Note that every insurance company is different — not all of these ideas work everywhere. The first thing you can do to save money on auto insurance is to self-insure as much as you can afford. Do this in the following ways:

* High deductibles. Everyone preaches this, yes, but it’s usually the easiest way to cut costs. Usually. (If your car is over ten years old, the savings may be minimal.)
* Remove towing. Good maintenance and planning can save you money. Don’t run out of gas. Don’t lock your keys in your car. Make sure you have a spare and know how to change it. Sometimes your car will break down, but if your car is well-maintained, it won’t happen often. You pay $10 - $30 a year over the life of your policy and one tow costs $100. Note that in the event of an accident, towing is almost always covered under collision.
* Remove car rental. Small economy cars cost about $20 - $25 per day to rent. Car rental is $20 - $40 per year. Play the odds. If you rent a car on vacation, your insurance will cover you while driving that car. Don’t pay for the extra coverage. The only things it offers are:
1. Zero deductibles. You go all year long with your deductibles, why change now? Also, if you pay for the car with a credit card, they may pay for any out of pocket in the even of an accident.
2. Downtime coverage. Downtime means that while the rental car you wrecked is in the shop being repaired, it can’t be rented out to other customers and they can ding you for the daily fee. This may be an issue if they can show that all other cars were rented out and they lost money because of you — Hawaii is notorious for charging this. But, again, it’s a risk you might decide to self insure rather than pay $21 a day for the insurance.

Aside from self-insuring, there are other steps you can take to save on car insurance.

* Shop ahead. Before you buy your next car, check on insurance. Many people assume that SUVs are expensive and Neons are cheap. This is not necessarily true. Some companies will increase your liability based on the cost of damages your type of vehicle may inflict — big trucks cause big damage. However, they also rate the autos based on how likely they are to be damaged in an accident, how often they are stolen, and how badly driver/passengers are injured. That Neon (or Jetta or Honda) is going to be a lot more expensive than you think. Many companies will have websites that will give you lists of safe and lower priced cars. (Saturn is a low insurance car because it has dent-resistant doors.)
* Think twice about after-market gizmos. If your vehicle is totaled or stolen, the insurance company will determine a fair market or actual cash value. They will look at your vehicle as a “whole package.” Even if you paid for $3,000 in after market items (wheels, spoilers, stereos, exhaust, etc.) they may only add $1,000 in value to your vehicle. It’s not dollar for dollar.
* Have all of your insurance in one place. Often, the more types of policies you have, the more you save in discounts.
* Find out if your insurance company offers any low-mileage breaks that you qualify for.
* Can you take a safety-driving course? Some companies offer a discount for this.
* Do NOT pay monthly. Your carrier will charge anywhere from $3 to $5 per month for this type of billing. Pay every six months if possible. If you must pay monthly, do an auto pay — the charges are less because they only send a bill if the amount changes.
* This might not be a money saving tip, but insurance companies are state regulated. They must file their rates with the state and be able to justify any increases these are public record as are any types of complaints or fines. For example, if you’re in Oregon, you can check out your company and/or agent at http://insurance.oregon.gov/.
* Most companies now use aspects of your credit to determine your rate. It is illegal for them to do this mid-term — as long as your policy is continuous without any lapses, they can’t use external info to change your rate. They can only use claim and ticket info. However, all newly added vehicles can be affected by credit. If you have good credit, this may be to your advantage. You are allowed to request that they re-check your score once per year. However, whatever the score is, you’re stuck with it. If it comes back bad and it raises your rate: too bad. But, if you have a policy that was written when your credit wasn’t so great, request that they check it again after things look better.

Put from GetRichSlowly

Most people complain about the cost of their auto insurance--hardly surprising, given that a typical policy costs at least several hundred dollars a year. Depending on your age, driving record, and other factors, your annual premium can be significantly more than that. So how can you lower your premium and save yourself money?

