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Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
A definition of patience

A scholar said: "To have patience means that one's common sense and religious motives are stronger than one's whims and desires."

It is natural for people to have an inclination towards their desires, but common sense and the religious motive should limit that inclination. The two forces are at war: sometimes reason and religion win, and sometimes whims and desires prevail. The battlefield is the heart of man.
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]How to Attain Ihsan?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Imam An-Nawawi laid down five principles for Ihsan which we need to study and implement into our lives. He also gave us an action plan as to how to attain them. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]1. Fearing Allah in the secret and the open.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]2. Living according to the Sunnah in word and deed. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]3. Indifference to whether others accept or reject us. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]4. Satisfaction with Allah, the Most High, in scarcity and plenty.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]5. Turning to Allah in happiness and affliction. [/FONT]

http://islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=185
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Q: Why should we love Allah more than anything else? And how can we achieve this? [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]A: The most beautiful, the most sincere, the most elevated and the most exalted kind of love is most certainly the love of the One Whom hearts were created to love, and for Whom creation was brought into existence to adore. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Allah is the One to Whom hearts turn in love, exaltation, glorification, humility, submission and worship. Such worship cannot be directed towards other than Him. It is the perfection of love accompanied by complete submission and humility. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Allah is loved for His own sake in every respect. [/FONT]

Allah: We Ought to Love Him
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Four Principles for a Noble Character
“It is not imagined that one can have noble character except if it is founded upon four pillars:

The First: Sabr (Patience)

The Second: 'Iffah (Chastity)

The Third: Shujaa'ah (Courage)

The Fourth: Adl (Justice)

Patience, inspires him to be tolerant, control his anger, endure the harms that he receives from others, to be forbearing and deliberate in his decisions. It motivates him to be gentle and not to be rash or hasty.

Chastity, inspires him to avoid every imprudent characteristic, whether in statement or action, and encourages him to have a sense of modesty and integrity which is the epitome of all good. It prevents him from fornication, stinginess, lying, backbiting and spreading tales to cause separation and discord between the people.


Courage, inspires him to have a sense of self esteem, to emphasize high and noble manners and to make it apart of his natural disposition. It also encourages him to exert himself and to be generous, which is in essence, true courage and it leads to strong will and self determination. It encourages him to distance himself from his ardent lowly desires, to control his anger, and to be forbearing because by such, he can control his temper, take it by the reins and curb his violent and destructive behavior just as the Messenger (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) said:
“The Strong is not the one who can wrestle his opponent to the ground but rather the strong is the one who can control himself when he gets angry.”
This is true genuine courage and it is the sole trait that the slave utilizes to conquer his opponent.


Justice, encourages him to be impartial in his behavior with people and to be moderate between the two extremes of negligence and extremism. It motivates him to be generous and kind which is the middle course between absolute degradation and arrogance, and to make this apart of his disposition and makeup. It encourages him to be courageous which is the middle course between cowardice and imprudence, and to be forbearing which is the middle course between extreme unnecessary anger and ignominy.
(Ibn Al-Qayyim)
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Four Poisons of the Heart [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Whoever is concerned with the health and life of his heart, must rid it of the effects of such poisons, and then protect it by avoiding new ones. If he takes any by mistake, then he should hasten to wipe out their effect by turning in repentance and seeking forgiveness from Allah, as well as by doing good deeds that will wipe out his wrong actions.

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]By the four poisons we mean [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]1- Unnecessary talking, [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]2- Unrestrained glances, [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]3- too much food, and [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]4- keeping bad company. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Of all the poisons, these are the most widespread and have the greatest effect on a heart's well-being. [/FONT]

http://www.sunnah.org/tasawwuf/poisons_of_heart.htm
[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
The Positive Impact of Taqwa (Fearing God)

Two quotes from The Qur'an:

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](And he who fears Allah, He will make for him a way out. And will [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]provide for him from where he does not expect) (65:2-3)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him of his matter ease) (65:4)[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
The Fruits of Contentment

(Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him) (5:119)

Contentment bears many blessed fruits.

More than anything else, by being contented with that which is decreed, one is able to soar to the highest levels of faith and truthfulness.

(Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Safety is in Contentment

Contentment offers safety in that the contented heart is healthy and free from deceit, corruption and rancour.

Being pleased with Allah is like a good tree which is nourished by the water of sincerity in the garden of pure Islamic Monotheism.

Its roots are faith and its branches are good deeds. It is a tree bearing fruit that is fresh and sweet.

(Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Peace of Mind is in Having the Basic Necessities of Life

Don't think that having only a little is a cause for anxiety

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]More complex problems normally accompany a more complex kind of life. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Most people who have life's basic necessities have a conscious which is more sound and an existence which is more peaceful than the majority of rich people[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Do not cling to other than Allah

If Allah, the Exalted, is the One who brings beings to life, causes death, and if He`alone provides for all creation, why fear people or be distressed by their actions?

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Much grief and anxiety is caused by our attachment to people - in seeking to please them[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]If your love for Allah is true, then all else is insignificant[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Don't be sad: Learn to Deal with your reality[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]In life, if you inwardly disparage sometyhing you can't have, its value will diminish for you. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]And if you are contented with not getting something you really wanted, then your heart will find solace[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](Don't raise your expectations)[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Knowing that After Hardship comes Relief[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Hardship, no matter how great and far reaching it becomes, never endures or lasts.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Rather, the harsher and more difficult one's circumstances become, the closer one comes to ease, confort and relief. Then help and aid are forthcoming from Allah.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Is not the end of every dark night a bright morning?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](From the book titled "Don't be Sad")[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]This feeling is certainly a way of achieving internal peace when faced with hardships. Knowing that they don't last and that after each hardship comes ease is a great consolation and inner support.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Thinking of a hardship in a positive (rather than a negative) way, and that it is a chance to come closer to Allah makes it much easier to get to terms with.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Allah says in The Qur'an:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]"For indeed with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease." (94:5-6)[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
In Order to find Peace Turn to your Lord

Tranquility means having a heart that is at peace and that has a sound trust in Allah.

Tranquility is a state of calm enjoyed by those believers who have been saved from doubt.

And it is according to one's closness to Allah and steadfastness in following the Messenger's way that one will achieve tranquility and peace

(Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Smile [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Laughing moderately can act as a cure or as therapy for depression and sadness. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]It has a strong influence on keeping the soul light and the heart clear.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]If I were given a choice between having status in society and plentiful money, and between having a happy radiant smiling self, I would choose the latter. For what is great wealth if it begets misery? ...[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The smiling soul sees difficulties, and loves to surmount them. When it sees problems it smiles, reveling in the opportunity to solve and overcome them. ...[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]How much in need we are indeed of a smile, a friendly face, easy going manners, and a gentle generous soul.[/FONT]

:)

(Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Blessing of Knowledge[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. It is life for one's soul and fuel for one's character[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Happiness and high-spiritedness come with enlightment, because through knowledge one may fulfil his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul, by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]If you desire happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightment, and you will find that anxiety, depression and grief will leave you[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif](And say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge) (The Qur'an, 20:114)[/FONT]

(Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Do not be sad - Everything will occur according to pre-ordainment

Everything occurs according to preordainment and according to what has been decreed.

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]"And know that what has befallen you was not going to miss you, and that which missed you was not meant to befall you"[/FONT]

(Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad")
 
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