Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

[Cordoba]

Patience & Inner Peace

Patience is a great virtue which God loves

We all go through times in life when we face difficulties and hardships, some on a small scale, and others on a major scale (like natural disasters).

What should one do in such circumstances?

If for example an earthquake occurs, can we stop it?

The clear answer is no we can't

So the best thing to do is to be patient, and accept that this is God's decree which we can't change. After each hardship comes ease, so there is hope and certainity that after such a difficulty there will come better times

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Patience is at the first shock", meaning that being patient at the initial stage when something difficult happens is the real patience. Trusting that God will make things improve, and submitting to His will gives peace and tranquility to the soul.

This life is only a transition, it is not an eternal life

So be close to Allah under all circumstances, don't panic and be patient

God says: "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account" (39:10)

 

[Cordoba]

Wisdom is a Precious Gift

Allah is The All-Wise (Al-Hakeem)

Sometimes we don't understand the wisdom of certain events we see in life

Why did that massive earthquake happen?

What is the wisdom of that major flood?

Why that long drought?

Similar questions are often difficult to answer, and one story mentioned in the Qur'an remindes us that what we may see as a "negative" event may in fact turn out to be a very positive event.

That story is in Chapter 18 (Surat Al-Kahf) when a wise man (called Al-Khidr) went on a ship owned by some poor people with Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, and made a hole in it. On the surface, it looks like a destructive and negative act, but in reality the wisdom of what he did was that there was an unjust king who used to take possession of all ships who was to catch up with them. By seeing the ship with a hole in it, that king left it and went away, and the poor people by this act did not lose their precious property

Often it takes time for us to understand the wisdom of some events which happen around us, that is why patience is very important

Seeking knowledge and wisdom, together with patience and foresight make
a believer live in peace knowing that there is a wisdom in each act, and trusting that Allah wants what is best for us, even if we may not understand it straight away.

So be patient and try to be wise if you are searching for inner peace

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Get Into Debt
Debt often takes away one's peace of mind

It often leads to worry, anxiety and sleepless nights, which all go against inner peace

Most transactions in today's world are based on debt, whether it's credit cards, mortgages, loans or other forms of debts.

The consumer society we live in today does its best to create new needs to convince us to buy the latest products, through creative advertising and marketing, and many of these "products" we don't really need, but they convince us that we need them, and that we don't have to worry about finance, as we can buy today and pay later...

A believer who is attached to God does not want to get into debt, as debt is like a chain which takes away part of our freedom and peace of mind

Don't get into new debt, and do your best to pay off your current debts as soon as you can if you are really searching for inner peace and tranquility

 

[Cordoba]

Calmness and Inner Peace

In the busy modern world of today, most of the time we are in a hurry

We want to avoid the next traffic jam, so we speed ahead

We want to avoid a long queue so we accelerate to get there early

We want to get back home early to watch a TV program or to sleep early so we run to catch an early train

And so on ...

Most students and working people spend the week runing from one place to another, always in a hurry

This modern urban life pattern makes it difficult to find inner peace, as having peace makes one calm and helps in finding a balanced life style

Do your best but don't take too many responsibilities you can't fulfill and don't always be in a hurry

A calm life helps us find inner peace ...

 

[Cordoba]

Nature & Inner Peace


Why is it that we often feel at peace when visiting the countryside, walking in a big green park or going to the mountains or to the seaside?


Our city life often deprives us from seeing the beauty of nature, the beauty of the the sky at night and the stars


Once we "get away" from the busy traffic and busy places, we feel more at ease as we are closer to God's natural creation, and the human soul by its nature feels at ease


A weekend near the sea or in a nice place in the mountains helps us contemplate on life, and think of how to re-establish balance, sustainability and inner peace

 

[Cordoba]

The Qur'an and Inner Peace

Reading the Qur'an with understanding and concentration is an important way for gaining inner peace

The Qur'an are God's words, His Guidance and His advice for us to live a happy life here and in the hereafter. When a believer wants God to speak to him, he reads the Qur'an, and when he wants to speak to God he prays

When God speaks to us, and when we are attentive to the message of each chapter, each verse and each word, a believer feels peace for a number of reasons

1- The Qur'an is a reminder which makes us "wake up" and realize the reality of this world we are living in, which is a mere transition, a phase we go through in our journey to Allah. One day this journey will end, and one day we will be accountable for what we did in this life by our free will.

2- The Qur'an teaches us wisdom, and from it we learn not to judge events in this life which may seem difficult or bad to be that way. Often they are a blessing in disguoise, though we may not at first understand. All what we need is patience and trusting Allah that hardships are always followed by ease. This is a great source of inner peace for the reader who is going through difficult times.

