Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

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Remember that God is Near

One thing to always remember is that God is near.

He says so in the Qur'an:

"And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided." (2:186)

This reminder is enough to make the heart find consolation and peace.

Why?

Because if God is near, and He responds to "the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me", should we really worry?

If a young child has his father near him to help, wouldn't that be enough for the child to be confident?

All what you need to "activate" this invaluable support is to supplicate. Get closer to God and ask Him what you need, then don't worry as God is on your side.

Would you worry if you knew that God is on your side?

If you are really searching for peace, always remember that God is near, and ask Him for His help, guidance and support.

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ramadan: The Month of Qur'an & High Spirituality

It is indeed the best month of the year.

When you find it easy to read the Qur'an in this month, do your best to read it in-depth, and ponder on its deep meanings.

It is God's Book of Guidance for us to live a happy life, a balanced life, where spirituality is high, and the highest it can get is in the month of Ramadan.

It is a month to get away from sins and to get closer to our Creator, and feel His Mercy, His Forgiveness and His Love.

If you are really searching for peace, read the Qur'an in-depth and thank God for this blessed month.

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ramadan's Treasures: Reconciliation with God

Ramadan is a golden chance for believers to return to God, ask for His forgiveness and open a new page on our Path to the Hereafter.

God is near, and He wants us to return to His Path. In Ramadan this is much easier to do compared to the rest of the year so seize this opportunity.

In the material world, when there is a sale in the shops, and say a 50% reduction in prices to clear stock, people rush to buy what they need at reduced costs and save a lot of money in doing so.

Ramadan is a similar situation but not to buy clothes or electronics, but to come closer to Allah (SWT).

If you are really searching for peace, don't miss the golden chance of Ramadan. Do your best, ask God to forgive and enjoy the best month of the year.[/FONT]

 

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Reform Your Heart

If you want to come closer to God and find more peace, reform your heart, and make an effort to purify it from negative feelings and traits.

Allah (SWT) does not look at our figures but looks at our hearts.

A sound heart is one which Allah loves for a believer, a heart which is free from negative traits like envy, stinginess, despair, jealousy, ... etc.

The purification of the heart and soul, called tazkiyah, is an on-going process, as no one is perfect, but at its core is getting rid of the love of this world, as it is the root cause of most evils.

A believer's heart should not be full with the love of this world.

Why?

Because if this is the case, there will be no place left for the love of God.

Si if for example he has wealth, this wealth should be in his hand not in his heart. The same applies to all other worldly matters.

If you really want to find peace, reform your heart and clear it only for the love of God.

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Trust in [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God

The concept of "tawakkul" in Islam, which means relying on God, is a beautiful concept which inspires peace in the heart of a believer.

Why?

Because a Muslim believes in measured destiny (or Qadar), which is one of the six articles of faith. We believe that God knows what will happen in the future, so this we cannot change. We submit to His will, while at the same time we do our best to change our conditions to improve, and ask Him for His Guidance, Help and Support.

Having done that, a believer is content with whatever end result Allah (SWT) chooses for us, and this leads to inner peace.

If you are really searching for peace, do your best and trust in God.

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Be Wise and Patient

To find inner peace, wisdom and patience are very important

With patience, a believer accepts God's decree, and is patient when faced with hardships, knowing for sure that after hardship will come ease.

As for wisdom, acting and speaking should always be based on reflection, understanding and correct intention.

Our intentions must be sound, and our actions must be correct in order to achieve an important goal which God loves.

For example, you can't change injustice by committing a deed which God dislikes, even if your intention was sound for the sake of Allah.

Throughout history, we have seen many instances where injustice was committed, but believers remained patient as their wisdom and understanding made them not react in a wrong way.

If you are really searching for inner peace, be wise and be patient.

After a dark night, dawn will come and light will fill the earth.

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Peace at Home[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

Having peace at home - i.e. peace in marriage - is an important element that helps us reach inner peace.

A home which is full of arguments and problems makes spouses lose positive energy and turn negative with each fight they have.

