Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

[Cordoba]

The Serenity and Happiness of Believers

Serenity flourishes and thrives without any help from money or materialistic resources.

You might be poor, yet Allah bestows you with serenity so that you achieve happiness even if you lose everything else, and you fall into misery by losing it even if you owned everything else.

Serenity doesn’t need good health either; one could suffer sicknesses yet Allah bestows serenity in his heart.

The greatness of this religion, the religion of all mankind, the religion of any human, is that there is no division into castes. There is no elite, and this serenity is for everybody. The only condition is paying its price. Without serenity, any blessing will turn into a curse: money is a blessing that can turn into a curse if it is possessed by a person deprived from serenity. At the same time, every hardship surrounded by serenity can turn into a blessing: a serene person can sleep comfortably on a thorn-covered bed, while a troubled person won’t find comfort in a silk-covered bed.

A serene person perceives the hardest matters as lenience and ease, while a non serene person sees the easiest matters as hardship and distress. The fight of fears and dangers along with serenity ends up as security and peace while an easy journey without serenity turns to ruins and desolation...

The Serenity and Happiness of Believers (Part 1/2) - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Serenity is a Light From Allah

In this worldly life is a paradise, which if one doesn’t enter, he won’t get into the eternal Paradise.

It is the Paradise of the proximity to Allah, and serenity comes along with that same proximity...

When you reconcile with Allah, you reconcile with your own nature; there’s such a mess in the heart that couldn’t be put together except by turning back to Allah...

Humans are amazing creatures; they were made out of a fist of the earth’s mud, and a blast of Allah’s Spirit.

Thus, focusing on the materialistic component and undermining the spiritual one is actually not doing justice to the human nature, and the one who feeds his materialistic needs (the mud) but starves the spiritual part cannot claim that he is giving to the human nature what it deserves. He has actually deprived that nature from one of its essential dimensions...

Serenity is a Light From Allah - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

[Cordoba]

For a Sound and Refined Heart

Matters of the Heart

For Muslims, faith is the most precious blessing which is absolutely indispensable if they want to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter.

The vessel inside the body which this faith resides is the heart, or “qalb”, as it is known in Arabic.

There is much more to the heart than apparently meets the eye; much more than we give due consideration to as we busily go about our day-to-day lives.

Pondering deeply upon the meanings of the Quran whilst reciting it correctly has a profound effect upon the heart, making it come ‘alive’ with rejuvenated faith, or iman...

Sound Hearts

A heart might be sound and complete, or it may be spiritually contaminated as God says in the following verse of the Quran:
{…except he who comes before Allah with a sound heart.} (Ash-Shu’ara’ 26: 89)

The Arabic word “salim” that is used in the above verse to describe the believer’s heart, means, ‘safe, secure, or free from evils of any kind’ (Lane). When used to describe the heart, ‘salim’ means that heart which is free from unbelief or corruptness.

As we can see, the verses of the Quran that describe the states of hearts, of both believers as well as non-believers, grant us a deep insight into the complexities and spiritual depths of the human soul.
The Quran exhorts the importance of constantly keeping a check on our hearts to ensure that they remain pure, free of vice, open and receptive to admonition, tranquil due to the remembrance of God, and free from diseases and the entrapping whispers of Satan.

Perhaps then, we can hope to die in a state in which our hearts will also be ‘sound’ - free and untouched by any vice, evil, disease or moral corruption.

Matters of the Heart - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Bygones Are Bygones...Today Is All You Have

The Past is Gone Forever

By brooding over the past and its tragedies, one practices a form of insanity; a kind of sickness that destroys our resolve to live for the present moment. Those who have a firm will have thrown away and forgotten occurrences of the past, which will never happen again.

Episodes of the past are bygone, sadness cannot retrieve them, melancholy cannot put things right, and depression will never bring the past back to life. This is because the past is non-existent, let bygones be bygones.

Do not live in the nightmares of the past or under the shade of what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past. Do you think you can return the sun to the east, the baby to its mother's womb, milk to the udder, or tears to the eye? Do you think you can reverse the wheels of history?

