Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul

[Cordoba]

Surrender to God's Will

When the picture around you is very bleak

When you feel that you have done your best, and have no longer control on events

When you have said your prayers, and asked God with sincerity to show you the right path

At that point, if you are searching for peace, surrender to God's Will

Trust in Him, and say ya Rabb, ya Allah

And He will show you the way

 

[Cordoba]

Find Lasting Happiness from Within

Most people try to find happiness from the outside: buy a nice car, buy a nice house, go on a luxury holiday, ... etc.

Is that the right path to lasting happiness?

The clear answer is no

These are temporary material means, which wear off after some time.

Lasting happiness comes from within.

It is the inner peace and contentment in the heart which makes a believer feel real happiness, regardless of external condition

If you are really searching for peace, be content and search for happiness from within

 

[Cordoba]

When You Reach a State of Serenity, Do Your Best to Keep It

There are some days in our lives when we feel more spiritual and closer to God

This often happens at the end of Ramadan

It also happens when we do good deeds that bring us closer to Allah

When you get that feeling, do your best to keep this serenity, as best as you can, by continuing the good deeds you have been doing

If you are really searching for inner peace, remain calm and serene

 

[Cordoba]

Be Kind

Kindness in dealing with others is a reflection of a kind heart full of mercy and goodness.

That is what God wants us to be like, and this kindness brings a believer closer to God.

The opposite is also true.

If you are really searching for inner peace, be kind and courteous

 

[Cordoba]

Remember the Hereafter

Remembering the Hereafter has an immediate positive impact on the spiritual heart.

Why?

Because the reminder that this life is only a temporary journey helps to put matters into their right perspective.

It helps a believer remember God more often, and this brings peace to the heart.

When you look forward to meeting God in the Hereafter, then do more good deeds so that it will be a meeting full of peace and contentment.

If you are really searching for inner peace, remember the Hereafter

 

[Cordoba]

When You Pray, Remember You are Praying to the King of Kings

I heard someone recently say that when you hear the call to prayers, be aware that this is an invitation to meet God, the King of all kings.

He invites us to meet Him five times a day.

What would you do if say the King of Spain sent you a letter with an invitation to meet him at 12:00?

Would you arrive late?

Or would you be at his palace before the time specified in the invitation?

Would you prepare for the meeting with your best clothes?

What else would you do once the meeting starts?

Would you focus in the conversation or be absent minded?

All these questions have clear answers, and this is for meeting a king in this world.

When meeting the King of all kings, the answers should be even more clear, and these daily meetings with Him (prayers) will bring you closer to Him and this will fill your heart with peace.

If you are really searching for peace, be well-prepared and focused in your daily prayers.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Be Depressed: Look at the Bright Side of Life

When problems accumulate, when everything seems to be difficult in life. don't be depressed.

Hope in a better tomorrow is one of the important teachings of Islam. Never lose hope, and remember that God's doors are always wide open, so knock on His door, and He will respond.

Being positive by looking at the bright side of life is an important way to overcome depression.

It may be triggered by something small, like a walk in the park, and watching birds on the trees or ducks on the lake.

Say Subhan Allah, and remember that there is still a lot of beauty in this world despite its many problems.

Tomorrow will be a better day In-Shaa-Allah, so keep trying and do your best.

If you are really searching for inner peace, look at the bright side of life.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Be Depressed:God Forgives All Sins

When making an effort to follow God's Path, it happens that a believer may forget and stumble for a short while.

What should be the reaction in this case?

Some people think they are no longer worthy of being a believer, and lose hope in God's forgiveness, which is a wrong understanding of how God wants us to react in such a case.

God in fact tells us not to lose hope in His Mercy, to get up, repent, ask for His forgiveness, then resume the journey on His Path.

This positive attitude and this divine solution opens the doors of hope in His Mercy and Forgiveness

If you are really searching for inner peace, never lose hope in God's Mercy.

 

[Cordoba]

Don't Be Depressed if You Leave the One You Love

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]One of the most common reasons for depression, especially among the young, is when people get emotionally separated from the one they love (spouse or friend).

It is not easy for sure, but there is an important learning lesson for the believer: keep your heart attached to your Creator, not to creation.

Nothing lasts for ever, and change is part of life, including change of conditions and people we are in contact with.

As sister Yasmin Mogahed says, there is a place in the heart which is meant to only be filled with the love of God. When you fill this place in your heart with the love of something else, or someone else, you will eventually suffer when you lose it.

On the other hand, can you lose God?

God is Eternal, He is always there for those who love Him, and His doors are wide open.

If you are really searching for inner peace, fill your heart with the love of God.

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[Cordoba]

Don't Be Depressed if You're Out of Work: Keep Searching

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Unemployment is on the rise[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] nearly everywhere, especially among young people.

This affects the morale and can lead to depression, but should not be the case if one has a strong faith.

One of the important beliefs in Islam is that it is God who provides, and that all the keys of provision are in His hands, as our provision has been already determined before we were born.

What believers in this situation have to do is keep searching, trust in God and be patient.

If you are really searching for peace, don't be depressed if you are out of work. It will sort out In-Shaa-Allah.

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[Cordoba]

Take Nice Walks & Enjoy Nature

Spring has arrived, a time of the year when cold turns into warmth, darkness turns into light, and the whole of God's natural creation blossoms and rejoices.