Spouses should do their best effort to help each other feel at peace, as they are life partners who share together the responsibility of their children, and later in life help each other out in old age.

If you are really searching for inner peace, do your best to establish peace at home.

It will make a huge difference, as you will have more time for God, and will give you more peace of mind.[/FONT]

 

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Don't Raise Expectations in Worldly Matters

In the field of management studies, researchers have formulated a theory on motivation which related expectations and outcomes.

When managers set high expectations for their staff's performance reward and the outcome is lower than expected this leads to demotivation.

When managers set low expectations for their staff's performance reward and the outcome is higher than expected this leads to motivation.

Islam guides us to take the second approach on an individual basis.

A believer should have low expectations of worldly matters, as this world is not his main objective, it is a mere transition to the Hereafter. What really counts is God's love and reward in the Hereafter.

This does not mean that we should not work hard to improve our worldly conditions and be ambitious, but means that we should not set high expectations for worldly gains (money, prestige, status, wealth, ... etc.), but we do our best and be content with the provision God gives us. If it is "little" we thank Him and we are patient, and if it is more than what we expected, we also thank God and we use His bounties to help others.

This wise approach to life gives us the benefit of never being disappointed or demotivated, and leads to contentment and peace.

If you are really searching for inner peace, don't raise your expectations in worldly matters. This world is a mere transition. What really matters is the Hereafter.

 

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Keep Away from What Makes Your Heart Distant from God

On our Path to God, we find many obstacles that make us distant from God

In order to maintain inner peace and increase in serenity, a believer must be cautious of these obstacles.

One of them is the company one keeps. If your best friends are not serious about their love for God, and they love this worldly life more than they love God, they are bound to influence you in a negative way.

That is why it is so important to be careful in choosing our close friends, so that they help us increase in faith and peace.

If you are really searching for peace, choose your close friends with extreme care, and beware of the obstacles that make you stray from God's Straight Path

 

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Keep Your Faith Strong Through The Remembrance of God

Some days, a believer may lose focus by worldly distractions and serious events taking place around him.

Despite the external environment, one should not forget God, and it's not only the five daily prayers.

One of the main ways of finding peace of heart is through the remembrance of Allah, and this should continue under all circumstances, whether through reading the Qur'an on a daily basis, performing extra optional prayers, doing good deeds to serve the community, ...etc

If you are really searching for inner peace, don't forget to remember God each hour of the day, and if you can each minute of the day, one way or the other.

 

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Keep Calm, Don't Lose Your Temper

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, advised us not to get angry.

Why?

Because anger is from Satan, and when one is angry he or she lose control of words and actions, making it more probable to commit mistakes, and in the process lose the state of peace one had.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, advised us if we get angry to sit down if standing, and to make ablution to calm down the anger.

In all cases, if you do get angry remember that God is watching you, and that He sees how you will react. If you have taqwa, then don't do something that God dislikes.

If you are really searching for peace, be calm and don't lose your temper.

Be wise, learn how to forgive, and ignore those who are ignorant.

 

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Understanding Contentment

Does contentment mean a believer should remain passive?

Does it mean that one should not work to improve living standards and surrounding conditions?

The answer is no.

Contentment means to be satisfied with God's decree after having worked hard and done one's best.

So be pro-active, be positive, be dynamic .... and after that be content with what God provides for you and what He decides, as He is the All-Wise. This is when you will find in your heart true peace.

If you are really searching for peace, do your best and be content.

 

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Remember that God is the Most Great

We often forget how great God is, especially when we don't look up to the stars, and don't contemplate this immense universe.

What are we in size compared to this amazing universe?

A drop of water in a vast ocean?

Or a grain of sand in a vast desert?

He is the Most Great, the Most High, Subhan Allah.

And we are nothing without Him

Once we remember that, we wake up from the delusion of our ego, and as we make an effort to get closer to Him we find peace.

If you are really searching for peace remember your Creator, He is the Most Great, and that you are nothing without Him.

