For Finding Inner Peace ...

[Cordoba]

What are the main factors that lead to inner peace?

How to get there?
And how does one maintain peace?

In today's crazy world, it is not easy for most people to find peace, but it is not impossible

For a believer in God, the main foundation for inner peace is a strong relation with Him.

So remembering Allah is the first step ...
And this is done through daily prayers, through reading the Qur'an and through praising and remembering Him at different times of the day

But there are more steps ...

(To be continued In-Shaa-Allah ...)

 

[Cordoba]

Attitude Towards Life

The second important step for inner peace is one's attitude towards life

A believer in God knows that this life is a transition, it is not eternal and it is not the final destination

Like a transit traveler who stops in an airport on his way to his final destination. This stop is not his main purpose, so if the transit lounge is a bit noisy or is not too comfortable, it's not the end of the world.

Or like a person walking over a bridge to go from one side of town to the other side. The bridge itself is not the final destination, so one does not build their house over the bridge.

With this outlook at life, one can find inner peace, even if the transit is a bit rough

(To be continued In-Shaa-Allah ...)

 

[Cordoba]

Always Have Hope in a Better Future

A third important step for finding peace is to always be positive about life, even when faced with hardships.

Look at the bright side, be optimistic, and know for sure that after hardship there will be ease, no doubt about it.

Be patient and trust in God.

He wants what is best for us, so do your best effort, ask Him for help then be content with the outcome He chooses for you.

Contentment is Paradise on Earth

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Be Selfish

Altruism is a virtue God loves.

Why?

Because of many reasons, one of them is it reflects a heart that trusts God, as a believer knows that no wealth decreases from giving charity, as Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said in a hadith.

Another reason is that the intention of a believer who commits a good act of altruism is to please God, and God loves those who help others and are kind to His creatures.

A heart that is filled with mercy and kindness, is a heart which is filled with peace and contentment.

If you are really searching for peace, do your best to take the path of altruism, don't be greedy, think of others more often and don't only think of yourself.

 

[Cordoba]

Always Remember That God is Watching You

Sometimes, a believer in daily life is concerned with what other people think of him.

He is worried of being criticized if he says or does something which pleases God but displeases people.

This negative peer pressure can sometimes lead a believer away from the path of God, like for example:

"What will my colleagues at work say if they see me praying during my lunch hour? Will they make fun of me? ...

The cure for such concerns is to remember what is much more important, that is God is watching us every minute and every second of the day.

When we remember that, a feeling of peace enters the heart, as by remembering God hearts find peace.

If you are really searching for peace do what pleases God, and don't worry if some people criticize you.

 

[Cordoba]

Increase Your Love for God

A believer can increase in love of God by three main ways:

1- By remembering all the blessings and bounties He has given you.

Humans by nature love those who are kind to them, those who give them gifts and care for them.

How many gifts has God given you throughout your life?

Can you even count them or remember them all?

2- By contemplating the beauty of His creation.

It's part of human nature to be attracted to beauty.

There is so much beauty out there around us in nature, a believer can only praise the Creator for all this beauty which we enjoy.

3- By reflecting and glorifying God

Glory be to the Creator of this amazing world of ours, of this amazing universe which surrounds us, with all its galaxies, stars and planets.

One can only say Praise be to Allah the Most High

If you are searching for peace, fill your heart with the love of God

 

[Cordoba]

A Believer Grows in Faith By Being a Slave of God

Slavery in our modern world has a negative connotation, as it is not acceptable for a human being to enslave another human being.

How about our relation with our Creator?

If a believer acknowledges that God created him or her, then in reality we belong to God, and one day we will return to Him.

If we belong to God, then the best way to be close to Him is through love and obedience.

A believer is free from all worldly attachments, and his heart is only attached to God.

This is the real path to inner peace...

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Be Consumed with Negativity

In order to find peace in your heart, you need to fill it with light: the light of faith, the light of knowledge, the light of the love of God.

Darkness is the opposite of light

And life has both darkness and light: its positive side as well as its negative side.

What happens when you get involved with too much negativity?

Sooner or later it will take away part of the light in your heart, and will deprive you of part of your inner peace.

So don't be consumed with all the negative stuff you see on TV, and all the useless debates and arguments here and there.

If you are really searching for peace, remain calm and be positive.

