Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Look at the Positive Side[/FONT]
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Being positive most of the time is one of the ways which leads to inner peace[/FONT]
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Each event we experience has its positive and negative sides. Sometimes the positives are greater than the negatives, and in some cases it's the other way round.[/FONT]
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Even when a believer experiences a negative event, he/she is advised to look at the bright or positive side, as only focusing on the negative side leads a person to losing hope[/FONT]
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There is always hope, and even if we can't immediately understand the positive side, it is there, and by thinking and reflecting we can benefit from lessons learned, even after weeks or months, and gain more experience[/FONT]
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So be positive, patient and you will find peace[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Take it Easy and Be Relaxed[/FONT]
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Life is a journey we go through, from one stage to the next: baby, child, young person, adult, mature adult, elderly then a transition to the Hereafter[/FONT]
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When one is on a journey this means that this life is not the final destination. Like when one is on a train going from one city to another, the train is only a transition, it is not the final destination.[/FONT]

If that's the case, then do your best to make this journey a relaxed journey. Don't get uptight if you face some difficulties on the way. It will all pass, and when you reach your destination you will look back at these difficulties and feel glad that they are behind you and that you were able to overcome them

Don't be sad if your provision is reduced and don't worry if you go through some hardship.

Be patient and relaxed, trust in God, and you will find peace.

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Be Content and Satisfied[/FONT]
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Even if the external environment is bitter or hard, a content believer would still be happy.[/FONT]
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Why?[/FONT]
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Because happiness comes from the heart, it comes from the inside. If the external factors are good, this would help increase happiness, but if they are unfavorable if one is content one would still be happy[/FONT]

If you are searching for real happiness, not temporary pleasures, start by refining your heart and coming closer to God, and when you become content with what God has provided you and the many blessings you have you will find inner peace.

For more details, talk 12 at this link by Dr. Imad Bayoun is about happiness:

ImadBayoun.com - Purification of the Heart

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Patience is a Great Virtue[/FONT]
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God loves those who are patient, and He mentions patience in the Qur'an in many verses as a virtue believers should do their best to acquire[/FONT]
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In Chapter 2 for example, Allah says:[/FONT]
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"And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]" (2:45)[/FONT]
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"O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient." (2:153)[/FONT]
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So Allah is with those who are patient with His mercy, His support and His care. He helps them when they go through a difficult time and He brings them closer to Him when they continue being patient and continue with their prayers. [/FONT]
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Being patient and closer to God eventually leads to inner peace.[/FONT]
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[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Don't Get Angry[/FONT]
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Anger takes away part of our feeling of peace, and sometimes make a person act in an irresponsible way.[/FONT]
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Allah praised in the Qur'an those who are patient, and those who are able to control themselves and supress their anger and forgive other people.[/FONT]
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Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was a very calm person, and he always advised his companions not to get angry.[/FONT]
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If you do feel yourself on the verge of anger, try to make wudu', or if you are standing sit down and seek refuge from shaytan.[/FONT]
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When a person gets angry, satan has a stronger impact on him, as anger takes away part of one's good manners and one's sensible way of reasoning.[/FONT]
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If you are searching for peace try to be calm and patient to be closer to God[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Do Good to Others[/FONT]
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[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]God loves those who are kind and caring to others, those who help the needy and do an effort to improve the conditions of their community and society.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]God created human beings and made this earth for them a place to live in order that they get to know Him and worship Him by their own free will.[/FONT]

Those who do good on earth to make this life a better life and help others are doing what God wants of them, and as such their effort pleases Him, and if they are sincere they will come closer to God, and His love will grow in their hearts.

When this happens, they will grow in peace and in faith

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Forgive and Never Be Unjust[/FONT]

The path of injustice is a path which takes a person away from God

If you are searching for inner peace, never be unjust, as not only will you lose God's love, but on the Day of Judgment injustice will be settled and those who were unjust in this world will find darkness, as all accounts will be settled by The Just God in the Herafter.

Forgive and overlook people's mistakes, and don't take revenge for your personal satisfaction. If you cause injustice to someone, his supplication would be answered, as one of the granted supplications is that of a person who faces injustice and this will surely lead to a loss of peace.