 

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Remember Paradise and Don't Be Sad

One of the ways to increase in hope, faith and peace is to remember the Hereafter and ask God for His Mercy and Forgiveness.

When doing so, read in the Qur'an the verses which describe the Abode of Peace, Jannah or Paradise, as that is where a believer will find eternal peace.

Whatever the problems one goes through in this life, being patient is what God loves, and He rewards the patient without account. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur'an:

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

If you are really searching for peace, remember the Abode of Peace, and work hard to be entitled to God's acceptance and mercy.

 

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Contemplate and Reflect on The Universe Then Praise God

This is a time lapse of the Milky Way:

[youtube]RrrEvaMkWL4[/youtube]
The Milky Way - Time Lapse Montage (HD) - YouTube

Contemplate, reflect, think, then submit to your Creator

One can only say Subhan Allah

If you are searching for peace, reflect and think on this amazing universe, then praise Allah

 

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Look at the Stars and Realize How Small you are and How Great He Is

One deep look at the sky at night is enough to make us realize how small we are in comparison with this amazing universe.

[youtube]LMxtAe8H2DI[/youtube]
Star Trails Time Lapse - YouTube

It should help us remember how great God is, and how insignificant we are

This reflection should help the heart wake up

When the heart starts to wake up, we start to ask the deep questions of life:

- Why did God create us?

- What does He want us to do?

- How do we get closer to Him?

- What will happen to us after we leave this world?

When we find the right answers to these questions and act upon them, we take the right track that leads us to God, and that is when we find peace.

If you are really searching for peace, remember God and follow His Straight Path.

 

[Cordoba]

Submit to the Will of God to Find Peace

Islam comes from the root s-l-m which has two meanings:

1- To submit to the will of God

2- To treat others in peace and find peace

A Muslim finds peace by submitting to God, following His Guidance and accepting His decree.

We submit to God five times a day in our five daily prayers, and through it we find peace.

We submit to God by fasting one month each year, and through it we find peace

We submit to God by following His Guidance in all other matters, and through that we find peace.

If you are really searching for peace, submit to God and follow His Straight Path.

 

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Trust the Wisdom and Knowledge of Allah

God knows what we don't know, and He is The All-Wise

We must believe that, especially at times when we don't understand why certain events happen in life.

We may have some knowledge and some wisdom, but it is very limited compared to His knowledge and to His wisdom.

We need to trust God and submit to Him if we are true believers.

By doing so, we will find peace of heart and peace of mind.

 

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Don't Be Arrogant: God Does Not Love The Arrogant

Arrogance is one of the negative inner human feelings which believers need to get rid of.

God tells us in the Qur'an that He does not love the arrogant, so how do you want to get closer to God if you still have arrogance in your heart?

The first example of arrogance which was punished by God was the case of Satan, who believed that he was better than Adam, and for this reason refused to bow to Adam as commanded by God.

What was his punishment?

He was cursed by God and sent out of Heaven for ever

The other example was that of Pharaoh whose story is repeated in many verses in the Qur'an

Humbleness is what God loves, and a brief look at the sky and contemplation of the immense universe is enough for us to realize that we are very very small, so how can such a small creature be arrogant?

If you are really searching for peace, be humble to come closer to God and don't be arrogant.

 

[Cordoba]

Looking for Serenity?[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

We are submitting to Allah, we are saying there is nothing I can do, there is no success I can have without You (God).

With You, You will bring success to everything I do, but without You I’m just a noisy gong, it’s just me I’m talking about.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So when we submit as Muslims to Allah, this is when the second word comes in: we find peace through submission.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This is the extraordinary thing. This is not the way the world thinks. The way the world thinks is that we want to be on-top, we want to be number 1, we want to be the most important person, we want to have more rather than be better.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Well, Islam teaches us submit to Allah, accept what Allah wants and we will find peace in our lives.[/FONT]..

Looking for Serenity? Try Islam (Exclusive Video) - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net