Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

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Control Negative Emotions

Human beings have emotions, and these emotions have an important impact on our decisions and on our lives.

Some emotions are positive emotions which we should nurture and manage, like human compassion, gratitude to those who do us a favor, loving parents, .... etc.

And some emotions are negative emotions which we should control. Among them is anger, worry about the future, impatience, ... etc.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, warned his companions of anger, and there are many hadiths where he explains what we should do if we are angry.

The Qur'an is also full of guidelines on the virtue of patience, and God tells us that He loves those who are patient.

If you are really searching for peace, don't act on impulse, control your emotions, don't worry about the future and be patient.

After a long dark night, dawn will come.

 

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Be Kind and Merciful

Allah is the Most-Merciful, and He loves that people deal with each other with kindness and mercy.

When you are merciful towards others, then expect God's Mercy, and vice versa

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

"Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind. (Al-Bukhari)

Kindness and mercy lead to peace, as a believers comes closer to God, and sees others in a positive way, always trying to help them, always caring for their well-being. This also leads to be in a state of peace with others, which is reflected in inner peace.

If you are really searching for peace, be kind to others, especially those who are close to you, your parents, spouse, neighbors, friends and relatives.

 

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Keep Your Focus on the Straight Path

In the five daily prayers, each day we ask God 17 times a day to guide us to the Straight Path.

This is the most important supplication we ask God for, as His Guidance leads to a happy life here in this world and an eternal happy life in the Hereafter.

We are faced with many distractions in this life, at work, with friends, at home, watching TV, doing business, .... etc.

We have to undertake all these activities in our daily routine, but one thing to remember is to always keep our focus on the Straight Path. If we get distracted or we forget, this supplication in one of the five daily prayers - which are spread throughout the day - is enough to remind us, and to get us back on track.

If you are really searching for peace, don't get distracted from the Straight Path, and keep your focus on your final eternal destination.

 

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Praise God and Remember Him

Praising God has a wonderful positive impact on the spiritual heart.

It is an immediate reminder of our Creator and that He is watching what we do and what we say. It is a reminder that He is caring for us, and that we always need His Guidance and help.

It is also a sign of love for Allah. In this life, when a person loves another person, like for example a mother loves her son or daughter, she often talks about them, as remembering them brings joy and happiness to her heart.

The same rule applies with the remembrance of God. When one remembers Allah, and praises Him, this brings peace into the heart, as it is a reminder of the beloved.

If you are really searching for peace, praise God and remember Him as often as you can.

 

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Never Give Up Hope

In the darkest night, don't despair

The light of dawn will soon appear, and darkness will turn into daylight.

Just be patient, don't lose hope

God loves those who are patient, and patience is mentioned in the Quran as being a great virtue, and that having hope in God's Mercy is one of the main characteristics of believers.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that patience is half the faith, and he always encouraged his companions to be positive, even in the most difficult situations.

Hope, patience and being positive are important channels to reach inner peace.

If you are really searching for peace, always maintain hope in a better tomorrow, and in God's Mercy in the Hereafter.

 

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Speak to God

In addition to praying and supplicating to God, one of the ways of building a stronger communication with God is to speak to Him.

If you have a personal problem, don't complain to other people but tell God about it. He knows what you are going through, but He loves that we remain connected to Him also outside prayers.

There are several prophets mentioned in the Qur'an who told God about their worries and their concerns, like for example Prophet Jacob (Yaqoub) who in Chapter 12 told God about how sad he was for having lost his beloved son Joseph (Yusuf).

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to wake up late at night, and before he started to pray he used to praise God and talk to Him (munagaah).

This brings a feeling of closeness to God and fills the heart with peace and serenity.

If you are really searching for peace, talk to God at night when people are asleep, and seek His forgiveness.

 

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Remember: Life is a Test

This life is for doing good deeds that bring a believer closer to God.

It is not the place for reward.

Your real reward is in the Hereafter, not in this worldly life

So don't raise your expectations about this life being a luxury 7 star hotel all paid and all inclusive, because it is not. It is a transition where we face some times of ease and other times of hardships.

