Living in Accordance with the Qur'an: Constantly Remembering and Reminding God’s Blessings and Expressing Gratitude for Them
Contents
- Introduction
- Starting the Day Knowing that Every Moment is Predestined to Happen
- Being Aware Throughout the Day that We are Going Through a Trial
- Glorifying and Exalting God with the Deepest Respect
- Seeking Only God’s Approval and Contentment in Every Respect Throughout the Day Without Expecting Anything in Return
- Bearing in Mind that God Protects and Helps Believers
- Bearing in Mind that God Knows What Goes Through Our Minds and Our Hearts
- Devoting Our Undivided Attention to God, Turning to God in Every Thought and Action Throughout the Day
- Remembering and Mentioning God Very Often
- Remembering God Repeatedly When Meeting a Troop
- Knowing that Our Hearts Find Peace Only in the Remembrance of God
- Striving Towards Having a Good Grasp of Faith
- Keeping in Mind that Life is Short
- Keeping in Mind that God is the One Who Delivers Us from Every Hardship and Relieves Us of Every Trouble
- Acting with the Knowledge that God Will Greatly Reward Every Good Deed
- Keeping It in Mind that It is God Who Grants Beauty, Wealth, Science, Knowledge and All Other Qualities
- Giving Believers the Good News of God’s Approval and Lifting Their Spirits
- Knowing that God Loves Believers’ Deeds and Rewards Them Greatly for Their Benevolence
- Doing Good Deeds Only for the Sake of God
- Helping Each Other on Good Deeds and Piety
- Being Qualified for the Responsibilities Taken to Earn the Approval of God
- Fully Understanding that Love is the Reason Behind God’s Creation of the Whole Universe and the Trial on Earth, Deeply Loving God and His Manifestations
- Always Aspiring for Peace
- Not Sinking into Sorrow and Dismay in the Face of Troubles
- One Must Refrain from Behaving Ungratefully No Matter the Circumstances
- Overcoming Anger in the Face of Hardship
- Refraining from Being Aggressive and Skeptical
- Always Choosing the Most Pleasant Words When Speaking
- Refrain from Speaking Ill of Others or Using Hurtful, Sharp Language, a Characteristic of Idolaters and Hypocrites
- Always Maintaining a Compassionate and Lenient Demeanor
- Defending and Practicing Islam in the Sincerest Manner Through a Strong Personality, Even When Alone
- Being Brave and Unyielding in the Way of God
- Not Giving into Panic and Worry in the Face of Troubles
- Delighting in the Happiness and Joy of Faith
- Knowing that God Definitely Helps Those Who Help His Religion
- Delegating Duties
- Seeking the Advice of Others in All Affairs
- Remembering that Every Blessing We Enjoy is a Means of Trial
- Refraining from Breaching the Trust of Others; Keeping Any Given Promises
- Being Just in All Situations and Being Honest When Testifying
- Being Meticulous in Trade, Refraining from Making Ill-gotten Profits
- For Giving a Debt If the Debt or is in Dire Straits
- Holding Fast to the Causes Without Forgetting that God is the Creator of Everything
- Never Being Satisfied with Oneself
- It is God Who Teaches Knowledge. Refrain from Giving into Impertinence by Giving Credit to One’s Self for Being Knowledgeable
- Keeping in Mind that God Despises Those Who are Haughty and Refraining from Haughtiness No Matter the Circumstances
- Exhibiting a Sound Muslim Personality in Every Place and Circumstance
- Avoiding Hastiness
- Not Shying Away from Telling the Truth
- Being Resolute and Resilient
- Being Sincere in Serving Islam and Devoting One’s Life to God; Refraining from Making Excuses for Falling Behind
- Reconciling and Reuniting Believers
- Knowing that God Hears All Our Conversations; Refraining from Secret Talks
- Refraining from Talking About a Subject We Do Not Know About; Avoiding Gossip, Slander and Ill Thoughts
- Refraining from Being Quarrelsome and Engaging in Disputes with Believers
- Avoid Wasting Time in Pointless Activities and Idle Chatter
- Refraining from Giving Promises that Cannot be Kept
- Refraining from Insincere Behavior Such as “Bragging About Things One Did Not Accomplish”
- Standing United, Avoiding Separation and Dissent
- Not Following the Majority
- Refraining from Supporting Disbelievers, Traitors and Hypocrites
- Not Being Afraid of People
- Trusting Not in One’s Power and Means but God
- Holding No Fear of Being Condemned
- Spending One’s Wealth and Possessions in the Way of God Instead of Hoarding It
- Purifying the Self in Accordance with the Qur’an Instead of Defend and Justify It
- Being Helpful and Cooperative
- Refrain from Lying
- Using Reason Through Life
- Approaching Any Situation Rationally Rather Than Sentimentally
- Not Seeking Refuge in Disbelievers
- Not Submitting to Disbelievers
- Always Asking God for Help in Every Situation
- Not Giving into Despair in the Face of Any Hardship and Remaining Hopeful Under All Circumstances
- Keeping in Mind that God Helps His Sincere Subjects
- Keeping in Mind that God Stands by and Loves Those Who are Patient
- Exercising Great Patience in the Face of Troubles, Hardships, Illnesses and All Other Circumstances
- Not Showing a Tendency to Disbelief
- Painstakingly Preserving God’s Restrictions and Not Adhering to Unlawful Deeds
- Looking for Opportunities Throughout the Day that Will Help One Become Closer to God
- Having Due Fear and Awe of God
- Knowing that All Blessings Come Directly from God Without Attributing Any Power to the Causes
- Having a Profound Respect for God
- Meticulously Preserving Prayer and Performing Them Correctly in Reverence
- Reading the Qur’an
- Immediately Stop Talking and Listen to the Qur’an When It is Being Read
- Pondering the Verses of the Qur’an and Drawing Lessons from It
- Equating Nothing with God
- Being Forgiving
- Taking Only God and Believers as Confidant, Friend and Protector
- Not Aspiring After the Lives of Deniers and Refraining from Giving into the Illusions of the Worldly Life
- Being Constantly Aware of the Fact that Believers Always Prevail
- Commanding Good and Refraining from Evil
- Not Forgetting About One’s Self While Commanding Others to Do Good
- Restoring Prayer Sites and Mosques
- Keeping Homes, Mosques and Clothes Clean
- Dressing Elegantly When Visiting Mosques
- Eating of that on Which God’s Name is Mentioned
- Knowing that It is God Who Provides for Us
- Keeping in Mind that Believers are Responsible for Protecting All Believers
- Not Feeling Sorry for the Things We Have Lost or Becoming Spoiled by the Blessings Bestowed Upon Us
- Not Rubbing a Past Favor in a Person’s Face
- Making Room for Others in Mosques and Meetings
- Being Conscientious About Sleep; Not Sleeping More Than Needed
- Refraining from Any Turbulent Tone or Behavior and Corruption
- Not Sending a Believer Away
- Being Loyal to God, the Qur’an and Muslims
- Being Consistent in Good Moral Behavior and Benevolent Services
- Casting Evil Away in the Best Way
- Aiming for the Highest of Morals in One’s Attitude and Behaviors
- Refraining from Using Unpleasant Nicknames
- Leaving Any Place Where There are Those Who Expressively Reject the Verses of God and Make Light of Religion
- Treating Parents Well and Taking Great Care of Them in Their Elderly Years
- Treating Orphans Well and Being Meticulous About Their Rights
- Encouraging People to Feed the Poor
- Not Rebuking Those Who Beg of Their Own Accord
- Giving Away One’s Possessions Day and Night, Overtly or Covertly, in Prosperity or in Need
- Giving Away the Nice and Good Things One Likes; Refraining from Trying to Give Away the Things One Does Not Want or Like to Others
- Keeping in Mind that God Greatly Awards Those Who Give Their Possessions Away and Bestows a Great Blessing Upon Them
- Mentioning the Names of God While Praying
- Keeping in Mind that It is God Who Grants Wisdom and Praying to God to be Bestowed with Wisdom
- Inviting People to Belief in God and Islam by Preaching Religion
- Giving Advice and Preaching If It Will Prove Beneficial
- Not Requesting Any Payment for Preaching Religion
- Refraining from Coercion and Compulsion Where Religion is Concerned
- Saluting the Household When Entering a House
- Returning as a Lut at I on in the Same or a More Pleasant Manner
- Being Hospitable, Serving Pleasant Foods and Drinks Without Delay and Asking the Guests
- Refraining from Haughtiness; Always Adopting a Modest, Humble Attitude in the Way One Walks, Acts and Talks
- Refraining from Speaking Loudly
- Exalting God by Saying “Insha’allah” for Every Future Plan and Keeping in Mind that Every Plan is Materialized If God Wills
- Taking an Interest in the Subjects God Points Us Towards and Wants Us to Explore and Contemplate
- Devoting Considerable Effort to Serving Islam and the Qur’an Without Harboring Any Doubt
- Making Preparations for Struggling in the Way for God
- Duly Waging a Struggle in the Way of God with the Help of the Qur’an
- Never Adopting a Reluctant, Half-hearted Effort in the Struggle in the Way of God
- Continuing the Struggle Until All Mischief is Wiped Off the Face of the Earth and Islam Becomes the Predominant Religion
- Immigrating for the Sake of God in Case of Need, Providing Shelter to the Immigrants
- Painstakingly Refraining from Committing a Sin
- Refraining from Squandering Money or Wealth
- Never Giving into Satan’s Whisperings; Seeking Refuge in God from Satan’s Whisperings
- Not Allowing Satan to Influence One’s Behavior and Thoughts
- Knowing that Satan’s Deceit is Ineffectual and Does Not Have Any Influence on Those Who are Sincere in Their Belief
- Constantly Remembering and Reminding God’s Blessings and Expressing Gratitude for Them
- Asking God for Forgiveness and Mercy and Repenting Sincerely
- Asking for Forgiveness at Dawn
- Praying to God in a Hopeful and Fearful Manner
- Traveling in the Way of God
- Never Hanging Back and Slacking in Living in Accordance with Islamic Moral Values
- Worshiping Only God
And as for the blessing of your Lord, speak out!