It's a time of year for us also to rejoice with all this beauty which surrounds us.

Walking in the countryside, mountains and parks is an excellent way to appreciate the beauty in God's creation, and this brings peace to the soul, as we get away from the city's busy life and closer to nature.

If you are really searching for peace, take nice walks and enjoy nature.

 

[Cordoba]

Enjoy the Small Treats of Life

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sometimes watching a good video, or listening to a nice song by a bird on a tree, or watching a nice sunrise or sunset, can bring peace to the heart.

When you come across these small treats of life, don't miss them. Enjoy the few minutes you spend, reflect and thank God for His many bounties.

Don't worry about what will happen tomorrow, and enjoy your day today.

When tomorrow comes, it will come with its many blessings and its problems will be solved In-Shaa-Allah.

Always trust in God, and know that He wants what is good for you.

If you are really searching for peace, trust God and enjoy life's treats that come your way.

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[Cordoba]

Find Peace & Tranquility of the Heart in Remembering Allah

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God tells us in the Qur'an:

"[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." (13:28)

Whatever difficulty or problem you may have, remember God and you will find your heart filled with peace and tranquility

And the more you think of Him, the more peace you shall feel in your heart

Trust in Him, and don't forget Him, if you are really searching for peace

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[Cordoba]

Serve God and Do Good Deeds

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]An important key to finding inner peace is to serve God by doing good deeds that benefit others.

Visiting an ill friend in hospital to cheer him up, or helping an elderly person carry their luggage or giving to the poor and needy are examples of what pleases God.

Giving is more virtuous than taking, and helping others is what pleases God, as He is the Most Merciful, and He loves to see mercy being spread among His creatures.

When God is pleased with your good deeds, you will find peace In-Shaa-Allah[/FONT]
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[Cordoba]

Never Be Depressed[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

Hope is part of faith

Trusting that God can solve all problems and change injustices is an important belief one should always remember however difficult the situation may be.

God tells us in the Qur'an that after hardship there will be ease, so there is no doubt about it.

With patience, hope and trust in God, any anxiety or depression will fade away.

If you are really searching for peace, always keep the hope alive and never give up.

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[Cordoba]

Don't Expect Gratitude From Anyone

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In Management studies, students are taught not to raise expectations of employees for future benefits or rewards, as if the outcome eventually turns out to be below these high expectations, it would lead to de-motivation.

We can apply the same rule when doing good deeds that involve other people of not expecting their thankfulness or gratitude.

This also leads to more sincerity in that one should expect their reward from God not from people.

If you are really searching for peace, don't expect people's gratitude, and be with Allah.
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For more details:
Don

 

[Cordoba]

Always Thank God

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Having a thankful heart is one of the traits of true believers.

Even in hard times, a believer thanks God for all the other blessings he or she has.

If going for example through financial problems, thank God for good health, for your strong faith, and that at least you have a roof above your head, while many others don't have that.

To really thank God with sincerity, remember those who have less, not those who have more. This will bring peace to your heart, and with patience, work and prayers, the hardship will eventually turn to ease.

If you are really searching for peace, thank God and be grateful for what you have.

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[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Search For Tranquility Through Faith

Hearts find peace and tranquility in the remembrance of God.

The opposite of tranquility is anxiety.

Q: The important question is why suffer from anxiety?

A: People worry about their wealth, health, careers, ... etc.

They worry about future events which may not be what they would like them to be.

Here, the role of belief and faith comes in and regulates these emotions.

When a believer knows that God has pre-ordained his sustenance in this world, and determined the length of his life, why should he or she worry?

What God decides will be, and we ask God for what is best for us in this world and in the Hereafter.

If you are really searching for peace, look for tranquility through a stronger faith in God.
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[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Grow in Spiritual Stages

There are 7 main spiritual stages a believer's soul can ascend through, according to Muslim scholars:

1- The Soul that Commands Evil (al-nafs al-amira bil-soou')
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The (human) soul is certainly prone to evil" (12:53).

2- The Soul that Blames (al-nafs al-lawamma)

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"And I do call to witness the Nafs that blames" (75:2)

3- The Soul at Peace (al-nafs al-mutma'inna)
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"O Self, in complete rest and satisfaction!" (89:27)

4- The Well-Pleased Soul (al-nafs al-radiya) (89:28)

5- The Soul Pleasing to God (al-nafs al-mardiyyah) (89:29)

6- The Inspired Soul (al-nafs al-mulhama)

7- The Perfect Soul (al-nafs al-kamila) - this is the soul of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him

As a believer grows in faith and in inner purification, he/she moves up the spiritual ladder, and this is a life-long process

If you are really searching for peace, purify your soul further and increase in spirituality.

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[Cordoba]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Let God Choose for You

Sometimes we worry about the future.

Which decision to take concerning work, family or travel?

A believer finds peace in doing one's best, then trusting God to choose what is best. This brings a lot of peace to the heart and mind.

This comes from a deep belief in measured destiny. It also comes from knowing that God wants what is best for us, so we pray that He guides us to what He wants from us.

An important tool to help in decision making is the special Istikhara prayer.

Another important thing to do is to seek expert advise in the matter from trustworthy people. This Shura (consultation) process always helps as it makes us see and understand issues we may not be aware of.

If you are really searching for peace, do your best, study your decision well and consult with experts, pray God to guide you to what is best, then let God choose for you.

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