If you own a car and drive it, going without insurance is generally not an option. In most states, you are required by law to purchase a minimum amount of liability coverage. And you should probably have more than just the bare minimum if you want to provide yourself with adequate protection. There are steps you can take, however, to reduce your auto insurance costs without having to cancel your policy. Some or all of these steps may be appropriate for you, depending on your circumstances.

Specific ways to save money on auto insurance:

1. Shop around.
One of your first steps should be to shop around. A particularly good time to investigate your alternatives is when your current policy is about to be up for renewal, especially if you find that your premium has gone up. You may be surprised to learn that auto insurance premiums for the exact same coverage on the same car can vary widely (by hundreds of dollars) between different insurers, even in states that regulate auto insurance rates.

2. Increase your deductible.
For many people, raising the deductible on their auto insurance is a good way to cut the cost of the policy. Sometimes you can reduce your annual premium by 10 percent or more if you increase your deductible from, say, $250 to $500. If you do this, however, make sure you have the financial resources to handle the larger deductible when the time comes.

3. Keep an eye on your credit report.
Your credit history is an important factor for most auto insurance companies. Many studies have shown a correlation between your credit history and the risk to an insurance company. Paying your bills on time and maintaining a good credit history will allow you to enjoy lower auto insurance rates.

4. Drive less.
If you drive less than a certain number of miles in a year (e.g., 7,500), you may qualify for a low-mileage discount. If your insurer offers this discount, try to limit your driving as much as possible. If you commute to work, use public transportation instead of driving. When you go away on vacation, fly or take the train.

5. Don't use your car for business purposes.
Since work-related driving generally subjects you to higher premiums than pleasure driving, it may be in your best interest to stop using your car for business purposes.

6. Drive more safely.
You may be eligible for a price break on your policy if you maintain a clean driving record for a specified period (usually three years). A clean driving record generally means no accidents, moving violations, drunk driving convictions, etc., during that period. The best way to qualify for the applicable discount is to drive carefully and defensively at all times.

7. Buy a low-profile car.
Cars are rated on a risk scale for auto insurance purposes. In general, sports cars and other high-performance, flashy vehicles are classified as higher risks because they are common targets for thieves and vandals, and because statistically, the people who own them tend to drive more recklessly. If you own such a vehicle, you will likely pay a higher premium than if you owned a station wagon, sedan, or other low-risk vehicle.

8. Move.
If you live in a rural community with little crime and traffic congestion, your premium will generally be lower than if you live in an urban area where your car is more likely to be stolen, vandalized, or involved in an accident. Granted, you shouldn't move just to cut your auto insurance costs. However, this may be one of many factors in your decision if you're thinking about relocating from the country to the city.

9. Keep your car in a garage.
Cars parked in garages are less likely to be stolen, vandalized, or struck by other vehicles. Using a garage to store your car may entitle you to a slight premium reduction.

10. Have safety/anti-theft devices installed.
You may receive discounts on your insurance if your car is equipped with one or more of the following options: anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, and airbags. Similarly, anti-theft devices such as car alarms and tracking systems (e.g., Lojack) may also get you a discount because they reduce the chances of your car being stolen or vandalized.

11. Inquire about multifamily/multipolicy discounts.
You may receive a discount from your insurance company if you buy more than one type of insurance through that same company (e.g., auto and homeowner's). A discount may also apply to your auto insurance if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or with the same company.

12. Other discounts
Other discounts may be available if you meet certain criteria. Examples may include discounts for taking a defensive driving course, being a AAA member or staying with the same auto insurance company for a number of years. These discounts vary by company.

1MPLEMENTATING ERP

When it first became economic to use computers for business, companies began searching for appropriate applications. While repetitive calculations, like the ones used for payroll, were no problem to the computer, when attempting to calculate the amount of materials a company would have to buy, problems arose.

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems, as they were known before ERP systems, had two main faults. Firstly, nobody could work out how to keep the planning systems stable, with every MRP run producing widely different results, due to the fluctuations in demand and supply. Additionally, the MRP systems were driving inventory up, rather than reducing it, due to every fluctuation upwards increasing supply orders which could not be easily reduced.

