Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul (morals, punishment, reject)

[Cordoba]

Concept of Repentance

Repentance (Tawbah ) means that one feels regret and filled with remorse for his or her sins, turns to Allah with the intention to obey Him. According to truth-seeking scholars, repentance signifies a sincere effort to no longer oppose the Divine Essence in one’s feelings, thoughts, intentions, and acts, and to comply sincerely with His commands and prohibitions.

Stages of Repentance

1. Feeling sincere remorse and regret.

2. Being frightened whenever one remembers past sins.

3. Trying to eradicate injustice and support justice and right.

4. Reviewing one’s responsibilities and performing obligations previously neglected.

5. Reforming oneself by removing spiritual defects caused by deviation and error

6. Regretting and lamenting the times when one did not mention or remember Allah, or thank Him and reflect on His works. Such people are always apprehensive and alert so that their thoughts and feelings are not tainted by things that intervene between themselves and Allah. (This last quality is particular to people distinguished by their nearness to Allah.)

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658486175&pagename=Z one-English-Living_Shariah%2FLSELayout

[Cordoba]

Characteristics of Believers

"It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too.

To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt.

For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good action.

To have little slip-ups and not to be excessive.

To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them.

To be dignified and grateful.

To be full of contentment if Allaah restricted some provision.

To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers. To be compassionate and chaste. Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip. Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant nor vain.

Not to lean towards worldliness, nor to extend long hopes and wishes. Not to sleep too much nor to be absent-minded, nor to show-off nor be hypocritical. Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful, not servile.

Loving for the sake of Allaah, being pleased for His sake and being angry only for His sake. His provision is taqwaa (reverential fear of Allaah). His worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife. His friends remind him. His beloved is His Protector and Master. His struggle is for the Afterlife."

http://www.masnet.org/spirit.asp?id=62

[Cordoba]

Avoid the Four Poisons of the Heart

In order to reach a higher level of spirituality, avoid these 4 poisons that make the heart unwell:

1- Unnecessary Talking

2- Unrestrained Glances

3- Too Much Food

4- Keeping Bad Company

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21MjB1OsNMc

(5 minutes)

[Cordoba]

Inner Tranquility in Today's Modern World

There is something really special about people who fear Allah and obey His commands. You'll notice it in the look in their eyes, their hope for the future, their resilience, and their steadfastness. It is an uncommon trait in today's world. We could call it inner tranquility.

In today's world, people are taught from childhood to be consumers and that success is graded according to a person's wealth and position. The emphasis is on upgrading yourself without considering your relations with others or how your self-development will affect those around you. Mankind has largely forgotten how to give. But Muslims who fear Allah are conscious that everything they have is simply a loan from the Creator; something to be answered for; something to be disposed of properly. They know that if they want to get anything in this life, first they have to give. ...

Muslims know that the individual is simply a part of a greater body of mankind, all interrelated and interdependent; and that if one part tries to stretch out of its boundaries or clashes with another part, the whole is affected.

This mutual dependence was explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a hadith:

"The solidarity of Muslims in their mutual love, mercy, and sympathy, is that of a body: If an organ aches, the whole body sympathizes with it with sleeplessness and fever" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Realizing that their effect on others will ultimately bounce back onto them, Muslims seek to be merciful to others, hoping to receive mercy in return.

[Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you?](An-Nur 24:22)

Given the nature of the causes and effects that operate in life, it seems ridiculous that individuals would seek a duel with destiny daring to say that they are more important than their counterparts in life.

That is, after all, what we human beings are: simply counterparts in life. We all affect others and are affected by them. Hence, Islam calls on us to be kind and merciful, to overlook faults, to forgive, and to advise, advise, advise, calling people continually to the truth — to the essential good nature that mankind is built upon, to the path of peace.

The tranquil heart is the one that will show mercy and continue to do so under adverse conditions because the tranquil heart is essentially built upon mercy. ...

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1165993914148&pagename=Z one-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

[Cordoba]

Tranquility and Inner Peace

This tranquil heart fluctuates and at times is stronger than at others, but the desire to achieve tranquility, which is found in closeness to Allah, is the ever-present aim of the Muslim.

Is there a person on earth who doesn't wish for tranquility? Isn't that what people are seeking when they take alcohol and drugs? Don't people think that if they can forget the cares of the world they'll be happy? Isn't tranquility the basis of happiness, which mankind strives to attain? How many people are happy — truly, inwardly, completely happy; at peace; tranquil?

Strangely, Muslims find this tranquility without trying to escape from life and blot out its complexities and hardship. Ironically, Muslims who fear Allah achieve tranquility through living their life, not escaping from it; through confronting problems and dealing with them, not through deflecting fault onto others; through seeking out their weaknesses and turning them into strengths, not through maintaining a high level of self-righteousness and apathy.

Life is to be lived, people are to be dealt with properly and justly, responsibilities are to be fulfilled, struggles are to be undertaken, and trusts are to be deposited. That doesn't mean that peace of mind will vanish; indeed, such are the requirements to achieve peace of mind.

The time will come when a life well lived and a problem well solved will speak on behalf of those who ended their life with dignity despite hardship, with wisdom despite surrounding chaos, with mercy despite prevailing oppression, and with success despite being considered a failure.

[But ah! thou soul at peace! Return unto thy Lord, content in His good pleasure! Enter thou among My bondmen! Enter thou My Garden!] (Al-Fajr 89:27-30)

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1165993914148&pagename=Z one-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

[EtuMalku]

Why is that guy allowed to flood this fine forum with endless propaganda and sermonizing? Shall I too cut & paste 3 days worth of reading concerning my beliefs?

[not4me]

Originally Posted by EtuMalku

Why is that guy allowed to flood this fine forum with endless propaganda and sermonizing? Shall I too cut & paste 3 days worth of reading concerning my beliefs?

Where did you come from?

[Cordoba]

Thank you sister

Steps to be Closer to God

- Put Allah first in your life

- If someone says something mean to you, just shrug it off and dismiss it in a friendly, laidback manner, and pray that Allah shall forgive them.

- When you get angry, remember Allah, and how short and worthless life is to waste in being Angry.

- Remember that you can never have too many friends, but you can have few quality friends that help you fulfill the purpose of your creation (i.e. live for Allah).

- When you're happy, try to share your happiness with others. Thank Allah for that, and pray its continuation.

- When something bad or embarrassing happens to you, just think that it could always be worse, remember the reward of patience, and thank Allah that it's not worse than it is.

- Do something extra of goodness once in a while, like feeding a poor person, or caressing an orphan's head.

- Spend some time thinking of Allah's amazing creation.

- Find the righteous ways to express yourself, and if you think that what you are about to say shall cause no benefit, maintain silence (this is tough!!).

- Every now and then, give yourself a break. Play sports, give time to your family, friends, but always remember Allah and watch that He is watching you.

- Pray for blessing to come to those being lost, and pray to Allah to guide them to the right path.

- Smile to everyone, for your smile makes a big difference to him or her and you are rewarded.

- Forgive, forget and smile.

Source: 25 Steps to Being Closer to Allah:
http://community.livejournal.com/islam/432186.html