A Lofty Benefit From Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah)

[abdullah.gambi]

In The Name Of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah]

A Lofty Benefit

Allaah said:

''Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.’’ [Baqarah: Ayah: 216]

Allaah said:

‘’If you dislike them (i.e. your wives), it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.’’ [Nisaa: Ayah: 19]

The first ayah [Baqarah: 216] is about Jihaad, which is the perfection of the intensity of Anger; and the second ayah [Nisaa: Ayah: 19] is about marriage, which is the perfection of the intensity of desires.

The slave hates to face his enemy with the intensity of his anger out of fear for himself. This [facing his enemy which he has hatred for] is something better for him in his worldly life and afterlife; he loves meekness and abandonment and this [love of his] is bad for him in his worldly life and afterlife.

Likewise, he may dislike a woman due to a trait from her traits, whilst there is a great deal of goodness in keeping her and he does not know it. He may love a woman due to a trait from her traits, whilst in keeping her there is much evil and he does not know it. The human being is as he has been described by his Creator; ''‘verily, he (man) was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results)’’ [Ahzaab: Ayah: 72].

Therefore, it is not befitting/permissible that he places his inclination, love, aversion and hatred as a measure for that which harms or benefits him, rather the measure is that which Allaah has selected for him of commandments and prohibitions.

The most beneficial of affairs for him without exception is obedience to His Lord outwardly and inwardly (i.e. in public and private), and the most harmful of affairs for him without exception is disobedience to his Lord outwardly and inwardly (i.e. in public and private). So if he embarks upon sincere obedience and servitude to Him, then all that he comes across of that which he hates is better for him; and if he withdraws from obedience and servitude to Him [The Most High], then all that is in what he loves is bad for him.

Therefore, whoever has a sound knowledge of his Lord and an understanding of His Names and Attributes, he knows with certainty that there are (affairs of advantage, great benefits, welfare etc) and useful (things) in those hated things that afflicts him and (in those) trials that befall him, which he cannot innumerate by way of his knowledge and contemplation; rather the (affairs of advantage, great benefits and welfare) for the slave are greater in that which he hates than in what he loves; thus the universally beneficial things for the souls are in what they hate, just as the universally harmful things for the souls and the causes for their destruction are in what they love........

For further details: [See Al-Fawaa-id: page: 145-148]

And Allaah knows best

Abu Mu-aawiyyah [Abdullaah Al-Gambi]

[Salafi-Markaz.Manch.]

In The Name Of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Etiquettes in the Congregations of the people

When you sit with the people and congregate with them, make humility the sign by which you are recognized and let Fear of Allaah be your cover (i.e. protection from sins) and giving advice to the servants of Allaah as your abiding way.



Be eager to (make) every gathering in which you sit to be that which comprises goodness, either research into affairs of knowledge, or advice on religious matters, or direction towards a general or particular Maslahah (benefit); or making mention of the blessings of Allaah; or making mention of the superior status of praiseworthy manners and good etiquettes; or warning against that which is detrimental to the wellbeing of one’s religious or worldly (affairs). And the least of this is that they seek the earnings from their occupations by way of permissible (means) and not the forbidden.



Behave well towards the young, the old and your peers. Deal with each of them in a way they deserve and have respect for the one that deserves to be respected and honoured. Be eager to make your congregation relaxed by way of speech that is appropriate and good, even if that was in relation to the worldly (affairs). That is because when permissible (speech) and congregation turns out well, sitting together becomes easy, conversation is made easy, the heart feels tranquillity, and all of that returns to praiseworthiness.


The sensible resolute one achieves abundant goodness through the gatherings of the people, and he becomes more beloved to them than all (beloved things). This is because he enters upon them with what they approve and statements they desire, and the foundation in this is success in taking over control of all the affairs placed before them.


And these affairs become more emphasized on a journey, and that because during a journey sitting together is prolonged and the travellers are in need of having someone who revives their hearts with good statements, the news of events and joke--if all of that truth and not too much--and to assist them with the essential issues of travel. Good etiquettes makes a possessor of it more pleasurable to the people than the pleasure derived from a cold drink, and its influence bears heavier upon their souls than hard stones.



He (Subhaanah) is the one who caused the dissimilarities between His slaves with regards to their manners, their actions and in all of their affairs. Allaah (Alone) is the One Who grants success.


Source: [Noorul Basaair Wal al-baab fee ahkaam al ‘Ibaadaat Wal Mu‘aamalaat Wal Huqooq Wal aadaab Of Imaam ‘Abdur Rahmaan As Sa’dee (rahimahullaah) Page 64-65]



May Allaah reward our brother Abu Talhah [Dawood Burbank] who checked the translation and our brother Abu Hafs [Abdur Raqeeb] who assisted in translating the article.


