Friday Nasiha

\r\n Al-Baqara (The Cattle)
\r\n Chapter 2: Verse 152

\r\n A Life of Remembrance
\r\n "Remember Me and I shall remember you. Be grateful unto Me and deny \r\n Me not."

Can you imagine a more gratifying state than this, where \r\n when you remember Allah, the Creator, Sustainer and Lord of the Universe, \r\n He remembers you in return? Those who remember Allah standing, sitting \r\n and reclining and who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth \r\n are highly commended in the Noble Quran. They \r\n are wise in that they fill their hearts with the remembrance \r\n of God in every, moment, in every circumstance and in every posture of \r\n their lives. [Al-Imran 3: 191]

The significance of dhikr (remembrance) lies \r\n in the fact that it is God’s own chosen \r\n and recommended mode by which the muminun or \r\n Believers show gratitude for having been shown the straight path. “Remember \r\n Allah, for He has guided you.” [al-Baqara 2:198]

In addition, it is indeed the \r\n surest way of attaining God’s forgiveness and achieving \r\n the ultimate reward of Paradise. “And \r\n men who remember God much and women who remember – God has prepared \r\n for them forgiveness and a vast reward." [al-Ahzab \r\n 33:35]

The purpose of tazkiya (self-development) is \r\n to ensure that the heart never falls into \r\n a sorry state of being and that it is always alive with \r\n the remembrance of God. “Prosperous \r\n indeed is the one who purifies himself and remembers the name of his Guardian-Lord \r\n and prays [unto Him].” [al-Ala 87:14-15] Therefore, \r\n it is dhikr that purifies your heart and makes it sound.

The exhortation to remember Allah at all times is a reflection \r\n of Allah's all-embracing and overwhelming love for us. The door to Allah \r\n is always open to us: Remember Me and I will remember you. We \r\n need only find our way to and through that door. \r\n Strive then, to fill all your moments, all your thoughts and all \r\n your actions with Allah’s remembrance.

Source:
\r\n "In \r\n the Early Hours" - Khurram Murad, pp. 21-25

Gradual \r\n Change
\r\n
\r\n Changing people is not a simple task. Individuals become set in their \r\n beliefs and attitudes, and dominant practices, customs and traditions \r\n become part of their life. To change these will require hard work and \r\n a great deal of patience. Therefore, keeping human nature in mind, all \r\n the noble Prophets of Allah worked according to the set priorities of \r\n Islam and introduced change gradually so that it could become firm in \r\n people's hearts and minds ...
\r\n
\r\n If it rushes in, it could have a negative impact on the person or society \r\n that is being changed.
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\r\n "The religion of Islam is a lenient \r\n one - so go into it with ease and patience. No one who attempts to storm \r\n his way into it will come out victorious." (Bukhari) \r\n

Source:
\r\n "Buillding \r\n a New Society" - Zahid Parvez, p. 163

Uthman ibn Affan, may God be pleased with him, said:
\r\n "The adultress would like it if all \r\n women committed adultery or fornication."

The reason is either:

\r\n
• that such people resent anyone standing out from them \r\n as a good example, or
\r\n
• that they are envious of her superiority and the praise \r\n she may attract, or
\r\n
• it may be that they do not want to give her a pretext \r\n to use against them.
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