ERP was sold as the solution to these problems. Essentially, ERP systems are the same as MRP systems but with some extra features, which vary from system to system. Typically, human resource management and salaries and document control will be included.

The mechanics for implementing a successful ERP are not difficult yet many businesses stumble during the set up of such systems due to not establishing a common agenda throughout the business and ensuring everyone involved has their own needs and objectives met. Once this is established the tools and techniques needed to accomplish this is relatively easy.

Key to the successful implementation of the system is a sales and operations plan. This is the process by which financial business plans are converted into operational plans for running the business. If the sales and operations plan is to be a common plan, it must have a common language. The common language is nearly always the things a company produces and the customer buys. After all, having a sales department talking about the value of orders received is useless when the factory want to know what to produce and when. The sales and operations plan is the starting point for master production scheduling, a way to get everyone working in synchronisation before improving control of the business using ERP as the tool.

Once set up, the main role of the Master Production Schedule is demand management. This is a commercial process and so must be taught to commercial people. Demand management utilised properly gives a higher level of customer service and more stable manufacturing with lower inventory, meeting everyone's business objectives.

An enterprise resource planning system is the only tool you need to achieve a change in business performance but it is not a solution in its own right. Factors such as sales and marketing departments providing a regularly updated forecast of the product they need to meet the market needs and when they need it and when Operations recognise it's in everyone's best interests to follow the plan are key to the success of your business and ERP system.

Enterprise Resource Plannin9

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an enterprise-wide information system designed to coordinate all the resources, information, and activities needed to complete business processes.

An ERP system supports most of the business system that maintains in a single database the data needed for a variety of business functions such as Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Financials, Projects, Human Resources and Customer Relationship Management.

An ERP system is based on a common database and a modular software design. The common database can allow every department of a business to store and retrieve information in real-time. The information should be reliable, accessible, and easily shared. The modular software design should mean a business can select the modules they need, mix and match modules from different vendors, and add new modules of their own to improve business performance.

Ideally, the data for the various business functions are integrated. In practice the ERP system may comprise a set of discrete applications, each maintaining a discrete data store within one physical database.

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a term applied to processes implemented by a company to handle its contact with its customers. CRM software is used to support these processes, storing information on current and prospective customers. Information in the system can be accessed and entered by employees in different departments, such as sales, marketing, customer service, training, professional development, performance management, human resource development, and compensation. Details on any customer contacts can also be stored in the system. The rationale behind this approach is to improve services provided directly to customers and to use the information in the system for targeted marketing and sales purposes.

While the term is generally used to refer to a software-based approach to handling customer relationships, most CRM software vendors stress that a successful CRM strategy requires a holistic approach. CRM initiatives often fail because implementation was limited to software installation without providing the appropriate motivations for employees to learn, provide input, and take full advantage of the information systems.

Yajuj wa Majuj by Imam Ibn Kathir - from Stories From Quran

Gog and Magog

by Imam Ibn Kathir - from Stories From Quran

http://abdurrahman.org/finaljourney/gogmagog.html


Allah the Almighty says:

{They said: "0 Dhul-Qarnain! Verily Ya'juj and Ma 'juj (Gog and Magog) are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?" He said: "That (wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier. "Give me pieces (blocks) of iron;" then, when he had filled up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said: "Blow;" then when he had made them (red as) fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper to pour over them." So they (Ya 'juj and Ma 'juj (Gog and Magog)] could not scale it or dig through it. (Dhul-Qarnain) said: "This is a mercy from my Lord, but when the Promise of my Lord comes, He shall level it down to the ground. And the Promise of my Lord is ever true"}. (Al-Kahf, 94-98)

And, {Until, when Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) are let loose (from their barrier), and they swoop downfrom every mound}. (Al-Anbiya', 96)