Be patient and fair, and Allah will love you, bring you closer to Him and you will increase in peace

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Take Life One Day at a Time

Sometimes we feel like there are so many problems to deal with this week, next month or next year, but we forget that each problem has a solution.

When feeling stress due to future problems, it is a wise thing to unwind by taking it one day at a time. Yes, one should plan ahead and do one's best, but at the end of the day it is Allah who decides, so we need to ask Him to guide us to what is best for us in this world and in the Hereafter.

If you are searching for peace, take life one day at a time, count your many blessings and forget future problems, they will be solved In-Shaa-Allah

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[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Leisure Time is a Must[/FONT]
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The life of a believer can't be serious all the time, as that is very difficult to sustain. [/FONT]

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, told his companions who complained that when they returned home they were not at the same level of faith as they were when with him, that they had to give time for other matters in life, it can't all be religion (One hour and one hour)

Hearts do need change, between work and rest, seriousness and halal leisure time. Family and friends have rights on us, and we must dedicate enough time for their sake. Also, we need time for rest and for doing the things we like doing.

This balance in life between duties, rights, responsibilities is very important in order to reach a long-term sustainable pattern between religion and life, which is one of the important keys for happiness and inner peace.

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Make Du'aa (Prayers) for Those You Care For

When one goes through a hardship, one normally asks God for help and assistance.

But have you tried doing du'aa for your brother or sister who is in distress?

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that making du'aa for others is always answered, and an angel says (Amen, and may Allah grant you the same). This is the translation of the hadith:

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

‘A prayer by a Muslim for his brother in his absence is always answered.

An angel stands close to him who is assigned a special task.

Every time he says a good prayer for his brother, the angel says: Amen, and may Allah grant you the same’.

(Hadith in Sahih Muslim)

Praying for others increases love between people and helps make the community and the society at large a caring society

So if you want to increase in faith, to find inner peace and to have your prayers answered, pray for others.

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[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Seek Forgiveness from God on a Regular Basis[/FONT]
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In The Qur'an, Allah commands believers in many verses to seek forgiveness, even after performing good deeds like hajj (pilgrimage).[/FONT]
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The five daily prayers are a reminder for Muslims to repent, but Allah also tells us to seek His forgiveness especially during the last third part of the night.[/FONT]
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Why?[/FONT]

Our Creator is a Forgiving God, and He knows that the free will we have will lead us to mistakes and sins, (intentional and non-intentional, majors sins and minor sins), so His door is always open for us to repent, and He forgives all sins (except associating others in worship, called shirk)

As Allah loves believers, He wants what is best for them, and repentance is the way to clear their sins, to bring them closer to Him, for a happy life here and in the Hereafter.

Seeking forgiveness on a regular basis is therefore a crucial thing for us to remember, if we are searching for peace.

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Help Others[/FONT]
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Helping others is one of the important ways to coming closer to God, and a highly recommended thing to do in Islam [/FONT]
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"Give and take" is the main rule which governs people's lives. When one is self-centered only thinking of himself, life becomes sad, as one is then deprived of the blessing of giving and helping others, especially the needy[/FONT]
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God loves to see people dealing with each other in kindness, mercy and compassion, so try to be that person if you are searching for God's love and His peace.[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Don't Waste Time in Trivial Matters[/FONT]
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Time is a believer's most precious asset, as with free time one has an opportunity to come closer to God through doing good deeds, reading the Qur'an, worship and the remembrance of Allah[/FONT]
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So don't waste time watching TV for long hours without end. There will always be yet another good program, another basketball/cricket/football game, another film, ... etc[/FONT]
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Leisure time is important, but don't overdo it if you want to come closer to God and find inner peace[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Remember that this World is a Transition[/FONT]
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Nobody lives for ever, and remembering that this life is a transition, like a bridge we walk over to go from one side of the river to the other, is an important wake up call when one is too occupied with worldly matters.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]It is part of human nature to forget that we are on a journey to the Hereafter, but when we remember we come closer to God, and this reminder helps us find inner peace ...[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]So remember and don't forget ...[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Keep Calm and Optimistic [/FONT]
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Maintaining one's calmness, even when there is a strong storm, is very important to help a believer out of hardships[/FONT]