It is said that Chapter 12 in the Qur'an (Surat Yusuf) is the chapter which anyone who feels sad finds relief when he reads it, as all the difficult events in the life of Prophet Joseph and Prophet Jacob, peace be upon them, turned out in the end to be a source of blessings when they were patient, and we see the wisdom of God in His decree

3- The Qur'an gives us hope in a better tomorrow, in this life and in the hereafter.

4- Reading the Qur'an gives us a sense of contentment which leads to inner peace

5- Reading the Qur'an makes us get to know Allah, our Creator, which is the most important thing a believer should try to do, if he really loves God

There are many more reasons why the Qur'an has such a positive impact on the reader in the way of inner peace ...

 

[Cordoba]

Praying and Inner Peace

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to love praying, and used to wait for the Adhan in order to pray and find inner peace. He used to say to Bilal, his companion who was in charge of making adhan (the call to prayers) "Arihna biha ya Bilal" (i.e. give us relief with the adhan o Bilal)

He used to say, peace be upon him, that his comfort is in praying

The Prophet used to spend most of the night in optional prayers, and when asked about it he said (I want to be a thankful servant of Allah)

If you want to speak to Allah and to be close to him, then prayers in the way

 

[Cordoba]

Seeking Knowledge about Islam & Inner Peace

There was a phase in my life when I had time to seek a lot of knowledge about Islam by attending talks given by Muslim scholars, several times a week

Being in an assembly where knowledge is being conveyed from a scholar to his students is a unique experience, as one really does feel that angels are present in such gatherings

I remember one particular scholar back in the 1990s, who gave the Friday speech, in addition to a weekly lesson on Mondays, who had the skill to make the listener forget his worldly worries at the start of the speech, then concentrate on the topic through many interesting stories and often funny jokes, while conveying the main lessons of the topic at hand, and finally making a prayer which made us feel very close to Allah. At the end of the talk, the spiritual batteries were recharged and the knowledge was conveyed, in a gathering attended by angels which made one feel like wanting to fly!!

The inner peace one feels in such gatherings is very special, and in a way similar to the peace one finds when visiting the Prophet's mosque in Madinah

Very difficult to describe, as it can only be felt

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Patience and Inner Peace[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Anxiety, impatience and worry are feelings we all go through at different stages of our lives which prevent us from reaching a stage of complete inner peace.[/FONT]

Part of human nature is being in a hurry and being impatient, but Allah loves those who are patient. Why? Because the patient accept Allah's decree, and believe that what happens in this world is only a transition, so worldly matters are not that important. Their love for Allah and for the Hereafter is much stronger than their love of this world, and that's why they accept what happens after doing their best.

When there is patience in the heart, world-related worries and anxieties vanish or are minimized, making room for trust in Allah and being attached to Him, which leads to contentment and inner peace

 

[Cordoba]

Inner Peace After Ramadan

Ramadan was an excellent intensive spiritual training course for all Muslims, as it brought us closer to God. When our daily intake of food and drink is reduced, the spirit is "lighter" and closer to its Creator

When we read more the Qur'an we reflect more on God's Guidance for a happy life here and in the Hereafter, we respond more and we benefit more

When we pray more optional prayers, when we give more charity, when we do other good deeds which please Allah and remember Him more often, we come closer to Him, and all that leads to contentment and inner peace.

It is very important not to lose that inner peace after Ramadan, and the way forward to achieve that is to maintain the good deeds we did during the month of fasting throught the year.

May Allah increase us all in peace each day of the year

Ameen

 

[Cordoba]

Being Dutiful to Parents and Inner Peace

Being dutiful to parents is one of the most important keys for seeking God's pleasure and coming closer to Him, thereby finding inner peace
Why is that so?

Because Allah is the Most Merciful, and He wants us to deal with others with kindness and mercy. Those who are most deserving of our kindness and mercy are those who are the closest to us: our close family, not only wife and children but more so our parents who took care of us when we were young when we had no one else to care for us in this world

We owe them a huge debt, and this debt is especially due to mothers who suffered the pains of pregnancy, birth and upbringing for many years in order to see us happy in this life. Now that the situation is reversed, and that they are getting older and need our support and kindness, it is our turn to repay them that debt

Allah is never pleased of a believer who is undutiful to his/her parents, and even in some cases if some parents were not very supportive when their children grew up, even if in some cases they were unfair or not fully loving, it is still a debt and a responsibility to take care of them in any way they need care

So if you want to come closer to Allah, be generous in your time which you dedicate to your parents, don't neglect them, and even if they passed away you can still be dutiful towards them through being in touch with their friends and relatives and caring for them, and through doing good deeds for their sake and praying for them each day.