No doubt; "Gog and Magog are from among the children of Adam (Peace be upon him). In proof of this, comes the Hadith that is transmitted in the two Sahihs (Bukhari and Muslim) from Al-A'mash, after Abu Salih, after Abu Sa' id Al-Khudri who narrated the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to have said: "Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection), 'O Adam!' Adam will reply, 'Labbaik wa Sa'daik, and all the good is in Your Hand.' Allah will say: 'Bring out the people of the fire.' Adam will say: 'O Allah! How many are the people of the Fire?' Allah will reply: 'From every one thousand, take out nine-hundredÂand ninety-nine.' At that time children will become hoary headed, every pregnant female will have a miscarriage, and one will see mankind as drunken, yet they will not be drunken, but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah." The Companions of the Prophet

(Peace be upon him) asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Who is that (excepted) one?" He said, "Rejoice with glad tidings; one person will be from you and one thousand will be from Gog and Magog." The Prophet (Peace be upon him) further said, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, hope that you will be one-fourth of the people of Paradise." We shouted,

"Allahu Akbar!" He added, "I hope that you will be one-third of the people of Paradise.We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He said, "I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He further said, "You (Muslims) (compared with non Muslims) are like a black hair in the skin of a white ox or like a white hair in the skin of a black ox (i.e. your number is very small as compared with theirs)." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith denotes the numerousness of their numbers and that they are a hundred-fold the number of all mankind. Moreover, they are from among the offspring of Nuh (Noah (Peace be upon him)) in particular for Allah the Almighty informs us in His Glorious Qur'an that Nuh (Peace be upon him) invoked Him against the people of the earth saying: {And Nuh (Noah) said: "My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth!} (Nuh, 26) And, Allah the Almighty Himself says: {Then We saved him and those with him in the ship}. (Al-'Ankabut, 15) And, {And, his progeny, them We made the survivors}. (As-Saffat, 77) This is in addition to the Hadith transmitted in Imam Ahmed's Musnad and the Sunan of Abu Dawud that mentioned: that there were three sons born to Nuh (Peace be upon him): Shell, Ham and Japheth. Shem was the father of the Arabs; Ham was the father of the Sudan; and Japheth was the father of the Turk.[1] Moreover, Gog and Magog are just a part of the Turk from among the Mangols who were stronger and spread mischief in the land. Some people claimed that Gog and Magog were created out of the semen of Adam (Peace be upon him) that mixed with the earth and thus they were not from Eve. But, this claim -which was held by Sheik Abu Zakariya An-Nawawi in his explanation of Sahih Muslim and by other scholars who declared it to be weak and strange -is too weak. As, there is not any proof on this and moreover, it contradicts the obvious text of the Glorious Qur'an -mentioned earlier -that all mankind of today are from the offspring of Nuh (Peace be upon him). In addition, some people claimed that they (Gog and Magog) are of different shapes and figures: some are as tall as palm-trees, some are too short, and some take one of their ears as a bed and the other as a cover or blanket. However, all these claims are groundless and cannot stand the slightest refutation. But, the correct view is that: they are from among the children of Adam (Peace be upon him) and that they bear the same qualities and shapes. Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. When He created him, He said to him, "Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations of your offspring. " So, Adam said (to the angels), As-Salamu 'Alaikum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, "As-Salamu' Alaika wa Rahmatu-l-lahi" (i. e. Peace and Allah's Mercy be upon you). Thus the angels added to Adam's salutation the expression, 'Wa Rahmatu-l-lah.' Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation." This Hadith blocks the way before those who falsely claim things that are groundless.



A Very Important Question:

If it is said: How does the previously-mentioned Hadith -that was agreed upon -denote that they will be treated as ransom for the Believers on the Day of Resurrection and that they will enter HellÂfire, while no Messengers were sent to them and Allah the Almighty says: {And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)} (Al-Isra', 15)?