 

[Cordoba]

Repel Evil with Goodness

Yesterday's post on this thread was about the danger of being consumed by negativity.

Today's reflection is on the wisdom God teaches us in the Qur'an on how to deal with those who treat us unjustly.

The golden rule is do to others what you would have them do to you, and the Qur'an goes one step further when Allah says:
"And not equal are the good deed and the bad.
Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend." (41:34)

It is not easy to implement in real life, as this noble reaction needs a strong faith and a lot of patience, but this is an important wisdom not only to gain new friends, but also to protect your spiritual heart from being filled with negativity and bad feelings, like the desire for revenge.

Repress your lower feelings and negative reactions, if you want to be a godly person, and do your best to respond in a way which is good and noble.

If you are really searching for peace, refine your manners and repel evil with goodness.

 

[Cordoba]

Be Thankful and Be Patient

This life we live is essentially a series of two types of events, some are positive and nice, while others seem negative and hard.

The key to finding inner peace is reacting to each type of events in the right way: to be thankful in times of ease and to be patient in times of hardship.

Even God's prophets, the best of people, went through hardships and did not complain. They were patient and they taught their followers to be patient.

At times of ease they were thankful, and in all times they remembered God.

God knows and we don't know why we go through hardships and why we go through times of ease and plenty, so trust in His wisdom, be content with His decree and always remember Him, and you will find peace In-Shaa-Allah.

 

[Cordoba]

Purify Your Soul & Monitor Your Spiritual Heart

Make sure you have a sound spiritual heart, as that is what counts in the Hereafter.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to seek refuge in Allah from a heart which is not at rest.

If our inner state is not in rest, our outer state will not be at rest.

And an important key to reach the state of a heart at rest is to purify the soul from its impurities and its love for wealth, praise, fame, desires, leadership and all other non-essential worldly matters.

A self which is never satiated, never has enough, and always wants more.

The identity of the heart draws from the state of the self (nafs).

The nafs affects the spiritual heart (qalb) as also the soul (rouh) affects the qalb.

If the nafs is corrupt, then the heart receives corrupt signals, messages, traits from the nafs, and is no longer a sound heart.

Liberate your heart from your nafs first, then the lights of faith will enter your heart.

Deflate your ego to liberate your heart.

Be modest to be at peace, and remember that you will one day return to your Creator, so be prepared for that day.

If you are really searching for peace, purify your soul to allow peace to enter into your heart.

 

[Cordoba]

Always Remember You Are Weak and Poor

It’s part of human nature when we have money to think we are rich.

It’s also part of human nature when we are in good health to think we are strong.

But in reality, we are neither rich nor strong.

In fact we are very weak, and very poor.

Just contemplate on this amazing universe, and you will realize that even the strongest person on earth is no more than a small ant in comparison to the size of the universe.

And the end of the wealthiest person on earth when they leave this world is to be wrapped in a piece of cloth and placed in the earth, leaving all their wealth behind.

Therefore, never think you are strong, as even in this life after strength comes the weakness of old age, and after wealth comes poverty.

To find inner peace, don’t be arrogant with your wealth, health and strength, but be humble and always in need of God, and you will increase in spirituality and in nearness to Him.

 

[Cordoba]

Start the New Year with Renewed Hope

Amazing how fast 2015 has gone by.

It's been a difficult year for many people around the world, especially for refugees fleeing wars and conflict zones. May Allah (SWT) be with them all.

Ameen.

Hope is a must for believers, as Allah (SWT) always encourages us in the Qur'an to never lose hope in His Mercy: He forgives all sins.

And hope in a better tomorrow and finding a way out of problems is important, knowing that after every hardship there is ease.

So keep cheerful, be positive, trust in God and make du'aa that this year will be a better year for all.

If you are really searching for peace, always trust God and renew your hope. He is the Most Kind, the Most Forgiving.

 

[Cordoba]

Keep the Love of God the Focus of Your Life

Life has its ups and downs, and difficult decisions to take now and again.

What should be the main criteria in taking those difficult decisions in order not to decrease in faith?

The answer is put the love of God as a main criteria in taking your decisions.

If what you are considering to do displeases God, then keep away from it.

But if this decision would bring you closer to God, then consult experts and do an istikhara prayer then proceed.

