Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

[Cordoba]

Inner Peace After Ramadan

The feeling of peace we felt in Ramadan can easily continue after Ramadan

To do that, we need to continue what we did during 30 days and nights, praying extra prayers, reading more Qur'an, doing more good deeds and having a daily spiritual retreat with Allah.

Keep your heart attached to God, be God-conscious and continue on His Path

Continue asking Him for help and guidance, and always remember that His doors are wide open

If you are really searching for peace, continue your journey on His Straight Path till you meet Him in the Hereafter.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Run All The Time

One of the fruits of Ramadan is to regain balance in one's life through a better arrangement of priorities in daily life.

Most of the year, we often spend most of our time running from one place to another, always trying to catch that "train" before it leaves the station, or that "bus" before it departs.

In regaining one's balance in Ramadan, and maintaining that balance after Ramadan, we need to implement better time management in our life, and focus on the top priorities first, then deal with the lesser priorities later on.

After Ramadan for example, we realize that we spent most of the year with little interaction with our family, relatives and friends, and by having some extra free time we are able to re-establish these important connections.

Taking a holiday, even if it's only a long weekend, also helps us slow-down and sort out our lives in a better and more sustainable way.

If you are really looking for peace, slow down and don't run all the time.

 

[Cordoba]

Find Peace Through Trusting God

God wants His creation to live a happy life here on earth and later to live a happy eternal life in Paradise

If we know that, then a believer must trust that God wants what is best for us.

With this belief, then all what we need is to follow His Guidance and never worry about what will happen next.

There will be good times in life, and there will also be hardships. Be thankful during good times, and be patient during good times.

This cycle of good times and hardships, of being thankful and being patient till we meet God, so trust in Him if you are really searching for peace here and in the Hereafter.

 

[Cordoba]

Stay Calm - Don't be Provoked

At the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, many Muslims experienced a sense of peace following a whole month of fasting and praying.

How does one maintain that level of peace?

Staying calm when facing problems is very important for maintaining inner peace, and one of the ways to do that is to follow the guidance of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, when he advised his companions not to get angry.

If you face a problem, don't be provoked and lose your temper.

Keep calm, keep cool if you are really searching for inner peace.

 

[Cordoba]

Towards Finding Inner Peace:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Contentment: Sign of a True Believer [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Belief is the driving power that makes you feel content with things that have been destined for you.

Through belief, one can enjoy the blessings of this life and earn Allah's pleasure in the world to come.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Contentment is a sign of a true believer. When one is afflicted with catastrophes and shows patience and contentment and does not complain about his sufferings; be sure that he is indeed a true believer. By this, we are not saying that those who want to be richer, healthier, more famous, etc. are not believers. But they lack the complete understanding of belief. Contentment does not mean that you do not feel the pains and trials of this life. You feel them, but you do not complain about them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
The virtue of contentment is closely connected with the virtue of putting trust in Allah. When one shows contentment with what he has got and does not foster envy or hatred towards others, he is certain that Allah will not let him down and there is a great reward awaiting him...[/FONT]

Contentment: Sign of a True Believer - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

[Cordoba]

Find Inner Peace by Caring More for those in Need

One way to find peace and contentment is to thank God for what we have, and to think of those who are worse off: the poor, the refugees, those suffering oppression, those with poor health ...

Caring for them, and helping them as best as you can will bring you closer to God, and this will increase you in faith and in inner peace

Don't only think of yourself, but also think of others and give them a helping hand if you want to find peace.

 

[Cordoba]

Find Inner Peace by Always Having Hope

Life without hope is very sad, so be optimistic.

God commands believers to always have hope, and reminds them that after hardships there are always good times, times of ease.

Have hope that God will forgive, as He is All-Forgiving and His doors are always wide open for those who seek His help and forgiveness

Have hope that each problem has a solution, so persevere in finding the right answer

Have hope that God will respond to your prayers, as He is the One Who Answers Prayers (Al-Mujeeb)

If you are really searching for peace, remember God and be optimistic

 

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Ask God to Protect you From Anxiety and Sorrow

Anxiety and sorrow are two negative feelings which take away from us our inner peace.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught us a very important supplication to say each morning and each evening:

"O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men."

