provided with spiritual guidance and endowed with rational qualities that enable him to make responsible, sound choices. Within the framework of this Islamic concept of freedom, there is no room for religious persecutions, class conflict, or racial prejudice. The individual’s right of freedom is as sacred as his right of Life; freedom is the equivalent of Life itself.

Anyone of you who sees wrong, let him undo it with his hand; and if he cannot, then let him speak against it with his tongue, and if he cannot do this either, then (let him abhor it) with his heart, and this is the least of faith.

The best of people is one from whom good accrues to humanity.

Deal gently with the people, and be not harsh; cheer them and condemn them not.”
(Prophet Muhummad- Peace be upon him)

There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error. Whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the strongest bond that never breaks. Allahs knows all, and hears all things. (Qur’an, 2:256)

The Truth is from your Lord. Let him who wills, believe, and let him who wills, disbelieve. (Qur’an, 18:29)

Life is not a bed of roses . . . Hayat güllük gülistanlık değildir . . .

What a beautiful pray: .❝Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet.❞ Patient to Friends, Enemies, Blessing, Tribulation, Exam.

Ne güzel bir duadır: .❝Rabbimiz üzerimize sabır yağdır, ayaklarımızı (düşman karşısında) sabit kıl.❞ Dosta, Düşmana, Nimete, Musibete, İmtihana Sabır…

We are always in an exam. About the people we love and we don’t love. About our friends, enemies. Oh Allah! Don’t let us to be loser!

Her an imtihandayız. Sevdiklerimizle, sevmediklerimizle. Dostlarımızla, düşmanlarımızla. Ey Allah’ım! Kaybedenlerden eyleme!

Life is not a bed of roses. Sometimes we have to walk on thorns. In times of prosperity make Shukr. In times of adversity make Sabr.

Hayat güllük gülistanlık değildir. Bazen diken üzerinde yürümek zorundayız. Bolluk zamanlarında Şükret. Zorluk zamanlarında sabret.

Do not grieve, there is another life to come…!! Üzülme, bizi bekleyen yeni bir hayat var … !!

The day will come when Allah will gather together the first of the creation and the last of it. The knowledge of this occurrence alone should reassure you of Allah’s justice. So whoever’s money is usurped here shall find it there; whoever is oppressed here shall find justice carried out there; and whoever oppresses here shall find his punishment there.

Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher, said,

“The drama of this life is not complete; there must be a second scene to it, for we see the tyrant and his victims without seeing justice being executed. We see the conqueror and the subjugated, without the latter finding any revenge. Therefore there must be another world, where justice will be carried out.”

Ash-Shaykh `Ali at-Tantawi, commenting on this, said:

“This statement suggests a confession from this foreigner (to Islam); of the existence of a Hereafter where judgment will take place.”

An Arab poet said:

“If the minister and his delegates rule despotically, and the judge on earth is unjust in his judgments, then woe, followed by woe after woe

Upon the judge of the earth from the judge who is above.

“(This Day shall every person be recompensed for what he earned. No injustice [shall he done to anybody]. Truly, Allah is Swift in reckoning. (Qur ‘an 40: 17)

Robert Louis Stevenson said:

“Every person is capable of performing his daily tasks, no matter how difficult they are, and every person is capable of living happily during his day until the sun sets: and this is the meaning of life.”

“Robert Louis Stevenson şöyle dedi ; Ne kadar meşakkatli olursa olsun her insan işini bir gün içinde yapabilir. Güneş batıncaya kadar her insan mutluluk içinde yaşayabilir. İşte hayatın anlamı budur.”

Stephen Leacock said:

“The young child says: when I will become a bigger boy. The boy says: when I become a teenager, and when that time comes, he says: when I will marry. What about after marriage? And what comes after all of these stages? One’s thoughts constantly follow the tune of the following: when I will be able to retire. But when one actually reaches old age and looks back, he is scorched by a cold wind. He lost out on his whole life that dwindled away without ever living inside of it. And thus we learn, only when it is too late, that life is to be lived in every breathing minute and hour.”

Such is the state of those who put off repenting from their sins. One of our pious predecessors said:

“I warn you of delaying and saying that I will do it later, for this is a phrase that prevents one from doing good and causes one to fall behind in deeds of righteousness.”

Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with [false] hope. They will come to know! (Qur’an 15: 3)

The French philosopher, Montaigne, said:

“My life was filled with bad luck that never showed mercy.”

I assert that despite their knowledge and intelligence, many famous thinkers knew nothing of the wisdom behind their own creation. They were not guided by the teachings that Allah sent through His Messenger, Muhammad (pbuh).

And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light. (Qur’an 24: 40)

Verily, we showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful. (Qur’an 76: 3)

Dante said:

“Consider that this day will not occur again.”
Better and more beautiful and complete is the hadith:
“Pray as if it is your farewell prayer.”

Dante şöyle dedi:

“Bugünün bir daha doğmayacağını düşün.”

Daha iyi ve daha güzel ve tamamlayan bir Hadis,
“Namazına kalktığın vakit (dünyaya) veda edenin (namazı gibi) namaz kıl.”

Whoever puts it into his mind that today is his last day, will make a fresh repentance, will do good deeds, and will strive to be obedient to his Lord, the Almighty and His Messenger (bpuh).

Grieve not and ask yourself the following questions

1. Do I put off living in the present because of fears and apprehensions about the future or because of hopes of the magical garden beyond the horizon?

2. Do I embitter my present life by mulling over events that occurred in the past?

3. Do I wake up in the morning with an intention of spending my day usefully?

4. Do I find that I am benefiting from my life when I try to concentrate on a present situation or task?

5. When will I begin to live in the present moment, without worrying too much about the past and future? Next week? Tomorrow? Or today?

Excerpt from the book “Don’t Be Sad , Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni