Today's Tazkirah

Test preparation (In Islam)
After knowing the nature of the tests that Allah puts us through, we need to equip ourselves with the tools and methods that will enable us to ace those tests, insha-Allah:

The first and foremost beneficial tool is the Qur'an. We need to understand it as much as we can. We should study it every day because we face tests from Allah every day. The Qur'an is the textbook to prepare us for the tests.

The second tool is the history of the prophets, especially Muhammad, peace be upon him, since we have almost all of his life recorded and the history of Sahabas (companions) and the rightly-guided Muslims. Reading and pondering over their lives will give us ideas on how to deal with the tests that Allah puts us through. They are like past exams. They have been through the tests and have passed them.

The third tool is 'Ibaadah (worship) through Salah (prayers), Sawm (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage), Zakah (charity), etc. They are like homework to prepare us for the tests. They give us the moral strength to pass the tests Allah puts us through.

The fourth tool is our company of righteous people. They will comfort us when we face calamities and will remind us of our duties when we are relatively comfortable. It is very difficult to go through some tests alone. Like we do with academic tests, we need to be with those who remind us of Allah and of our responsibilities. Righteous companions are like study groups to help us pass the tests.

May Allah help us all to pass the tests He puts us through so that we may be successful in this world and in the hereafter. May Allah bless all of us...Amin...

taken from: http://www.youngmuslims.ca

ALLAH KNOWS BEST

ALLAH knows what is best for us

So why should we complain

We always want the sunshine

But He knows there must be rain.

We always want laughter and the merriment of cheer

but our heart will lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear.

ALLAH tests us often with suffering and sorrow

He tests us not to punish us but to help us meet tomorrow.

For growing trees are strenghtened

if they can withstand the stormand the sharpness of the chiselgave

the marble its grace and form.

ALLAH tests us often and for every pain

He gives us provided we are patientIs followed by rich gain

So whenever we feel that everything is going wrong

It is just ALLAH'S way to make our spirit strong.