If you are really searching for inner peace, and you are suffering from anxiety and sorrow, then say this supplication each morning and each evening

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Fill Your Day With More Than What You Can Do

Sometimes when we are very busy, we can find that we have say 50 things to do during the day, but we can only do half that number of tasks without haste.

Being in a hurry, whether at work, studies or social events, means that we can't perform each task with excellence. Tight deadlines at work with so many commitments make one perform these tasks without the care and attention they deserve.

If all or most of our day is like that, then we will always have the sense of chasing a bus departing from a station which we can't catch. This feeling takes away the peace and serenity a believer feels when close to God.

To maintain this sensation of peace and serenity, a right balance is needed between life's commitments and spiritual life.

If you are really searching for peace, don't over-burden yourself with more than you can accomplish, and do your best to perform these tasks with serenity and excellence.

 

[Cordoba]

Praise Your Lord Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

When the sun is about to disappear in the horizon and the day starts to turn into night, remember God and praise Him

This is a special time of the day which reminds us of our Creator, the creator of the earth, the sun and this whole amazing universe. Praising Him at this special time is the least we can do.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"... exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting," (50:39)

The same applies at the time of sunrise, as night turns into day.

In another verse God says:

"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)

Note that praising God leads to inner satisfaction, inner peace, and reflecting on this amazing universe leads us to realize how great is the Creator.

If you are really searching for peace remember God and praise Him especially at these special moments.

 

[Cordoba]

Listen to the Birds as they Praise God

One of the nicest things to start the day is after the dawn prayer to listen to birds in a nearby tree waking up and praising Allah.

It is one of the most relaxing natural sounds which serve many purposes, including giving us "natural music" to enjoy, reminding us to praise God and waking up those who have not yet woken up for the dawn prayer.

At the end of the day the same chorus is repeated, as birds again praise God before sunset as they settle back in trees to go to sleep. You can nearly hear them thanking God for His provision and the food He gave them during the day, and praising His glory.

Shouldn't we also be thankful to our Creator?

If you are searching for inner peace listen to the birds as they praise God, remember Him and praise Him throughout the day.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Worry About the Future - God is With You

One of the reasons many people can't find peace of mind is worrying too much about the future.

But they shouldn't.

Why?

Because if you believe in God, you know that He hears you, and that He responds to your supplications when you call on Him for help.

For a better future, do your best effort in your work or study, do your best planning for your career or your retirement, ask God to guide you to what is best, then leave everything to Him.

God is with you and won't let you down, so why worry?

If you are really searching for peace, trust in God, and keep those worries away.

 

[Cordoba]

Search for Peace Before Dawn

When people are asleep, when there is no one on the street, when it's calm and serene, wake up before dawn, make ablution and get out your praying rug.

Praise God, pray two units of prayer, then ask Him what you need.

This is the best time of night, the most calm, the most serene, so don't miss being awake, as it is the time when God is closest to believers, the last third part of the night.

He hears our prayers, and He responds and fills the hearts with peace and serenity.

If you are really searching for peace, wake up before dawn and pray.

 

[Cordoba]

Ask God at Dawn for a Blessed Day

The start of each new day is a new hope, as it is a new page in our life, an opportunity to get closer to God.

There are several beautiful supplications Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught his companions to say at the start of each day, among them:

"O Allah, what blessing I or any of Your creation have risen upon, is from You alone, without partner, so for You is all praise and unto You all thanks."

Another beautiful supplication:

"We have reached the morning and at this very time all sovereignty belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

O Allah, I ask you for the good of this day, its triumphs and its guidance, and I take refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil that follows it."

Remembering God at the start of each new day and thanking Him for His blessings gives reassurance to the heart, and a feeling of peace and tranquility

If you are really searching for inner peace, ask God's help and protection at the start of each new day.

