What do you value?

We usually think we know ourselves, sometimes the perceived self-image is taken rather than the actual self-image, who we wish to be and not who we are. Awareness is a product of several reasons, one of them being self-knowledge and being honest with oneself. Ask yourself what is it you value? What are you attached to as in what you find important? Consider the first few things/issues you indentify for what we value affect how we lead our lives. Are they material? Spiritual? Individualistic? Collective? Finite? Universal? They could be a mixture of several ones. In the end you choose what path to follow but this is simply to increase understanding and realize what factors influence your life.

Faith & Knowledge

Knowledge gives us light and power; faith gives us love, hope and warmth. Knowledge helps make implements and appliances and accelerates progress; faith determines the purpose of human efforts and gives direction to them. Knowledge brings about outer revolution; faith causes inner revolution. Knowledge makes the world man’s world; faith makes life the life of humanity. Knowledge expands the existence of man horizontally; faith lifts it up vertically. Knowledge trains man’s temperament; faith reforms man. Both knowledge and faith give power to man; but the power given by faith is continuous, whereas the power given by knowledge is disjointed. Knowledge is beauty; faith is beauty too. But knowledge beautifies reason and thought; faith beautifies spirit and feeling. Both knowledge and faith give man security. But knowledge provides outer security, whereas faith provides inner security. Knowledge gives protection against diseases, floods, earthquakes and storms. Faith provides security against restlessness, loneliness, sense of insecurity and low thinking. Knowledge harmonizes the world with man, faith harmonizes man with himself.

by A. Murtada Mutahhari

Contentment

“Contentment is the capital which will never diminish.”. (Ali bin Abi Talib (ra/as), Nahj Al Balagha)

I read this quote and it brought a smile to my face, what does it really means to be rich?

We all try to find happiness in different ways struggling to find it externally

Contentment, satisfaction and happiness blossoms from the most inner part of the self

Nothing external can fill the void

Perceive the beauty already present within, in nature and the universe

The innate self gives continuously because the Source it stems from is Endless.

Spiritual freedom

Spiritual freedom

Not being enslaved by the ego self

Not running after desires and bowing to them

Nurturing social freedom

Preventing being enslaved by others

Is the body which light does not pass through

Casting shadows

A cage for the light of the spirit?

Or rather a facilitator for the spirit to gain its knowledge?

Directed by will then ability crafts its vision

More of reality revealed

What seemed impossible not only seems possible but natural

Verse (2:186): “I am indeed close”

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
(2:126)

Yusuf Ali (2:186): When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.

This Qur’anic verse encompasses so many concepts: Oneness, awareness, guidance, submission, wakefulness, trust, Mercy, Generosity, Love, etc. Allah (SWT) Responds when asked to what is best for the well being of the person for He Knows what is best for the person even if the he/she does not understand. From my experience and that of others sometimes it is answered as it is, in part, delayed, answered in a different way and other times the way is so astonishing to the person it seems unbelievable, of course Allah (SWT) can do anything but the human mind does not understand the Wisdom behind it and why it has to be as such. It reminds me of the story of prophet Zakariya (as):

كهيعص – ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّآ – إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَآءً خَفِيّاً – قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْباً وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيّاً – وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِىَ مِن وَرَآئِى وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ وَلِيّاً – يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيّاً

يزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـمٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيّاً

قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـمٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِى عَاقِراً وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيّاً – قَالَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئاً
(19:1-9)

Yusuf Ali (19: 1-9)- Kaf. Ha. Ya. ‘Ain. Sad. (This is) a recital of the Mercy of thy Lord to His servant Zakariya. Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret, Praying: “O my Lord! infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with grey: but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to Thee! “Now I fear (what) my relatives (and colleagues) (will do) after me: but my wife is barren: so give me an heir as from Thyself,- “(One that) will (truly) represent me, and represent the posterity of Jacob; and make him, O my Lord! one with whom Thou art well-pleased!” (His prayer was answered): “O Zakariya! We give thee good news of a son: His name shall be Yahya: on none by that name have We conferred distinction before.” He said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son, when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?” He said: “So (it will be) thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: I did indeed create thee before, when thou hadst been nothing!’”

Ask Allah (SWT) and Trust in Him….