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The pencil Maker taught the pencil 5 important lessons:

1. Everything you do will always leave a mark
2. But you can always correct the mistakes you make
3. What is important is what is inside you
4. In life you will undergo painful sharpening which will make you a better pencil
5. To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the Hand that holds you.

The pencil Maker is Allah subhanahu wa’ tala and the pencil is you!

Sh. Haitham al-Haddad interviews an 84 year old British man who accepted Islam. He discusses his experience and what led him to realise and accept the truth.

This book by Hujjatul Islam Imam al-Ghazali offers twenty four pieces of valuable advice to seekers of knowledge. It touches on all aspects of life, from material wealth and the love of this life, to Islamic etiquette and acquiring knowledge. Imam al-Ghazali illustrates his ideas throughout with relevant quotations from the Quran and Hadith, as well as poetry and logical examples and clear analogies which demonstrates the need to cleanse ourselves of bad manners so that we can develop good characteristics. This is certainly a powerful reminder of the importance of constantly identifying ourselves with the next life.
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Explanation of Imam Ghazali’s Dear Beloved Son by Sidi Yahya Rhodus, High Wycombe, March 2005.

This lecture was given during the Revival of the Islamic Spirit Convention (RIS) in toronto some years ago.
Shaykh Mukhtar relates certain historical events in islamic history that exemplifies the virtues of Adl and Ihsan.

 

 Etiquette of Adl & Ihsan: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There was a farmer who grew superior quality, award-winning corn in his farm. Each year, he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honors and prizes. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in the competition with yours each year?” The reporter asked. “Why bother ? ” The farmer replied, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen grains from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I have to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours to grow good corn too.” The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbours’ corn also improves. So it is in the other dimensions and areas of life! Those who choose to be in harmony must help their neighbours and colleagues to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others live well too. The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches… Success does not happen in isolation; it is most often a participatory and collective process. So share the good practices, ideas and new knowledge with your family, friends, team members and neighbours and all. As they say: “Success breeds Success.”

Author unknown
Abdullah ibn Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best friend in the Sight of Allah is he who is the well-wisher of his companions, and the best neighbour is one who behaves best towards his neighbours.’ (Tirmidhi)

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.

As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

• Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
• Free your mind from worries – Most never happen.
• Live simply and appreciate what you have.
• Give more.
• Expect less

Source: qisas.com

When I was no longer needed as a Mulla in the village, I moved to another region and found a convenient place outside a small town, on a hill. The view was fine, and the hill was as thick with thorns and burdock as a peace-loving soul could want.

I was very happy with the thorns, because they discouraged agriculture. In fact, they discouraged just about everything. No one bothered me.

Eventually, however, my beloveds, this changed. After a certain time, the townsfolk became curious. They wondered what I was doing up on that hill, coming down only for a few groceries once in a while, or maybe only to charge my cell phone. No, that was a different time.

Anyway, the people began to come up the hill, through the thorns, until they had made a path. That made it easier for me to get down to the town, which was convenient. It also made it easier for them to get up to me, which was not so convenient.

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Every Muslim dreams of their Hajj as a spiritually fulfilling journey …

…When they discover the Ka’bah for the first time they are overcome with tears
… They pray for hours on end, never tiring, and enjoying every minute
… They make Dua for all their loved ones and friends
… They return home counting the days when they will get to return
… In their hearts they feel content that their Hajj was accepted by Allah

Take a virtual tour to the AlHambra Palace – Granada, Spain. The most celebrated islamic architecture of – Al Andalus, the Golden Age of Islam.