By constantly dwelling on the past and its happenings, you place yourself in a very frightful and tragic state of mind. Reading too much into the past is a waste of the present. When Allah mentioned the affairs of the previous nations, He, Almighty said, {Those are a people who have passed away} (Al-Baqarah 2:134)

Past days are gone and done with, you will benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy on them. Theperson who lives in the shade of the past is like someone who tries to saw sawdust. In the past it was said: "Do not remove the dead from their graves."

Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present; neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. If every man and every jinn were to try jointly to bring back the past, they would most certainly fail. Everything on earth moves forward, prepares for a new life, and so should you.

Today Is All That You Have

When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening. Live as if today is all that you have got. Yesterday had passed with all its good and evil, while tomorrow has not arrived yet. Let the span of your life be but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at its end. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainties...

Bygones Are Bygones...Today Is All You Have - Advice - Shari`ah - OnIslam.net​

 

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Your Recompense is With Allah

When Allah, the Exalted, takes something away from you, He compensates you with something better, but only if you are patient and seek your reward from Him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Whoever has his eyesight taken away from him and is (then) patient, he will be compensated for it with Paradise."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in another hadith:

"Whoever loses a loved one from the people of this world and then seeks his recompense with his Lord, will be compensated with Paradise."

So do not feel excessive sorrow over some misfortune, because the One Who decreed it has with Him Paradise: recompense and a great reward...

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[Cordoba]

Contentment with What We Have

It is part of human nature to want to be richer, more successful, and better-looking than others.

One feels jealous if someone else is more successful, famous, or healthy, etc. Indeed, such a person is never content with what he has, for it is not possible for someone to be better than all other people in all aspects.

Worldly life is not meant for perfection. Only faith can give this feeling of contentment.

A believer is aware that Almighty Allah gives whatever He wishes to whomever He wishes, and that He is testing us regarding what He has given or withheld from us.

Such belief frees one from the destructive feelings of jealousy, envy, and grudge toward others, and thus one leads a peaceful life of contentment and satisfaction.

Toward Inner Peace - Advice - Shari`ah - OnIslam.net

 

[Cordoba]

In Search for Inner Peace:

How To Recharge our Faith Batteries
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The word 'Iman' is literally translated as faith, meaning to know and to be convinced beyond the least shadow of doubt.[/FONT]
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It is the firm belief arising out of knowledge and conviction. Why is it though that our faith is not always as sound and strong as we want it to be as it often fluctuates according to life circumstances?[/FONT]
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Most of us may experience spiritual weakness, at times it even creeps up on us. Our zest to obey and serve God fades, and suddenly we realize we are spiritually flailing. Although we long for daily victory, we sometimes may lack the strength to maintain a faithful walk with God. Never fear however this comes with the package of being a human...[/FONT]
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There are several causes for weakening faith such as deficiencies in our prayers or the insinuating whispers from Satan. Regardless of the cause, it is crucial for all of us to keep a check on our faith and if we feel it is faltering in any way then we should take measures to restore it. It is our responsibility to know which things decrease our faith and how to avoid them and those that increase our faith and how to embrace them.[/FONT]
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We should trace our "life habits". I personally try to note times of spiritual victory and times of defeat. I attempt to track Satan's successful techniques to weaken me and make a conscientious decision to overcome them.[/FONT]
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Begin each day in a positive manner, no matter the circumstances. Give thanks and praise to God for what He has already done; even though we might not see the results, have not received rewards, or things might not even look better. Praise God for the faith to believe that it will happen...[/FONT]

How to Recharge Our Faith Batteries? - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

[Cordoba]

Verily, in the Remembrance of Allah Do Hearts Find Rest

Remembrance of Allah is His paradise on earth, and whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter. Remembrance is not only a safe haven from the problems and worries of this world, but it is also the short and easy path to achieving ultimate success. Read the various revealed texts that refer to the remembrance of Allah, and you will appreciate its benefits.

When you remember Allah, clouds of worry and fear are driven away, and the mountains that make up your problems are blown away.

We should not be surprised when we hear that people who remember Allah are at peace...