Abu Mu-aawiyyah Abdullaah Al-Gambi

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The believer is commanded to carry out commandments, abandon prohibitions and exercise patience upon what has been pre-decreed

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:


The believer is commanded to carry out commandments, abandon prohibitions and exercise patience upon what has been pre-decreed. The summary of that is: Regarding the commandments and the ability (to carry them out), he must employ two fundamental principles.



[1]He strives to fulfil the commandment through knowledge and action; so he does not cease striving in (acquiring) knowledge of that which Allaah has commanded and acting upon that. Thereafter, upon him is to seek forgiveness and repents for the shortcomings in that which he has been commanded and for transgressing the boundaries.



[2] As for with regards to the ability (in carrying out the commandments), he seeks the Aid and Assistance of Allaah in carrying out that which he has been commanded; he relies upon Him, supplicates to Him, worship Him upon love and desire, and seek His Aid and Assistance. He should show his poverty in the presence of Allaah in seeking after goodness and in abandoning evil, and he should exercise patience upon that which has been pre-decreed.....[end of quote: Tareequl Wusool Ilal Ilmil Ma-mool Bi-Marifatil Qawaa-id Wad-dawaabit Wal-Usool: author: Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah)]

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Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:


''The performance of good deeds has praiseworthy outcomes internally and externally, and likewise, sins have (evil outcomes internally and externally). Allaah (The Most High) created the means to this and the means to that, just as He (The Most High) made poison a means to falling ill and death. The means towards (performing) evil have their means to preventing their occurrence. Repentance and righteous actions wipes away evil deeds and calamities in the worldly life are an expiation for evil deeds.’’



Source: Tareequl Wusool Ilaa Ilmul Ma’mool Bi-Ma-rifatil Qawaa-id Wad-Dawaabit Wal-Usool; by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah)

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Be Mindful of The Fitnah of The Dunyah And The Fitnah of Women

The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”Verily the worldly life is sweet and green, and verily Allaah is going to place you as successors upon it in order to see how you act. So be mindful of the dunyaah and be mindful of women; verily the first trial for the Children of Israa’eel was caused by women.” [(saheeh Muslim: No 2742) (Ibn Maajah: No 4000) (Ahmad: 3:22)]


Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said: Regarding the statement of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam): ”Verily The Worldly Life Is Sweet And Green”; (it is) sweet in taste and green in its image. And when something is green and sweet, the eye seeks it first and then the Nafs; and when the eye and the nafs come together in seeking after something, the human being is drawn close to falling into it. The worldly life is sweet in its taste and green in its image, so the human being is deceived by it and pre-occupied with it. He places greater importance on it than what is due to it (of importance).


However, the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) has made it known that Allaah is going to place us as successors upon (the earth) in order to see how we act; whether we will be obedient to Him, forbid the nafs from desires, fulfil what Allaah has enjoined upon us and not allow the worldly life to deceive you or whether the opposite will take place? This is why he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”Be Mindful Of The Worldly Life”, that is: fulfil what you have been commanded and refrain from that which you have been forbidden, and do not let the sweetness and radiance of this worldly life to deceive you, as Allaah said: ”Let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allaah”. 31:33


Then he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated: ”So Be Mindful Of The Worldly Life And Be Mindful Of Women;” That is: be mindful of them. This includes a warning to the woman with regards to her plot(s) against her husband and also a warning against women and the trial that can occur through them. And for that reason he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”Verily The First Trial For The Children Of Israa’eel Was Caused By Women”. They were put to trial through women, thus they went astray and led others astray wal-iyaadhu-billaah.


And for this reason, we find that at present our enemies are focused on women issues. (They focus) on adorning women, intermingling them and make them share the same occupations with men, until it becomes as if the people are donkeys having no other concern except for their stomachs and canal desires, wal-iyaadho-billaah. Women are portrayed as if they are mere images, that is: pictures (which) people attached no importance to except that which is connected to the woman’s figure (outward appearance). See how they have decorated and beautified her! See how they have brought about beautifications for her and presented her in a desirable condition, in relation to (her) hair, skin, legs, arms, face and everything else; until they make it the most important issue for the woman, like a picture made out of plastic.

They neither present to her the importance of establishing Ibaadah nor bearing children

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[Source: 'Ash-sharhul Mamool Li-Imtithaal Ar-rasool' of Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) (page: 53-54)]

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A man said to Abdullaah Bin Mas-ood (radiyallaahu-anhu): ''I do not want to be amongst the companions of the right, I want to be amongst those foremost in faith.’’ So Abdullaah Bin Mas-ood said to him: ‘’But there is a man right here who wishes that he is not resurrected after he dies. Meaning: himself.