With this in mind, one should not rejoice nor be disappointed with the ups and downs of life, because these are all tests. To pass the test, one must realize that we are going through a test in the first place, because if we don't know that then we won't succeed, and the test will end before we produce the right answers.

Your real eternal reward is in the Hereafter, so remember that if you are really searching for peace.

 

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Build Up Your Faith & Spirituality

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that faith increases and decreases. It increases with good deeds and decreases with sins.

We all have ups and downs in spirituality, so don't let than worry you. To fix a period of "low spirituality", build up your faith through doing good deeds that bring you closer to God.

Reading Qur'an is one of the ways of communicating with God, feeling His care and learning His guidance, while at the same time increasing good deeds on your scales.

Another way of seeking nearness to God is by helping other people, and caring for those in need, whether through charity, kind words or just even a smile.

If you are really searching for peace, read the Qur'an and increase your good deeds.

 

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Always Say Al-Hamdulel-Allah

Al-Hamdulel-Allah is such a beautiful word which a believer says and which has an immediate positive impact on the spiritual heart

It is a word that brings peace to the heart, as despite any problems we are facing, Al-Hamdulel-Allah is said to praise God, and while doing that we remember that He is watching us and that He can solve all of our problems in no time.

It is also a way of thanking God for all the bounties He has given us. Being grateful to God opens the doors of contentment and inner peace

If you are really searching for peace, say Al-Hamdulel-Allah

 

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Each New Day is a New Blessing

Each morning brings new hope for a believer, the hope of a day full of blessings and good deeds that bring us closer to God.

Being positive and having hope makes a big difference, as God's doors are always open. He responds to our supplications and He knows what is good for us, and He grants us what He pleases.

Being negative is therefore not encouraged in Islam, as not only does it lead to a gloomy mood, it also makes one forget the Mercy of God.

God's Mercy and Kindness have no limits, and all what we have to do is seek that Mercy.

If you are really searching for peace, be positive and start each new day with hope in His Mercy.

 

[Cordoba]

Help Others Out

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, one day entered the mosque in Madinah, and found a man sitting there at a time when there was no prayer

He asked him, what he was doing and the man answered that he was worshiping.

The Prophet then asked him and who provides for you?

The man answered that his brother works and provides for him.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said your brother is a better worshiper.

Helping other people out is highly praised in Islam, and going out from the mosque in the month of Ramadan to help someone solve a problem or help them out is more rewarded by God than just simply sitting in the mosque in times other than the five daily prayers.

This is one of the best ways to come closer to God and to find peace.

God is Merciful, and He wants us to deal with others in wisdom and kindness.

If you are really searching for inner peace, help other people out.

 

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Remember That We All Need God

When we are surrounded with problems and pressures, remember that God can solve all our problems.

All what we have to do is get closer to Him through prayer and ask Him for help and guidance.

With that reminder, a big part of our problems will disappear, as we trust that God hears our prayers, and that He will help us find the right decisions.

When you remember that you depend on God and trust in Him, all problems will seem easy to solve, and peace will replace anxiety

If you are really searching for peace, remember that God is near.

 

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Say Glory to Allah (Subhan Allah)

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

"Two phrases are beloved to the Most Merciful.

They are light on the tongue but heavy on the scale:

Glory and praise to Allah, and glory to Allah the Almighty."

This is an easy way to remember God throughout the day, and at the same time to gain many good deeds.

These words will bring peace to the spiritual heart as God says in the Qur'an that with the remembrance of God will hearts find peace.

If you are really searching for peace, say Subhan-Allah wa bi-Hamdihi, Subhan Allah Al-Azeem

 

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Have a Strong Determination to Find Peace

The famous proverb says "Where there is a will there is a way"

Finding peace is an on-going process which takes time, but it also needs determination.

Have you ever watched a toddler learning to walk?

Takes a step or two, then falls.

Tries again a few minutes later ...

Takes a few more steps, then falls again ...

Then gets up again ...

And so on, till he finally starts walking straight a few days or weeks later

This example is similar to believers on their Path to Allah. We take a few steps forward, then something happens and we stop. Then a few days later a few more steps ... Then something else happens and we stop again ...

And this is an on-going process with a steep learning curve - like the toddler above - but eventually we get there, and we start following the Straight Path with more ease and determination, even though we are still being tested on the way.