IslamBasics​

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Doing Good to Others Gives Comfort to the Heart[/FONT]

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The first person who benefits from an act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person.​

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If you find yourself to be in difficulty or distress, show kindness to others, and you will be the first to find solace and comfort. Give to the needy, defend the oppressed, help those in distress, and visit the sick: you will find that happiness surrounds you from all directions.​

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An act of charity is like perfume - it benefits the user, the seller, and the buyer. Furthermore, the psychological benefits that one receives from helping others are indeed great. If you suffer from depression, an act of charity will have a more potent effect on your sickness than will the best available medicine.[/FONT]
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Even when you smile upon meeting others, you are giving charity. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:[/FONT]
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"Do not dismiss certain acts of kindness by deeming them to be insignificant, even if (such an act) is to meet your brother with a smiling face (for that is a deed which might weigh heavily in your scale of deeds)."[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=177&chapter=13

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[Cordoba]

Be Content with that which Allah has given you and you will be the richest of people

Wealth, appearance, children, house, and talents - you must be content with your share in these things:

(So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful.) (Qur'an 7: I44)...

If you are a seeker of happiness, be satisfied with the looks Allah has favored you with, with your family situation, with the sound of your voice, with the level of your understanding, and with the amount of your salary. Certain educators go further than this by saying that you should imagine being contented with even less than you actually have now.

Therefore your value is in your abilities, good deeds, manners, and contributions to society. Do not feel grief, then, over that which has passed you by in life in terms of good looks, wealth, or family; and be content with what Allah has allotted for you.


(It is we who portion out between them their livelihood in this world.) (Qur'an 43: 32)

Remind yourself of Paradise, which is as wide as are the Heavens and the Earth.

lf you are hungry in this world, if you are sad, ill or oppressed, remember the eternal bliss of Paradise. lf you do this, then your losses are really profits and the hardships you face are really gifts.

The most wise of people are those that work for the Hereafter, because it is better and everlasting. And the most foolish of mankind are those that see this world as their eternal abode - in it reside all of their hopes...

The happiness of Paradise will be absolute. So why do we not contemplate this fact?

lf Paradise is our final destination - and we ask Allah for Paradise - then the hardships of this world are less heavy than they may seem, so let the hearts of the afflicted ones find solace...

IslamBasics​

 

[Cordoba]

Asking Allah for Forgiveness Opens Closed Doors

One way of finding inner peace is to constantly seek forgiveness from Allah.

Even a sin can be a blessing if it causes the believer to turn to his Lord in repentance...

God loves many types of believers, as mentioned in the Quran, and He loves those who repent and return to Him asking His forgiveness.

His doors are always open, so never despair. No one is perfect, and any believer who commits a sin then repents a sincere repentance and does good deeds, God forgives

So be optimistic and keep close to your Creator. He hears you, and He knows what is in your heart. Ask and He will respond ...

When you do that, inner peace will return

 

[Cordoba]

Counter Anxiety with Contentment

Anxiety is one of the main problems many people face today in our complicated modern world.

Many people are worried what will happen tomorrow, what will happen next month or next year.

Financial worries, career worries, health worries and family worries, among others, are widespread due to the nature of the fast changing world we are living in today.

So how can anxiety be overcome to reach inner peace?

The answer to this question is a strong faith in God and contentment with all what He decrees for us, trusting that He gives us what is good for us.

Some people may have a small income, and God may not increase their wealth because He knows that if they had plenty of money they would deviate from the Straight Path. So in reality, He is protecting them from their own selves.

How should one react to such a situation?

Two options: either with resentment or with contentment

If you are searching for inner peace, choose the path of contentment and at the same time come closer to God and ask Him for what you need.

His doors are always open and He hears our prayers, so trust in Him

 

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Knowledge is Light

Seeking knowledge is the path to enlightenment, and is highly encouraged in Islam.

In the Qur'an, God invites us to learn, reflect and think. A very important prayer in the Qur'an is this prayer:

(say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge.") (20:114)

Knowledge is very important to increase in faith, as through knowledge all doubts and questions find answers, and these answers lead to certainty and peace of mind, which is an important component of inner peace.

So if you are searching for inner peace, seek more knowledge, get to know your Lord and enjoy a life full of learning, knowledge and faith

 

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Contemplate the Beauty of Nature and Draw Closer to God

Going to the mountains for a day, or spending a weekend near the ocean revives the inner feelings of natural peace.

Why?