The answer is that: They will never be punished until they are given warning. Thereupon, if they were existing before the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and Messengers were sent to them, thus, they were given warning. And, if no Messengers were sent to them, they would be treated as "People of the Fitrah" and those to whom the Message of Islam did not reach or be conveyed. However, it is indicated by the Hadith transmitted by some of the Companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that he said: "Those and the like will be tested on the pathways of the Resurrection: and whoever responds to the caller, he will enter Paradise. And, whoever refuses, he will enter the Fire." However, testing them neither necessitates their salvation, nor contradicts with the saying that they will enter Hell-fire. For Allah the Almighty reveals to His Prophet (Peace be upon him) what He wills of the Unseen, and hence, He informed him that they will be from among the people of Hell and that their nature denies the truth and submission thereto, as they do not respond to the caller till the Day of Judgment. This indicates that, they would be more stubborn in rejecting the truth if they were to come to know it in this present life. In the pathways of Resurrection, some of those who used to belie the truth in the present life will submit themselves to the truth. Almighty Allah says: {And if you only could see when the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) shall hang their heads before their Lord (saying): "Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back (to the world), that we will do     righteous good deeds. Verily! We now believe with certainty "}. (As-Sajdah, 12) However, the Prophetic Hadith indicating that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) invited them on the Night Journey to embrace Islam and they refused, this Hadith is an invented and fabricated one. The one who fabricated it was the liar, `Amr Ibn As-Subh.

The (Dam) Barrier:

It was mentioned earlier that Dhul-Qarnain has built it out of iron and copper and elevated it to a very high point that is equal to the very lofty mountains. However, there is no on earth an equal building in terms of loftiness or benefiting to mankind. Imam Al-Bukhari transmitted in his Sahih the following Hadith saying: ((A man told the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that he had seen the dam (of Gog and Magog). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked: (How did you find it?' the man said: (I found it like Al-Burd Al-Muhabbar (stripped garments).' The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: (You have seen it like that. '" In Ibn Jarir's exegesis of the Qur'an, a slight different narration was reported by Qatadah who said: ('I was told that a man said: (0 Allah's Messenger! I have seen the dam of Gog and Magog. 'The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: (describe it to me. The man said: 'It looked like stripped garments, with red and black stripes.' The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'You have seen it. '"

It was mentioned that the Caliph, Al-Wathiq sent some messengers with messages to different kings to allow them travelling from one country to another till they reach the dam and stand on its reality. When they came back to the Caliph, they described it to him saying that it has a huge door with many locks. It is a very high and tight building and that the remnants of its building materials and tools are kept there in a tower. Also, there are still guards keeping an eye on it. They added that its location is on the northern-east side of the earth. It was also said that their land is very spacious and that they live on farming and hunting and that their numbers are countless.

How can we compromise between the Qur'anic Verse that reads: {So they (Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog)) could not scale it or dig through it}. (Al-Kahf, 97) and the Prophetic Hadith that is transmitted by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim on the authority of Mother of the Believers, Zainab Bint Jahsh (May Allah be pleased with her) as saying: That the Prophet (Peace be upon him) once came to her in a state of fear and said: ('None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Gog and Magog like this," making a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zainab Bint lahsh said: ('0 Allah's Messenger! Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?" He said: "Yes, when the evil persons will increase." And in another narration: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Allah has made an opening in the wall of the Gog and Magog (people) like this, and he made with his hand (with the help of his fingers)." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)