If you are really searching for inner peace, don't forget your love for God.

 

[Cordoba]

Keep the Right Balance Between Hope and Fear

God is Most Kind, Most Merciful, and He forgives all sins.

But does that mean a believer can rely on His forgiveness and indulge in sin?

The clear answer is no, because by doing so he would be distanced from God's Path, and would become easy pray for Satan to misguide him.

So don't be that person. If you commit a sin, yes do remember that God forgives all sins when one repents, and return quickly to His Straight Path, but don't continue in your sin relying on His forgiveness, as that is a very dangerous approach to take.

Finding the right balance between hope and fear is the wise approach to take: if you fear God too much all the time, your life will become very difficult as it will be difficult to sustain that feeling, and on the other extreme if you rely that He will forgive in order to continue in the path of sin you will be the loser.

So remember His mercy and forgiveness to return to His Path after committing a bad deed, and remember His punishment when you feel that you have become a good believer in order not to go astray.

His doors are always wide open, so if you are really looking for peace knock on His door, never despair of His mercy, and at the same time remember your shortcomings, and keep the right balance.

 

[Cordoba]

Read the Qur'an & Remember the Last Day

We often forget that this world is only a transition.

When we do that, we often are distant from God, or just too busy in life with little time left for reflection and contemplation.

That is why it is so important to read the Qur'an on a daily basis, even if it is only for 10 minutes, as by reading the Qur'an we are regularly aware of the Hereafter, and reminded of it in most chapters.

Today for example in the congregational prayer, the Imam was reading a verse which describe how on that Day the earth and the mountains would tremble and collapse:

"On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down." (73:14)

By contemplating this verse, one can visualize what will happen to huge mountains like the Alps or the Himalayas, and this alone would serve as a powerful wake up reminder to return to God's Path.

If you are really searching for peace, read the Qur'an, remember the Last Day and return to God's Path.

 

[Cordoba]

Reflect on Allah's Majesty and be Humble

One of the lessons we learn from the five daily prayers is to always be humble.

When we stand for prayer, we remember how Supreme Allah is. We repeat in each unit of prayer the word (Allahu Akbar) six times, so in total 11 times in the morning prayer, and more than 20 times in the noon, afternoon and evening prayers.

This alone should remind us of Allah's Majesty and our own weakness and dependence on Him.

This reminder should lead to humbleness, a trait God loves in believers, that brings peace to the spiritual heart.

If you are really searching for peace, remember God and be humble.

 

[Cordoba]

Be Thankful and Grateful

A thankful heart is a heart which is at peace in this world.

Being thankful for all the bounties God has given us is part of faith, as half of faith is thankfulness (during ease) and the other half is patience (during hardships).

And being thankful is not only by words, saying thank you God, but it is also by good deeds.

Thanking God for the health and strength He gave you is by using this strength to help those who are weak and need healp.

Thanking God for the wealth He gave you is put in practice by giving a small part of this wealth to those in need. And the more you give, the more you are thanking God, and He increases those who thank Him, so don't worry that wealth may decreases.

Allah (SWT) says in the Qur'an:

"And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you..." (14:7)

If you want to increase in faith and peace, increase in thankfulness to Allah.

 

[Cordoba]

Praise Allah & Glorify Him

When we say Al-Hamdulel-Allah to praise Allah, we praise Him but we don't know how to praise Him as He deserves to be praised.

Reflecting on this amazing universe, which is more than 12 billion years old, which we don't know where it starts nor where it ends, gives us a clue on the Might of its Creator.

All what is in this universe glorify Him, and human beings should do the same, but God gave them free choice to believe or disbelieve.

If you want to find peace, believe in God, Glorify Him and praise Him as He deserves to be praised, as best as you can.

 

[Cordoba]

Refine Your Manners & Never Be Unjust to Others

God does not love the unjust.

He loves justice and that people deal with each other with good manners.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was praised by God in the Qur'an not because he prayed a lot, but because he had excellent refined matters, when Allah (SWT) says about him:

"And indeed, you are of a great moral character." (68:4)

And the Prophet, peace be upon him, said that the closest to him in Paradise will be those with the best manners in this life.

Being close to the Prophet in the Hereafter means being close to God.

So if you want to be close to God in this life and in the next, refine your manners, and deal with people in a kind gentle way.