Because getting away from the sources of tension and pressure in our daily lives in busy cities makes us calm down from within, and seeing beauty in nature makes the heart find rest.

Listening to birds sing as we go from winter to spring, and as snow melts and white fields turns into green, brings us closer to remember our Creator, who created all this beauty around us.

If you are really searching for inner peace, contemplate the beauty of nature, and draw closer to God, as to Him one day we shall return

 

[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Don't Feel Regret About the Past

One of Satan's tricks is to make you remember sad events which happened in the past, so beware.

Thinking of sad events which happened in life leads nowhere. The present is what we have, and we should do our best to make it better than the past.

Yes, there are lessons to be learned from past mistakes in order not to repeat them again, but thinking of the past just for the sake of recalling sad memories is not a constructive thing to do.

Life has its happy moments and it also has its sad moments, nobody can escape that, but it's best to look on the bright side of life to remain positive and optimistic

If you are searching for inner peace, don't be sad about the past. Today will be a better day In-Shaa-Allah[/FONT]

 

[Cordoba]

Have a Thankful Heart

Do you thank God for the many bounties you have?

He loves those who are grateful, and dislikes those who are ungrateful

And when you thank God, He brings you closer to Him.

Praise Him, and thank Him for His many bounties if you are searching for inner peace, and remember that He says

"If you are grateful, I will surely increase you" (14:7)

 

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Be Humble: God Does Not Like The Arrogant

Arrogance is one of the serious diseases of the heart.

If you are searching for inner peace, and you feel that you are superior or better than others, or you deny the truth when you see it and/or are unjust to others, then work on curing this illness, as God does not like those who are arrogant.

In fact, He cursed Satan because of his arrogance as he thought he was better than Adam, as he was made of fire whereas Adam is made of clay.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance shall not enter Paradise".

The Companions said: "But a man likes to wear a nice robe and nice sandals". The Prophet replied:

"This is not arrogance. Arrogance is denying the truth and injustice to people". (Reported by Muslim)

One quick way of curing arrogance is to look up to the sky, and remember how tiny we are compared to this immense universe, a drop of water in a vast ocean. Also, to remember that nothing lasts in this world. If one has wealth and health in their youth, when they reach old age health diminishes, and wealth can disappear at any time. So why be arrogant?

Remember God often and be humble if you are really searching for peace here and in the Hereafter.

 

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Be Kind

If you are searching for inner peace, then be kind to others

God is The Compassionate, The Most Merciful, and He loves that His creatures deal with each other in peace, kindness and mercy.

By being kind to others you are also protecting yourself from negative feelings, anger and bad temper, so try always to look on the positive side of people. Nobody is perfect, as all human beings have their pluses and minuses. Some are young and strong, others are elderly and weak so do your best to do good to others and to help those who need help.

Being kind starts with parents, as they are the most worthy of our kindness and love for their care and love and all what they did to us when we were young. This is the most effective way to come closer to God and increase in peace.

Wife/husband comes next, then sons/daughters, neighbors, relatives, friends, colleagues, then humanity at large, those you know and those you don't know.

Be kind to others and God will be Kind to you, and increase you in faith and peace.

 

[Cordoba]

Be Wise & Stay Calm

Keeping calm when faced with problems is very important for maintaining inner peace.

This world is a transition, it is not the final destination. Always remember that, so if you face a problem in this worldly life, the way out is through patience and wise action.

Wise action means not to take a quick and hasty reaction.

Think before you act, ask others for advice and make an istikharah prayer before you take a decision.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, advised his companions to do that, as this approach leads to better and wiser decisions, and also results in maintaining inner peace.

If you are really searching for inner peace be calm, and be wise in your decisions.

 

[Cordoba]

Be Patient

Patience is a virtue, as they say

God loves those who are patient, as mentioned in the Quran, as they submit to His will, and they believe that God does what is best for believers, even though in some cases we may not immediately understand the wisdom of some events in our lives.

Another important dimension of patience when faced with difficulties is that it reflects our belief in qadar, or measured destiny, which is one of the important six articles of faith.

Being patient leads to inner peace, as patient believers are not too worried about the trivial matters of this worldly life, as they trust God's choices for them, so try always to remain calm and patient if you are really searching for peace.