The answer is that: this means one of two things: the first is that this is an indication of the opening of gates of evil and turmoil and hence, this is a mere example set for us. The second view considers this as narrating a concrete matter for His Statement, {So they (Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog)] could not scale it or dig through it}, i.e. at their time for the sentence is in the past tense, the matter which does not contradict the possibility of its taking place in the future with the Permission of Allah the Almighty. But, as for the other Hadith that is narrated by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Verily, Gog and Magog dig through the dam every day, till they could see the sun rays (through it), their leader would say: 'Go back and you will finish it tomorrow. ' On the next day, they find it as strong as before. Till when their appointed term comes and Allah desires to send them against mankind, they dig it till they could see the sun rays (through it) and their leader says: 'Go back and you will finish it tomorrow, if Allah wills!' On the next day, they find it as they had left the day before and they dig through it and come against mankind. They will drink (every drop of water they pass by). The people will resort to strongholds. And, Gog and Magog will throw their arrows towards the sky. When they come back to them stained with what looks like blood, they will say: 'we have defeated the people on earth and those in the heaven as well.’ Then, Allah the Almighty sends against them worms in their necks that kill them all. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'By Whom in Whose Hand Muhammed's soul rests! Living creatures of the earth would go fat and be thankful due to eating their flesh and (drinking their) blood. ", Imam Ahmed transmitted it also on the authority of Hasan Ibn Musa after Sufyan after Qatadah. At-Tirmidhi transmitted the same Hadith on the authority of Abu, Awanah after Qatadah, then he said: it is a Strange Hadith that reached us from none but this Chain of Transmission.


[1] The ‘Turk’ here does not mean those of Turkey. (Translator)

What is Dzikr and its benefits

Dhikr

The word Dhikr means to remember something through constant verbal repetition of it.

So if a person were to constantly repeat the Names of Allah for example he would be remembering Allah; and due to the great need of man for remembrance of Allah, He has encouraged us to do it, in His Words: "He said: 'O my Lord! Make a sign for me.' (Allah) said: 'Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much (by praising Him again and again), and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning."

And He says: "O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance." In remembrance of Allah there is great virtue, including:
Reminding Others to Remember Allah:

Allah, the Most Glorified, the Most High says: "Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me. "

And He inspired the Prophet (S) to say: "Shall I not inform you about the best of your deeds with Allah and the purest of them with your King and the highest of them in status for you, which are better for you than spending gold and silver in charity and better than meeting your enemy and cutting off their heads, while they also cut off yours?" They said "Certainly, oh, Messenger of Allah!" He said: "It is remembrance of Allah, the All-Mighty, the All Powerful."

And the Prophet (S) also said: "The likeness of one who remembers Allah and one who does not remember Allah is as the likeness of the living and the dead."

1 It repels Satan and pleases the Most Gracious, according to the Words of the Prophet (S): "Whenever a people sit in a meeting-place and remember Allah, they are surrounded by angels and enveloped in mercy, and tranquility descends upon them as they remember Allah; and Allah makes mention of them to those with Him."

2 It removes Anxiety and Sadness and enlightens the Heart and brings Peace and Tranquility to it, according to the Words of Allah, the Most High: "Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."

3 It strengthens the Heart and the Body, according to the Words of the Prophet (S) to His Daughter, Fatimah and 'Ali (R). He told them to glorify Allah (i.e., say Subhan Allah) thirty-three times, to praise and thank Allah (i.e., to say Al-Hamdu Lilldh) thirty-three times and to extol Allah (i.e., to say Allahu Akbar) thirty-four times. This was when she (i.e., Fatimah ) asked him for a servant which would help her in her work.

4 Remembrance of Allah also attracts Sustenance, according to the Words of Allah, the Most High: "Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers. "

5 Through remembrance of Allah, the hearts live, according to the Saying of Ibn Taimiyyah: Remembrance of Allah for the heart is like water to the fish; and what would the situation of the fish be if it left the water?

6 Remembrance of Allah causes the One Who remembers Him to be with Him, according to the Hadith Qudsi: "I am with My slave whenever he remembers me and moves his lips to pronounce My Names."

7 And he spoke the truth who said: "The heart becomes diseased due to two things: negligence and sin; and it becomes clear due to two things: seeking forgiveness from Allah and remembrance of Allah."

8 By Remembrance of Allah, the Slave earns Allah's Love, according to the Words of Ibn 'Abbas (R): "When Moses t went to Mount Sinai, he said: 'Oh, my Lord! Which of Your slaves is most beloved to You?' He said: "The one who remembers me and does not forget me."