One day he (Abdullaah) came out and the people followed him, so he said to them: Do you have a need? They said: ‘’No, but we want to walk along with you.’’ He said: ''Go back, for indeed it is humiliation for the one following and a trial for the one followed. He said: ''Had you known what I know about myself, you would have hurried to cover my head with earth.''


[Source: Az-Zuhd of Imaam Ahmad: page: 195, 198, 265]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

The Lofty Quality of Bravery

Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said:

This is a great quality commanded by Allaah in many of the verses concerning Jihaad. He (The One free from all Imperfections) has praised its people and that it is the path of the Messengers and the Truthful ones amongst the creation. He (The One free from all imperfections) forbade that which is in opposition to it, and that is cowardice, dismay and fear of the creation when striving in the path of calling to Allaah and with the sword. This sublime quality is innate within the slave and it is strengthened by virtue of Imaan. Bravery strengthens the heart and makes it firm. It gives it tranquillity in times of important events and distressful situations. It is a necessity, particularly for those leaders who are engaged in important affairs.



The Qur’aan commands fear of Allaah alone and that the slave is not to fear the creation. The slave’s heart is strengthened when he limits his fear to fearing Allaah Alone, and knows that the creation do not have the ability to either benefit or harm him, except by the will of Allaah. His heart is increased in strength when he places his reliance upon Allaah and is firm, just as Allaah (The Most High) stated about the best of the creation [i.e. the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)]: ”Those unto whom the people said, ”Verily, the people have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.” But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: ”Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)” (3:173)



The slave’s strength and bravery increases when he knows the good reward and recompense that follows on from being strengthened in Bravery and Religion, just as Allaah has stated: ”If you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allaah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not.” (4:104)


And that which is observed and known about the state of affairs and characteristics of the creation, is that they neither own anything of benefit nor assistance and protection. Exalting or dispraising them can neither benefit nor harm the slave in anything. They do not desire good for you, except with regards to that which is of benefit to them. Therefore, it must be known that attaching the heart to them with Fear, Veneration, Awe, Fervent Desire and Reverence is a loss, rather it is harm.


Indeed, it is obligatory upon the slave to attach his Fear, Hope, Expectation and Awe to Allaah (Alone), Who (Alone) owns everything. He (The Most High) is The One who wants good for you when you do not desire it for yourself. He (The Most High) knows what is for your well-being and you do not know. He (The Most High) enables you to receive that which you do not have any ability to (receive by yourself). The slave realizes that cowardice is an illness and a weakness in the heart, which causes abandonment of good and loss of beneficial things. It afflicts the weak ones, and the one afflicted by it is similar to timid women.


And amongst the benefits of Bravery are:



The commands of Allaah and His Messenger are fulfilled, and (because of it) one is described with the characteristics of the people of insight amongst the men of understanding. And there cannot be a greater means to obtaining that which is sought after and a means to safety from difficulties and troubles when the heart is strengthened with what Allaah sends down upon it of relief and tranquillity. The brave individual is enabled to guide and benefit the creation with wisdom and fair speech in accordance to their different social classes. As for the coward, he misses a great deal of good and fear prevents him from the blessings of his knowledge and from guiding and giving sincere advice to the slaves.


The slave is saved from a lot of hardships through bravery. He finds tranquillity when faced with afflictions and calamities. He responds with what Allaah loves of patience and firmness, whilst hoping for Allaah’s reward. As for the coward, he is distracted and that which is of benefit to him is wasted away when these affairs come to him. He is made to waiver through harmful views, which bring about painful things alongside calamities and difficulties. He loses good and the reward for being placed under hardship.

This praiseworthy quality (i.e. bravery) emanates from that excellent and all-inclusive quality of patience.

And Allaah knows best


[Abridged: Source:Fat-hul Raheemil Malikil Allaam Fee Ilmil Aqaa-id Wat-Tawheed Wal Akhlaaq Wal Ahkaam]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy
The Ones Worthy of being accompanied

Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said:


Certainly, a person will have companions and contemporaries with whom he associates, and with whom he spends a lot of his time. Therefore, seize the opportunity in accompanying the best of the people in whose company there is not an absence of knowledge to be learnt, an advice to be benefitted from or pre-occupation with that which draws one closer to Allaah. The least (acquired in their company) is that you will be safeguarded from being held responsible in speech and action; alongside being safeguarded from being ridiculed, slandered and backbitten whether you are present or absent. There is also that great benefit of your heart’s desire for good being increased and cultivated, and the urge towards evil is either weakened or made to vanish.