So never give up if you stop for a day or two. Resume your journey as soon as you can, remember the final destination, and keep going.

If you are really searching for peace, keep a strong will and keep going.

 

[Cordoba]

Get Closer to God in the First Ten Days of The Month of Pilgrimage

Allah has favored some places over others, and He has also favored some days over others.

When you happen to be in one of those places (a masjid, Makkah, Madinah, ... etc.) take advantage of this privilege and increase your good deeds to please Allah and find inner peace.

And when one of these blessed days or seasons arrive, make the most out of it.

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the most blessed days of the year, as they are the days when Muslim pilgrims from all around the world gather together to perform Hajj - the fifth pillar of Islam.

The best day of the year is among those days - the Day of Arafah - the 9th. day and non-pilgrims are encouraged to fast on that day. The reward they get from God is immense for that one day of optional fasting, as it is the day of general forgiveness where God's Mercy reaches all worshipers.

When the door opens, don't miss this golden chance.

If you are really searching for peace, don't miss the blessed days of God

 

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Enjoy Life and Remember God

There is so much beauty in nature - which God created - and a believer would normally remember the Creator when he or she reflects on the beautiful side of life.

When you go to the mountains, or go for a walk near the ocean enjoy watching the waves and the sunrise, and remember that this beauty is God's creation.

Enjoy your weekend, or your trip to the countryside, but don't forget Allah.

If you are really searching for peace, remember God as He is the source of all peace.

 

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Do Not Forget the Hereafter

Sometimes during our busy daily schedules, we tend to forget our final destination.

We are usually so focused on this life, solving problems, attending to our duties and searching for benefits, that we forget what this life is all about

It is not about maximizing our wealth, or living a life of luxury, that is not the real purpose of life.

The real purpose of life is to get to know our Creator, follow His Guidance for a happy life here and in the Hereafter and do our best to be entitled to an eternal life in Heaven, the Abode of Peace.

So if one day you feel like life's problems are overwhelming, or that you are not getting the promotion you think you deserve, don't lose hope. These are trivial issues, and with time these concerns and worries will go away.

If you are really searching for peace, remember the Hereafter and remember that your final destination is not here, it is "there" in the Abode of Peace.

 

[Cordoba]

Patience is a Great Virtue That Leads to Peace

Impatience often makes us feel worried, discontent and sometimes angry

But all these negative feelings contradict with one of the six articles of faith, belief in Qadar, or measured destiny.

What does belief in Qadar imply?

It implies that a believer should accept the Qadar Allah has decreed for him/her. We must remember that our provision has already been decided by God before we were born, so why get angry if it is today less than what we expected?

Be patient, be thankful for what you have and be content with what Allah has chosen for you, and you will find inner peace.

If you are really searching for peace, don't be impatient. Each event God has decreed will take place in its time.

 

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Want to Get Back on God's Track? Repent

When a believer does something he or she should not do, or when they disobey God, the immediate consequence is a drop in the level of faith, and therefore a drop in the inner feeling in peace.

This negative change can last for a few minutes, a few hours, a few days or more, all depends on how one "treats" the problem.

If you feel that happen, then remember the shortest way back to God's Path is through repentance. Ask God to forgive, and remember that His doors are always wide open.

Even Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to repent at least 70 times per day, and he surely is at a much higher level of faith than us.

Once you do that, and God accepts your repentance you will be ready to resume your journey with hope and with a positive frame of mind.

You know that God is the Most Merciful, and you know that He forgives those who repent, so you do your best to resume the journey to God with more care and more attention not to fall in the same pitfall once again.

If you are really searching for peace, repent and remember that God's doors are wide open for you.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Worry About The Future

Worry is one of the main reasons for anxiety

People worry about their jobs, income, exams, careers, ... etc.

These are normal human feelings, but when exaggerated they can take away our feeling of inner peace.

Once a believer is certain that it is God who provides, and it is He who solves our problems and takes care of us, then a big part of these worries disappear

Trust in God and after doing your best ask Him for His help and guidance, then relax and let God choose what is best for you in this world and in the Hereafter

If you are really searching for peace, don't worry about the future. Do your best and it will all sort out In-Shaa-Allah