Making du'aa for yourself and for others is a must to find calm, as a believer knows that God responds to supplications and that He can change any situation in no time: He says "Be" and it is

What is important is for the supplication to be sincere, and don't give up. There is always hope.
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Dawn always breaks, even if the night is long, and in daylight will see the way[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]There is Always Hope: Dawn Always Follows Night[/FONT]

After a long night, dawn arrives and darkness turns into daylight

Always have hope, and remember that after hardship comes ease

Be optimistic and look at the bright side of life and you will find peace

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Keep Good Company[/FONT]

Having good friends and keeping good company is very important for maintaining a strong faith, as friends influence each other, either in a positive way or in a negative way

Till you find good company, it's best not to mix with those who will have a negative impact on your level of faith. If however you are able to mix with them without them influencing you, but you are strong enough in faith to help guide them to God's path, then with that intention it would be ok

The ideal situation is to have a good community of friends, and from them you choose close friends. Keep searching, and you will find them In-Shaa-Allah

Their company will strengthen your faith and this will lead to increased inner peace

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Trust God: There is Always Hope[/FONT]

When life looks difficult, when one goes through a tunnel and can't see the other end, be sure that each problem has a solution, and that there is light at the other end of the tunnel

Do your best, ask God for guidance, then trust that He will help you out

God does not burden a soul more that what it can stand, and hardships are often opportunities to refine one's heart and increase in faith

When you ask God for His help and support with sincerity, He will respond, and bring you closer to Him, which makes you increase in inner peace

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Doing those things that bring you peace[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Ibn al-Qayyim enumerated some of the factors that bring about tranquility:[/FONT]​

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1. Islamic Monotheism, or worshipping Allah exclusively without associating any partners with him (in worship), and without associating any partners with Him in all qualities that belong to Him alone...[/FONT]​

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2. Useful knowledge, because the most happy, easy-going, and contented kind of person is the scholar. Why should scholars not be, for they are the inheritors of Muhammad (peace be upon him)? ...[/FONT]​

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3. Good deeds. A good deed brings light both to the heart and to the face. Doing good deeds results in being blessed in one's sustenance, and the hearts of people are naturally attracted to the doer of good...[/FONT]​

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4. Bravery, for the courageous person is firm and strong and fears Allah alone. Difficulties and hardship neither shake nor disturb him.[/FONT]​

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5. Avoiding sins. Sinning ruins one's peace of mind and makes one feel lonely and in the dark:[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]"l saw that sins cause the heart to die and addiction brings disgrace to the addicted."[/FONT]​

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6. Not being extravagant in that which is lawful. In other words, one should be moderate in speaking, sleeping, and mixing with people, and likewise one should be abstemious in one's eating habits.[/FONT]​

http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=177&chapter=136​

 

[Cordoba]

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

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]ln a 1994 issue of the magazine Ahlan was-Sahalan, an article by Dr. Hassan Shamsi Basha was printed, entitled, Twenty ways to avoid anxiety. The following points are summarized from the article:[/FONT]​

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1. The length of your life has already been decided upon, for everything takes place according to preordainment and decree. So there is no need to feel anxious in that regard.[/FONT]​

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2. The decision of how much sustenance any one of us receives is with Allah alone: no one else owns that sustenance or has the power to take it from you.[/FONT]​

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3. The past is gone and has taken with it its woes and miseries. It cannot return even if the whole of mankind worked as one unit to bring it back.[/FONT]​

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4. The future is from the unseen world and has not yet arrived. It brings with it matters, showing no regard to your permission or feelings, so do not call it forth until it actually arrives.[/FONT]​

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5. Doing good to others brings happiness to both the heart and the soul. A good deed provides greater benefits to the benefactor --- in tenns of blessings and recompense and peace --- than it does to the receiver.[/FONT]​

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6. Among the noble qualities of the believer is that he doesn't concern himself with spurious criticism. No one has been saved from curses and criticism, not even Allah, the Lord of all that exists, who is perfect and Exalted.[/FONT]
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http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=177&chapter=188​