Live a Balanced Life

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he made a brotherhood with the Muhajiruun (those who migrated to Madinah) and the Ansar (those who already lived in Madinah). There were a couple of significant brotherhoods, for example: Abdurahmaan Ibn Awf (ra) and Sa'd ibn Rabi' (ra) or Salman Al Farisi (ra) and Abu Ad-Darda (ra). Below is an instant of the brotherhood of Salman (ra) and Abu Ad-Darda (ra) of living a balanced life.

Narrated Abu Juhaifa (ra): The Prophet (saws) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman Al-Farisi (ra) and Abu Ad-Darda (ra)’. Salman (ra) paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) and found Um Ad-Darda’ (ra) dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied, "Your brother Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world." 

In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) came and prepared a meal for Salman (ra). Salman (ra) requested Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) said, "I am fasting." Salman (ra) said, "I am not going to eat unless you eat".
So, Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman (ra) told him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) slept.
After sometime Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra) again got up but Salman (ra) told him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman (ra) told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer.
Salman (ra) told Abu Ad-Darda’ (ra), "Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on you."
Abu Ad-Darda’(ra) came to the Prophet (saws) and narrated the whole story. The Prophet (saws) said, "Salman (ra) has spoken the truth."
Fasting – Sahih Bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 189 

 Narated By Abu Huraira : The Prophet (SAW) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshiping in the mornings, the nights." (Bukhari)

So basically we see that the Prophet (SAW) has ordered that we don't "overdo" it when it comes to acts of worship and start making things difficult upon our selves, for if we were to attempt to do so we won't remain consistent since we will eventually 'pop' and become bored or leave the acts of worship for good.

Worship Your Lord until there comes to you the Certainty (Death)

A man woke up early in order to Pray the Fajr prayer in the Masjid. He got dressed, made his ablution and was on his way to the Masjid.On his way to the Masjid, the man fell and his clothes got dirty.He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home. At home,He changed his Clothes, made his ablution, and was, again,on his way to the Masjid.

On his way to the Masjid, He fell again and at the same spot! He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he, once again, changed his clothes,made his ablution and was on his way to the Masjid.

On his way to the Masjid, he met a man holding a lamp.he asked the man of his identity and the man replied I saw you fall twice on your way to the Masjid, So i brought a lamp so I can light your way.’

The first man thanked him and the two where on their way to the Masjid. Once at the Masjid, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray Fajr with him.

The second man refused.
The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same.

The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.
The man replied I am Shaytan (Devil)

The man was shocked at this reply. Shaytan went on to explain,

‘I saw you on your way to the Masjid and it was I who made you fall. When you went home,cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the Masjid, Allah forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home,but rather, you went back on your way to the Masjid. Because of that, Allah forgave all the sins of the people of your household .I was afraid if i made you fall one more time, then Allah will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the Masjid safely.’

 

“Prostrate much because there is no Muslim that prostrates to God except that God raises him one degree in Paradise by it and forgives for him a sin.” (Ahmad)

A great lecture on this topic is, "Do You Love Allah" by Omar Elbanna

The Best of Planners

It related that a woman went to a Prophet Dawud (A.S) and said “O Prophet of Allah is your Lord an oppressor or is he just?”

The prophet replied, “Woe unto you, O woman, He is the All-Just, Who never oppresses. What is your story?”

She explained that she was a widow, with three daughters and that she provided for them by what she would spin with her hands. She explained, “Yesterday, I tied what I had spun into a red cloth to sell in the marketplace so as to provide for my children.

As I was walking, a bird came and snatched the cloth of me and flew away, leaving me with nothing to sell for the provision of my children.”

As the woman was speaking to Dawud, someone came knocking on his door. He gave permission for them to enter and learned that they were ten businessmen bringing with them one hundred dinars each.

They said “O Prophet of Allah, give this wealth to one that is deserving.” Dawud asked them what had brought them to him with their wealth.

They explained, “O Prophet of Allah, we were on a boat, the wind was very violent, and we were about to drown when a bird came and dropped a red cloth on us. In this cloth was some yard and with this we were able to block the hole in the ship until the winds subsided and we vowed that each one of us would give one hundred dinars in charity. So give that amount to whomever you please.”

Dawud turned to the women and said, “Your Lord does business for you in the land and in the sea, yet you ask whether he oppresses!” He gave her the 1000 dinars and said, “Spend this on your children.”

 

"They planned, and Allah also Planned. Allah is the Best Planner of All."

Via Daily Islamic Stories