[TrentReznor858]

Originally Posted by Spice

"Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah." (Surat al-Ahzab: 21)

Not that I agree with Ameen, but you didnt answer his question.

[vanillawafer]

Know that all the ties that may exist between Muslims, Islam itself is the strongest. It forms a bond between the easterner and the westerner, between the black and the white. The bond of Islam gathers them, and, through its brotherhood, relationships between widely different groups are harmonized. They are equal regardless of their lineage; the lowest among them can speak on their behalf, and they are united as one hand against all others.

They are concerned about one another irrespective of distance, and each rejoices when good fortune befalls his brethren, and is saddened when they are afflicted by hardships and difficulties. Each prays to God for his brothers in their absence, in gatherings and on pulpits. Each prays that God check those who threaten Islam, whether they be the aggressors, the immoral, the workers of corruption, or the disbelievers.

For the Muslims, Islam is his finest banner, in which he takes pride and by which he is ennobled in every situation, so that he becomes angered when it is slandered or attacked. He sacrifices his own life and what is dearest to him in its defense, for it is his most precious jewel, and the greatest of the gifts bestowed upon him by God. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Muslims to unite in harmony, to help each other and stand shoulder to shoulder against the adversaries of Islam and those who conspire against it and seek to bring harm to its people. It is their duty to sacrifice their lives and their wealth to make the Word of God prevail, and to bring power and honor to Islam and Muslims everywhere. "Islam is the highest grace; ever to bless a people's place." [Key to the Garden]

salam

[vanillawafer]

It is forbidden to harbor hatred for Muslims or to repudiate or boycott them. To insult them is corruption, and to wage war on them--with the claim that it is lawful to do so--is disbelief. In the heart of the believer, the word of tawhid and faith is goodly both in form and in meaning, for it expresses the nobility of tawhid and creates in the heart certainty which illuminates its every part, thereby making it goodly in its corporeal as well as incorporeal faculties. Its root, on which it arises, is knowledge of God and ascribing oneness and worship to Him alone.

A believer's good works will continue to be raised up and accepted, day and night, and draw their due profit from his Lord, as long as the tree of his faith is verdant and its branches covered in leaves. Only a hardened loser loses in his dealings with God. Only a hardened loser who persistently refuses all the graces and help extended to him by God--only such a person loses in the end. For none can lose who accepts even a few of the innumerable mercies offered to him by his Generous Lord. God has made it easy for the believers to enter Paradise and has opened so many avenues to success that only the most obtuse can fail to make use of some of them. [Key to the Garden]

salam

[vanillawafer]

Reflection is the kohl of the inner eye. It is the roaming of the heart in the meanings of things in order to reach its goal. It is with reflection that one dives for the pearls of higher realities. If one's reflection is free from flaws, it will attain to the sources of Realization. It is said that it is the "lamp of the heart, which renders visible the good and evil which it contains, and what may benefit it or bring it harm." This is because a heart devoid of reflection is devoid of light as a dark house, and a house devoid of light will contain nothing but ignorance, pride, and beguilement.

An hour's reflection is better than a whole night spent in worship. "Reflection is the mirror of the believer, in which he looks at his works, evil and good." There are several kinds of reflection. Some reflect on the evanescent nature of this world, and the way in which it betrays those who pursue it. This gives them patience, which causes their detachment to grow.

Some reflect on the beautiful reward which is in store for the worshippers, so that their ardor and enthusiasm for it wax stronger. Some reflect on the favors and blessed gifts of God and on the secrets of the Names and Attributes. In this way they increase in love for their Exalted and Majestic Creator. Some reflect on the proofs and evidences which lead to faith. Exalted, then, is the state of he who does all four! [Key to the Garden]

salam

[vanillawafer]

Once it is made easy for one, reflection is one of the noblest acts of worship, for it implies the Remembrance of God and brings about an increase in attachment and love. For the heart loves only the one who it believes has greatness, and the greatness of God the Exalted is only revealed through knowledge of His Attributes, ability, and the marvels of His works. In this way, reflection leads to knowledge, which in turn leads to reverence, which leads on to love.