When you do that on a daily basis, even if you are very busy, you will feel relieved as on one hand you would have fulfiled your responsibility and repaid them part of the debt you owe them, and on the other hand you would be seeking God's pleasure which He only grants to those who are dutiful

Islam is all about good manners and generosity, so be generous with your parents so that God returns to you of His generosity, and makes you reach a state of inner peace and strong faith

 

[Cordoba]

Praising Allah Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

I was recently listening to verses from the Qur'an, and the following verse was read:

(So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Him] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied) (20:130)

http://islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=120&chapter=20

These two times of the day are special times, as we see and experience night turning into day and day turning into night, from darkness to light and from light to darkness
It's a time of day to remember our Creator, and The Creator of this amazing universe, to contemplate on this world we live in, the planets and the stars, and to praise Him and exalt Him

By doing that, one feels inner peace, as in the remembrance of Allah hearts find peace

 

[Cordoba]

Not Wanting Anything from this World

If the focus of a believer is on the pleasures of this world, he/she will have a hard time finding inner peace

Why?

Because if the heart is full with the love of this world, there will be little room left for the love of Allah

Also the love of this world will make worldly matters always have a higher priority in one's life compared to the matters which really count for finding inner peace, which are serenity, contentment and the love of God

It's important to find the right balance in life between work and other duties and between giving enough time and thought for preparing for the hereafter and meeting God

In all cases, worldly matters should not be in our hearts, we should control them, and they should not control us

If you want to find inner peace, let go of the love and attachment to this worldly life; it's only a brief transition.

The best aspect of this life is the love of Allah; that's what really counts

 

[Cordoba]

Having Good Friends Who Help us on God's Path

It is very important to keep a good balance between day-to-day life and social commitments and between our relation with God

One factor which helps strengthen the faith is to have good friends who remind us of Allah and help us remain steadfast on God's Path

Good company is crucial for maintaining this balance, and the relation of brotherhood/sisterhood in Islam is unique for those searching for inner peace

A good and sincere friend is a valuable treasure

 

[EiNsTeiN]

Baraka Allah feek

 

[Cordoba]

Thank you brother

Finding Inner Peace through Contemplation

In The Qur'an, Allah describes His servants with many attributes, including that they (reflect on the creation of the Heavens and earth) (3:191)

Reflecting on this amazing universe opens the door wide open for realizing how Great and Mighty our Creator really is

In doing so, the faith of a believer becomes stronger and his/her certitude that God is able to do everything, and that He hears our prayers and He helps us out of difficulties when we ask

This certitude and reassurance is another source for inner peace and tranquility

 

[Cordoba]

Remaining Calm
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, advised his companions not to get angry[/FONT]

Remaining calm, even under difficult conditions, is important for inner peace

The Prophet advised us when angry to sit down if standing, and if that does not work to lie down in order to calm down

If that does not work, he (peace be upon him) advised us to make wudu', as anger is from fire and water extinguishes fire

If that also does not work, he advised us to take a bath

He also advised us not to take a decision when angry, and to make istikhara prayer and wait till the following day (if possible) in order for the decision to be a mature decision

Calmness and patience in dealing with others is an important key for inner peace: one leads to the other

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Forgive, Don't Take Revenge[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Most people like taking revenge from those who have wronged them [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]In order to find inner peace this is not a good thing to do, as taking revenge is a negative action which has a negative impact on the spiritual heart[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]There is a difference between establishing justice then forgiving and between taking revenge for the sake of revenge[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]And that is what Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did when he returned to Makkah after 8 years in exile due to the war against him by the tribes of Makkah. He returned to Makkah in peace with 10,000 of his followers and he forgave all his past enemies[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]His mission is a mission of peace, and God wants us to treat others in peace, so don't take revenge: it's in your own best intertest if you are searching for peace[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Simply forgive ...[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

Finding Inner Peace through Praying for Others

Loving brothers and sisters in Islam for the sake of Allah is a very special relation, and praying for them when they are not around is highly praised in Islam

It helps the heart get rid of selfishness, and it increases the levels of care and compassion towards others

There is also a direct benefit which is mentioned in a hadith where the Prophet, peace be upon him, informs us that the supplication a Muslim makesfor someone else is an accepted supplication, and that an angel says at the end of the supplication may you also be rewarded with the same reward

Altruism leads to inner peace as one is no longer self-centered

 

[Cordoba]

All Good Deeds that Bring us Closer to God Lead to Inner Peace
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When a believer prays or helps someone or gives charity, ... etc, he/she feel good for having done something which pleases God
[/FONT]
Why?

Because faith increases in the heart of a believer when doing good and brings him/her closer to God, which leads to inner peace

So if you are searching for inner peace, do good and remember God often