Update for Jun 28, 2021...

as Salaamu Alaykum,

An Idea I was thinking about this week

Overall, it is well advised to focus on the potentially harmful effects of anger running wild. Some of us may even hold being calm or stoic as part of our identity. However, this too can be taken to an extreme where people may take advantage of another's predictable "noble" behaviour to mistreat or abuse one's rights or even our religion. This is where I feel, emotions should and can be used to ensure that this doesn't happen irrespective of how calm you may feel inside. Perhaps this is a controversial idea, but I see it as another means of communication. Far too often, having good "akhlaaq" is (mis)interpreted as turning the other cheek. A quote below is linked to this.

Reminder that affected me this week

Under the heading self-censure Imam Ghazali writes:

You throw away your garment without the slightest hesitation if even a child informs you that a scorpion has got into your clothes. Is it that the tidings of the Prophets, scholars, saints and mentors about the life to come, about Hell and its blazing fire, its torments, its bitter thorny fruits, its scorpions and reptiles, do not deserve as much credence as the information given by a child?

Hadith

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.”

A quote to think about

""The early Stoic philosopher Diogenes who—while giving a speech about anger no less—was heckled and spit on by a person in the crowd. "I'm not angry,” Diogenes replied with a smile, “but I'm not sure whether I should be."

Book recommendation

The Future is Faster than you think - Peter Diamandis & Steven Kotler 7/10

Contains information and predictions about emerging technologies and how they are likely to shape our reality.

Content I found beneficial this week:

A very helpful Youtube Channel about Islamic Finance. It is good to get a take on the emerging cryptocurrency trends from a Muslim who seems to know his stuff. Check it out: Practical Islamic Finance

One question to ask ourselves

How many more days?

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🎥 Maarten van Elst: Dealing with Social Media, Worldly Success, Accepting Qadr, Identity Crisis & more

A broad discussion with Br Maarten Van Elst on the role of factors outside of our control on attaining Worldly Success; meritocracy and social mobility; Practical tips to effectively use Social Media; effects of the internet age on personal identity; whether self-discipline is overrated and the "Tony Robbins Islam" & more.

Click here to watch the video

or

Click here to listen to the podcast

Enjoy, Aadil