 

[Cordoba]

Repent From Sins and Ask God to Forgive

One of the reasons why we often don't feel inner peace is the negative impact of sins on our relation with God.

Each sin leaves a black spot on the heart of a believer, and with an increasing number of sins the heart becomes covered which prevents the light of faith and peace.

This is why it is so important to repent from each sin immediately. Don't delay till tomorrow or next Friday, but clear these sins as soon as possible with a sincere repentance.

No one is perfect, and we all commit sins and mistakes, intentionally or unintentionally. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to repent 70 times each day, and told his companions to do the same.

So always ask God to forgive, and He will, if you want to regain your level of faith and nearness to Him.

If you are really searching for peace, repent and don't delay your return to Allah.

 

[Cordoba]

Purify Your Heart

A believer who has a sound heart is the closest to God.

So what is a sound heart?

A sound spiritual heart is one which is free from negative traits. It is a heart which is clean, a heart which is not affected by the love of the material aspects of this worldly life.

It is a heart which is full of faith and love for God.

It is a heart which accepts destiny which God has chosen, a heart which is full of contentment and serenity.

It is a heart which is at peace as it is attached to the Hereafter, the Abode of Peace.

If you are really searching for peace, purify your heart till it becomes a sound heart.

 

[Cordoba]

Trust God's Wisdom: He is The All-Wise

Sometimes we can't understand why a certain event happened in our life. We get upset if it's a negative event, we are impatient and sometimes ask ourselves why did this happen to me?

Once a young man was booked to travel abroad for work. Instead of waking up on-time, he overslept and arrived late to the airport. There he was told that he was too late, as the plane had just left without him.

Returning home he was very sad ...

"Why did this happen to me?"

Next morning he opens the news and discovers that the plane he was supposed to take had an accident and that all passengers on-board were dead.

So the question is: do you now understand why you missed that plane?

God tells us in the Qur'an:

"... perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not" (2:216)

If you are really searching for peace, be patient and trust Allah's wisdom, and accept His decree

 

[Cordoba]

You Have Many Blessings: Don't Forget That

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Being thankful for God's many blessings is an important path for finding peace

Why?

Because if you only think about what you don't have which your neighbors or peers have, you will always feel as if you are deprived of these material things.

This will lead you to feel sad and complain of injustice and "bad luck".

This frame of mind will never lead to inner peace, and can only lead to discontentment and unhappiness.

[/FONT]Enumerate God's many blessings and be thankful for them, and always remember that you are better off than many others in this world.

Thinking about those who have less, not those who have more, and thanking God for His many blessings is the right way forward, if you are really searching for peace.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Make Money the Center of Your Life

Greed is part of human nature.

If a person has a thousand, he wants two thousand, and if he has a million he wants two million.

This continuous desire for more money and more wealth is never-ending.

But the person who makes money the main goal of life normally leads a very unhappy life, as he or she always lives in anxiety that wealth may decrease, and their main concern is materialistic, leaving no room for the spiritual side of life, which is where real happiness is.

So how does one get out of this vicious cycle?

The first step is to cure the heart from greed and to realize that there is more to life than money and wealth.

The wealth you have should not be in your heart, i.e. you should not make it the center of your love and concern.

Make God the center of your life, and keep the money you have where it belongs: in your hand to spend where it should be spent.

If you are really searching for peace, make God the center of your life, and ask Him for inner peace and serenity.

 

[Cordoba]

Remember that God is Your Ultimate End

When we ask God for guidance in taking a certain decision, we say a special prayer asking God to choose for us the best alternative that would bring us closer to Him.

With this prayer, a believer should be content with the final outcome, whatever it may be, content with what God chooses for us.

Remember that this worldly life is only a transition, it is not the final destination, so don't be too attached to it.

By making God your ultimate destination, and by seeking His guidance and being content with His decree, you will find peace In-Shaa-Allah