Allah is sufficient as a surety

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "An Israeli man asked another Israeli to lend him
one thousand Dinars. The second man required witnesses. The former
replied, 'Allah is sufficient as a witness.' The second said, 'I want
a surety.' The former replied, 'Allah is sufficient as a surety.' The
second said, 'You areright,' and lent him the money for a certain
period. The debtor went across the sea. When he finished his job, he
searched for a conveyance so that he might reach in time for the
repayment of the debt, but he could not find any. So, he took a piece
of wood and madea hole in it, inserted in it one thousand Dinars anda
letter to the lender andthen closed (i.e. sealed) the hole tightly. He
took the piece of wood to thesea and said. 'O Allah! You know well
that I took a loan of one thousand Dinars from so-and-so. He demandeda
surety from me but I told him that Allah's Guarantee was sufficientand
he accepted Your guarantee. He then asked for a witness and Itold him
that Allah was sufficient as a Witness, and he accepted You as a
Witness. No doubt, I tried hard to find a conveyance so that I could
pay his money but could not find, so I hand over this money to You.'
Saying that, he threw the piece of wood into the sea till it went out
far into it, and then he went away. Meanwhile he started searching for
a conveyance in order toreach the creditor's country.
One day the lender cameout of his house to see whether a ship had
arrived bringing his money, and all of a sudden he saw the pieceof
wood in which his money had been deposited. He took it home to use for
fire. When he sawed it, he found his money and theletter inside it.
Shortly after that, the debtor came bringing one thousand Dinars to
him and said, 'By Allah, I had been trying hard to get a boat so that
I could bring you your money, but failed to get one before the one I
have come by.' The lender asked, 'Have you sent something to me?' The
debtor replied, 'I have told you I could not get aboat other than the
one I have come by.' The lender said, 'Allah has delivered on your
behalfthe money you sent in the piece of wood. So, you may keep your
one thousand Dinars and depart guided on the right path.

Life is like baking a cake

A little boy is telling his Grandma how"everything" is going wrong.
School, family problems, health problems, problems withfriends, etc.
Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would
like a snack, which, of course, he does.
"Here, have some cooking oil." *"Yuck" says the boy.
"How about a couple raw eggs? " "Gross, Grandma!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Grandma, those are all yucky!"
To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by
themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they
makea wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go
through such bad and difficult times.
But Allah knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they
always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they
will all make something wonderful!"

No choice but to regret

Once, a group of people were travelling on rocks at night. A voice
came from the sky that whosoever picks up the rocks will regret and
whosoever doesn't pick up the rocks will regret. Now, the people were
confused. How can this be? Whether you pick upthe rocks or not, you
willregret! Anyway, some people picked up the rocks and some didn't.
Inthe morning when they reached their homes, they saw that the rocks
turned into diamonds. Now, those people who didn't pick up the rocks
started regretting saying"If only we had picked up some rocks." Those
people who did pick some rocks also started regretting saying "Why
didn't we pick up more rocks?" Both sides endedup regretting. Dear
Muslims, this same incident will take place with us on the Day of
Judgement. Those people who spent their time in useless things will
start regretting by looking at those who achieved a great position in
Paradise by spending their time in the way of Allah. Now, those who
did achieve a position in Paradise will start regretting by looking at
those who did more than them and are higher in status."Alas! If we had
only done more to please Allah."

Those who Ardently Hope for Paradise: TheParty of Allah

Allah has inscribed faith upon such people's hearts, will reinforce
them with a spirit from Him, and admit them into Gardens with rivers
flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever. Allah is
pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. Such people are the
party of Allah. Truly it is the party of Allah who are
successful.(Surat al-Mujadala, 22)
Those believers to whomAllah has announced His promise of good news
have important qualities, as revealed in the Qur'an:
-They believe and do right actions. (Surat al-Baqara, 25)
- They fear Allah. (Surah Al 'Imran, 15)
- They spend for the cause of Islam in times both ease and hardship.
(Surah Al 'Imran, 134)
- They control their rage.( Surah Al 'Imran, 134)
- They pardon other people.( Surah Al 'Imran, 134)
- After they act indecently or wrong themselves, they remember Allah
and ask forgiveness for their wrong actions. (Surah Al 'Imran, 135)
- They do not knowingly persist in doing wrong actions. (Surah Al 'Imran,135)
- The obey Allah and his Messenger. (Surat an-Nisa', 13)
- They keep up prayer, spend in charity, believe in and support
Allah's messengers. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 12)
- They are truthful. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 119)
- They leave their homes for the cause of Allah and strive in Allah's
way with their souls and possessions. (Surat at-Tawba: 20)
- They do good. (Surah Yunus, 26)
- They humble themselves before their Lord. (Surah Hud, 23)
-They repent of their sins. (Surah Maryam, 60)
- They honor their trusts and contracts. (Surat al-Mu'minun: 8)
- They safeguard their prayers. (Surat al-Mu'minun: 9)
- They compete with oneanother in the doing of good deeds. (Surah Fatir,32)
- They are Allah's chosen servants. (Surat as-Saffat, 40)
- They believe in the Qur'an. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 69)
- They say "our Lord is Allah" and thereafter stand firm in their
faith. (Surat al-Ahqaf, 13)
- They are heedful. ( Surah Muhammad, 15)
- They turn toward Allah with their whole heart. (Surah Qaf, 32)
- They stand in awe of the Most Gracious, although He is beyond the
reach of human perception, and come unto Him with a heart returning in
repentance.(Surah Qaf, 33)
- They are the doers of good. (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 16)
- They ask for Allah's forgiveness before the dawn. (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 18)
- They are the forerunners. (Surat al-Waqi'a, 10)
- They always keep their word and fear a day whose evil will spread
far and wide. (Surat al-Insan, 7)
- They give food, despitetheir love for it, to the poor and orphans
and captives. (Surat al-Insan, 8)
- They give the appropriate respect to the Messenger of Allah. (Surat
al-Hujurat, 3)