9 Remembrance of Allah also opens up the door to knowledge for the slave and protects the tongue from backbiting and tale-bearing.

10 It has also been said that it causes the slave to be conscious of Allah's Observation of him, which admits him to the door of Ihsan, so that he worships Allah as if he could see Him. It also gives rise to Inabah, which is to return to Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Powerful. So when a person returns frequently to Allah by remembrance of Him, it will cause him to return to Allah in all circumstances.

Remembrance of Allah is the Easiest Act of Worship: It is easy for a person in every place, in every situation and at all times to remember Allah and in spite of this, it is one of the best acts of worship for the movement of the tongue is lighter and easier than the movement of any other part of the body. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Muslim to take care to accustom his tongue to remembrance of Allah and keep it moist thereby and he should do so in all circumstances, according to the Hadith of 'Aishah : "The Messenger of Allah (S), used to remember Allah, the Most High in all circumstances."

So, we must observe his Sunnah, for there is a supplication and a remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) legislated for every time and every action.
In the Shade of this Miracle

It might appear that the weeping of an inanimate object is something strange, but it was a subjugation from Allah in order that the tree trunk should deliver a Message not only for the Companions (R) rather, it was for all mankind, in every time and place.

It was a message delivered by the tree trunk through Allah's Ability to do all things and it announced it in a resounding manner, which echoed: "La ilaha illallah (none is worthy of worship except Allah)."

The tree trunk addressed mankind, with a message of complete faith, in that language which purifies the hearts and washes the senses and when humanity understands it, its soul which is wandering in the wilderness will return to it.

Its message will remain to soften hard hearts, to remind forgetful hearts and to awaken sleeping feelings and to give life to sensations which have died and it will remain to shout out to mankind: The dry, lifeless object cried out for the intimacy and delight which it lost, when the Prophet (S) passed by it in favor of the new pulpit.

The dry, lifeless object was distressed at being far from the Prophet (S) and alarmed at being parted from him and wished that it should continue. It was as if this dry, lifeless object was declaring to us that we should seek that delight which comes from following the guidance of Al-Mustafa e; and adhering to his Sunnah. And (that it was declaring also) that we should feel distress at being far from it, that we beware of transgress in it, that we should hold fast to it and cling to it by our molar teeth, in order that we might attain closeness to the Prophet and companionship with him, and that the Miracle should remove from us all traces of doubt which might remain present in the hearts of some, regarding the Messenger (S)

MEMORY FACETS

Memory is far and away the most remarkable of all your mental functions. Were your mind unable to store up an enormous part of all the information fed it by your senses, each new moment of existence would bring with it the necessity of "starting from scratch" in everything you think and do. You'd have to wear a little tag with your name on it, on the chance you might meet someone to whom you'd like to introduce yourself; every time you picked up a book you'd have to examine it to see how the pages turned and you wouldn't be able to read it anyway, because the letters and words would be meaningless to you!

Everything you do is made easier for you by your memory ... each activity is simpler because in the past you've had experiences which told your mind and body what to expect and how to act in certain situations. Your life is a continuous lesson, because the countless things you do prepare you for doing them again ... because experience eliminates travel on the trial-and-error route by teaching you the right or wrong way.

Even if you were to leave your memory completely alone, without ever giving a thought to using it more efficiently, it would continue to serve
you loyally and well ... but, why settle for a meager pension when, by
investing just a bit of consideration, you can reap a vast fortune? While attending a lecture you're sure to pick up a few tidbits of information, just in hearing the words.

But if you could know how to prepare all those facts for more efficient remembering, if you were able to multiply your chances of remembering tile information, think of how much more knowledge
you'd be able to absorb!

The first step toward strengthening your memory is to find out exactly what it is. There's much more to it than a bunch of assorted facts and ideas swimming around in the gray matter of your brain ...as you'll discover when you read tire next few pages.