http://youtu.be/YJhEzWkYiss http://youtu.be/VZKfZmRQRgA http://youtu.be/dg59z3ritAU

“I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness … Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or other. If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy and graceful, …

“Speak Kindly.” (Qur’an 2:83) “Speak the Truth.” (Qur’an 3:17) “Speak Justice.” (Qur’an 6:152) “Speak graciously.” (Qur’an 17:23) “Speak fairly.” (Qur’an 17:28) “Speak politely.” (Qur’an 17:53) “Speak no lie” (Qur’an 22:30) “Speak gently.” (Qur’an 20:44) “Speak not in vain.” (Qur’an 23:3) “Speak Straight.” (Qur’an 33:70)

This is our deen. Take it away and you unravel something very precious and you’ll find yourself naked, shivering in the cold without it.

It is He who from on high has bestowed inner peace upon the hearts of the believers, so that — seeing that God’s are all the forces of the heavens and the earth, and that God is all knowing, truly wise — they might grow yet more firm in their faith. — Qur’an 48:4

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for …

There shall come upon people years of deceit in which the liar will be believed, the truthful one disbelieved, the treacherous will be trusted, the trustworthy one considered treacherous; and the Ruwaybidah shall speak out.’ It was said: Who are the Ruwaybidah? The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘The lowly, contemptible one who will …

There was an interesting piece on Radio 4’s Open Book yesterday on how a listener who had found it difficult to concentrate on reading since bereavement fifteen years ago could get back into the habit. There is an organisation based in Liverpool which aims to help people like this achieve this very goal and its …