Imam al Ghazali (may God sanctify his secret!) has said, "A man who reflects at length in order to know God, and has had unveiled to him even the minutest of the secrets of His kingdom, will find in his heart such joy and bliss in this unveiling that he will almost fly, and he will be amazed at his own steadfastness and firmness." [Key to the Garden]

salam

[vanillawafer]

You should have a wird of reflection in every twenty-four hours, for which you should set aside one or more hours. The best time for reflection is the one which contains the fewest occupations and worries, and the most potential for the heart to be present, such as the depths of the night

Know that the state of one's religious and worldly affairs depends upon the soundness of one's reflection. Anyone who has a share of it has an abundant of everything good. It has been said, "An hour's reflection is better than a year worship." Ali (ibn Abi Talib), may God honor his face, has said, "There is no worship like reflection." And it has been said, "Reflection is the lamp of the heart; if it departs, the heart will have no light.

The ways of reflection are many. One, which is the most noble of them, is to reflect on the wonders of God's dazzling creation, the inward and outward sign of His Ability, and the signs He has scattered abroad in the realm of the earth and the heavens. This kind of reflection increases your knowledge of the Essence, Attributes and Names of God. He has encouraged by saying, "Say: Look at what is in the heavens and the earth! You yourself are one of the wondrous creatures He has made, and you should therefore reflect on yourself, for He has said, In the earth are signs for those who have certainty, and in yourselves; can you not see? [Key to the Garden]

salam

[vanillawafer]

Know that you must reflect on the favors of God and His bounties which He caused to reach you. He has said, Should you (attempt to) number the favors of God, you will not be able to do so (45:18); and All things that you possess are from God(46:53). This kind of reflection results in the heart filling with the love of God and continuously rendering thanks to Him, inwardly and outwardly, in a manner that pleases and satisfies Him.

You should also reflect on God's complete awareness of you, and His seeing and knowing all about you: He is with you wherever you may be, and God sees what you do (57:14). This kind of reflection results in your feeling ashamed before God should He see you where He has forbidden you to be or miss you where He has commanded you to be.

Know that you must reflect on your shortcomings in worshiping your lord and your exposing yourself to His wrath should you do what He has forbidden you. He has said, I created jinn and men only to worship Me (51:56); Do you think that We created you in vain and that to Us you will not be returned? (23:115) and O mankind! You shall surely toil toward your Lord laboriously and you shall meet Him (84:16). This kind of reflection increases your fear of God, encourages you to blame and reproach yourself, to avoid remissness, and persevere in your zeal.

You must also reflect on this worldly life, its numerous preoccupations and hazards, and the swiftness with which it perishes, and reflect on the Afterlife and its felicity and permanence. God the Exalted has said, Thus does God render the signs clear to you, so that you may reflect on this world and the Afterlife (2:220); But you prefer the life of the world, when the Afterlife is better and more abiding (77:17); and The life of the world is but distraction and play; while the Last Abode is indeed the Life, if they but knew (29:64). This kind of reflection results in losing all desire for the world and in wishing for the Afterlife.
[Key to the Garden]

salam

[vanillawafer]

Know that you should reflect on imminence of death and the regret and remorse which occur when it is too late. God has said: Say: the death that you flee from will indeed meet you, and you will then be returned to the knower of the unseen, and He will inform you of that which you had been doing (62:8); Until when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord! Send me back, that I may do good in that which I have left!" No! It is but a word he says (23:99). The benefit of this kind of reflection is that hopes become short, behavior finer, and provision is gathered for the Appointed Day.

You should also reflect on those attributes and acts by which God has described His friends and His enemies, and on the immediate and delayed recompense which He has prepared for each group. He has said, The righteous are in felicity, and the depraved are in Hell (82:13-14); The result of this kind of reflection is that you come to love the fortunate, habituate yourself to emulating their behavior and to taking on their qualities. You should, with each kind of reflection , bring to mind those verses, hadiths, and other narratives which relate to it. [Key to the Garden]

salam