Surat adh-Dukha, 11
If you tried to number God’s blessings, you could never count them. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
So eat from what God has provided for you, lawful and good, and be thankful for the blessing of God if it is Him you worship.
He has given you everything you have asked Him for. If you tried to number God’s blessings, you could never count them. Man is indeed wrongdoing, ungrateful.
We gave Luqman wisdom:
‘Give thanks to God. Whoever gives thanks only does so to his own good. Whoever is ungrateful, God is Rich Beyond Need, Praiseworthy.’
…you see ships on them, cleaving through the waves so that you can seek His bounty and so that hopefully you will be thankful.
It is God Who has made the sea subservient to you so that the ships sail on it at His command, enabling you to seek His bounty, so that hopefully you will be thankful.
God is He Who appointed the night for you so that you might rest in it, and the day for seeing. God pours out His favour on mankind but most people do not show thanks.
What will those who invent lies against God think on the Day of Rising? God shows favour to mankind but most of them are not thankful.
There was also a sign for Saba in their dwelling place: two gardens– one to the right and one to the left.
‘Eat of your Lord’s provision and give thanks to Him: a bountiful land and a forgiving Lord.’
They made for him (Sulayman) anything he wished:
high arches and statues, huge dishes like cisterns, great built-in cooking vats. ‘Work, family of Dawud, in thankfulness!’ But very few of My servants are thankful.
Then (He) formed him and breathed His Spirit into him and gave you hearing, sight and hearts. What little thanks you show!
Among His Signs is that He sends the winds bearing good news, to give you a taste of His mercy, and to make the ships run by His command, and to enable you to seek His bounty so that hopefully you will be thankful.
(Ibrahim said,)
‘Instead of God you worship only idols. You are inventing a lie. Those you worship besides God have no power to provide for you. So seek your provision from God and worship Him and give thanks to Him. It is to Him you will be returned.’
But part of His mercy is that He has made both night and day for you so that you can have your rest and seek His bounty, and so that hopefully you will be thankful.
God shows favour to mankind but most of them are not thankful. It is He Who made the sea subservient to you so that you can eat fresh flesh from it and bring out from it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships cleaving through it so that you can seek His bounty, and so that hopefully you will show thanks.
We taught him (Dawud) the art of making garments for you to protect you against each others’ violence, but do you show any thanks?
(Musa said to his people,) ‘And when your Lord announced:
“If you are grateful, I will certainly give you increase, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe.”’
When you were few and oppressed in the land, afraid that the people would snatch you away, He gave you refuge and supported you with His help and provided you with good things so that hopefully you would be thankful.
We have established you firmly on the earth and granted you your livelihood in it. What little thanks you show!
Why should God punish you if you are thankful and believe? God is All-Thankful, All-Knowing.
We have instructed man to be good to his parents. His mother bore him with difficulty and with difficulty gave birth to him; and his bearing and weaning take thirty months. Then when he achieves his full strength and reaches forty, he says,
‘My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You bestowed on me and on my parents, and keep me acting rightly, pleasing You. And make my descendants righteous. I have repented to You and I am truly one of the Muslims.’
It is He Who created all the species and gave you ships and livestock for you to ride, so that you might sit firmly on their backs and remember your Lord’s blessing while you are seated on them, saying,
‘Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us. We could never have done it by ourselves.’
Mankind! Remember God’s blessing to you. Is there any creator other than God providing for you from heaven and earth? There is no god but Him. So how have you been perverted?
… Do not make a mockery of God’s Signs. Remember God’s blessing to you and the Book and Wisdom He has sent down to you to admonish you. Have fear of God and know that God has knowledge of all things.
He was thankful for His blessings. God chose him and guided him to a straight path.
Remember when Musa said to his people,
‘My people! Remember God’s blessing to you when He appointed Prophets among you and appointed kings for you, and gave you what He had not given to anyone else in all the worlds!’
He (Sulayman) smiled, laughing at its words, and said,
‘My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and keep me acting rightly, pleasing You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your servants who are righteous.’
He who possessed knowledge of the Book said,
‘I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.’ And when he saw it standing firmly in his presence, he said, ‘This is part of my Lord’s favour to test me to see if I will give thanks or show ingratitude. Whoever gives thanks only does so to his own gain. Whoever is ungrateful, my Lord is Rich Beyond Need, Generous.’