Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

State of Serenity
Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) - Chapter 22: Verse 34 (partial)

"Herald (the good news) to those who humble themselves."

Humility is one of the precursors of the state of serenity; it is the inception of safety from reversal and hesitation. It consists of three levels:

The first level is having virtuousness overcome desire, willpower staving off carelessness and the quest winning over coziness.

The second level consists in not having any cause diminish one's willpower, any incident alienate one's heart and any seduction interrupt one's way.

The third level is when praise and disparagement become equal to someone, reproaching oneself becomes constant and when one becomes blind to other people's lower rank.

Compiled From:
"Stations of the Wayfarers" - Abdullah Al-Ansari, pp.70-72

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Islamic Poetry

Among the poets who fought with their poetry defending the Islamic faith and its Messenger, at the height of the battle against idolatry and idolaters during the Prophet's lifetime were Hassan ibn Thabit, Kab ibn Malik and Abdullah ibn Rawahah, all of whom were from among the Ansar. Also among them were Abdullah ibn al-Zibara and Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib, both of whom used to abuse the Prophet in their poetry in their pre-Islamic days. When they adopted Islam, they did well and composed fine poetry in praise of the Prophet and in support of Islam.

It is authentically reported that the Prophet said to Hassan: "Attack them and Gabriel [the angel] will support you." Abd al-Rahman ibn Kab reports that his father, Kab ibn Malik, said to God's Messenger: "God has revealed what you know about poets." The Prophet said to him: "A believer defends Islam with his sword as also with his tongue. By Him who holds my soul in His hand, your words that you throw at them are just like arrows" [Related by Ahmad].

This type of Islamic poetry was what was needed at the time. There are other modes, however, by which poetry and art become Islamic. It is sufficient that poetry or art in general issues from an Islamic concept of life, in any field, to gain Islamic acceptance. Poetry can be perfectly Islamic without having to attack the opponents of Islam, defend Islam, glorify its values or history, or contribute directly to its advocacy. A glance at the passage of night, feeling the first breath of dawn, coupled with an expression of a Muslim's sense that relates such phenomena to the Creator, is of the very essence of Islamic poetry. A moment of inner enlightenment, feeling God's presence or action, or relating what one sees in the world around one to its Creator, is bound to produce poetry that is perfectly acceptable to Islam.

The point that distinguishes what Islam rejects from what it approves is that Islam has its own concept of life as a whole, its relations and bonds. Whatever poetry issues from such a concept is fine and acceptable from the Islamic point of view.

Compiled From:
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 13, pp. 99, 100

Blindspot!

Clarify Expectations

Clarifying expectations is to create shared vision and agreement about what is to be done up front. This is one of those behaviours that people rarely pay enough attention to. It is the behaviour of prevention because if you focus on this one up front, you will avoid heartaches and headaches later on.

Clarifying expectations can be challenging. We each bring our own meaning to language and experience. Meaning is not in things; it's not even necessarily in words. Meaning is in people. So even if you and I agree on something, we need to make sure we understand the words we're using in the same way.

Clarifying expectations makes a huge difference at home. If you're married, for example, consider how much disappointment and contention come as a result of unclear or differing expectations regarding roles and responsibilities. Maybe your spouse expects you to handle the finances, discipline the children, or take out the garbage because that's they way it was done in the home where he/she grew up - but you expect your spouse to do those things because that's the way it was in your home. You've never really gotten the issue out on the table and come to a resolution, so it's always a sore spot in the relationship.

If you're a parent, consider how much time and energy are wasted when you don't take time to clarify expectations concerning responsibilities or other issues at home.

Keep in mind that clarifying expectations is always a two-way street. People have to have the opportunity to push back, to help come to an expectation that is realistic and will work from both points of view.

Compiled From:
"The Speed of Trust" - Stephen M. R. Covey, pp. 193-196