Indeed, a man is upon the religion of his companion, so look to the one you take as a close friend. And regardless of what you many receive of praise and respect from the people, they judge the people by their associates. Therefore, it is befitting that a person takes pride in accompanying the best of the people and beware of the evil ones. A righteous companion is like a seller of musk; he either gives you some or you get a good smell from him. And the evil companion is like the blower of the bellows, he either burns you or you receive a bad smell from him. And Allaah knows best.


[Source: Noorul Basaa-ir Wal-Albaab Fee Ahkaamil Ibaadaat Wal-Mu-aamalaat Wal-Huqooq Wal-Aadaab: page: 66]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Principles On: Love, Hatred, Striving in the path of Allaah, causes of misguidance etc

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:


''It is obligatory upon the slave to examine and measure his love and hate, as to whether they are in conformity with the command of Allaah and His Messenger. This (command) is the guidance sent down to His Messenger, so that love and hate is commanded by this guidance and not put forward before the command of Allaah and His Messenger. The one who loves or hates before being commanded by Allaah and His Messenger, then this is a type of putting oneself before Allaah and His Messenger. The mere love of (something) is mere desire, but what is forbidden is to go after one’s desires without guidance from Allaah.’’




Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:


‘’When the salve abandons that which he is able to do through striving in the path of Allaah, then this is a proof of the weakness of his love for Allaah and His Messenger in his heart.’’



Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:


‘’Whenever the heart increases in love for Allaah, it increases in its servitude to Allaah and is freed from servitude to other than Him.’’



Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:


The causes of misguidance and deviation are: Innovation in Religion and immorality in seeking after the lowly things. This is something shared and general amongst the Children of Adam, because of that is which is found amongst them of oppression and ignorance.


And Allaah knows best


Source: Tareequl Wusool Ilaa Ilmil Ma-mool Bi-Marifatil Qawaa-id Wad-dawaabit Wal-Usool: author: Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah)] pages:21, 22,27

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Some Precise Principles Adopted by A Wise Person In Urging The People Towards Good

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:


The wise person does not command the people to abandon the worldly life, because they are unable to abandon it; but he commands them to abandon sins whilst (seeking) to fulfil their worldly affairs. How can one who abandons the obligatory duties be commanded to fulfil deeds of superior status? If it becomes difficult for them to abandon sins, then strive to make them love Allah by mentioning His favours and perfect Attributes, because the hearts are innately inclined towards loving Him. When the hearts are attached to loving Allaah sins are diminished and abandonment of it becomes easy.


And Allaah knows best


Source: Tareequl Wusool

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy


The Fruits of Hope in Allaah and Desire for His Mercy

Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said:


''And from Allaah’s grace upon His slave is that He puts him to trial with some calamities, and then grants him the ability to fulfill the task of exercising patience in that. So he (the slave) attains lofty stations which he would not have reached (merely) by way of his deeds.


Indeed, the calamities may become extremely severe upon him, just as He (The Most High) did with Ayyoub (alayhis-sallam); and in Ayyoub’s heart was found the sweetness of the spirit of hope (in Allaah), a desire for His Mercy and His removal of harm. So his ailment became insignificant and he (displayed) vim and energy within himself.


And for this reason, from the grace of Allaah upon the believers is that He places hope for reward in their hearts, so the calamities become insignificant and that which they encounter of difficulties becomes easy in their seeking after the pleasure of Allaah’’


[Source: Al-Mawaahib Ar-Rabbaaniyyah Min Aayaat Al-Qur’aaniyyah: page:156]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy


This Is His Reality
A Slave of His Creator And Not A slave of Anyone else
Addressed Without Being Attached To Any of His Incidental Characteristics

Allaah (The Most High) said:


''O man! What has made you careless con-cerning your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; In whatever form He willed, He put you together.''[Soorah Infitaar: Ayaat:6-8]


Allaah (The Most High) said:

‘’O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, so you will meet (i.e. the results of your deeds which you did).’’[Soorah InShiqaaq: Ayah:6]


Allaah (The Most High) said:


''And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).’’ [Soorah Qaaf: Ayah:16]



Shaikh Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaami (rahimahullaah) said:


This is the manner in which Allaah addressed the human being---the human being in reality----without attaching him to his incidental characteristics such as patriotism and nationalism, rather He (The Most High) addressed the human being as being absolutely liberated and that he is a creature of Allaah. He is a slave of Allaah alone and he will return to his Creator and Guardian Lord.



He (The Most High) informed him that he will return to Him to see the recompense of his deeds and hard work in this worldly life. If they are good he will (receive) good and if evil he will (receive) evil, without any injustice to him. Allaah said:''and your Lord treats no one with injustice.’’ So there is nothing else binding upon him except to perform good deeds and keep away from evil. It is the likes of this course and guidance upon which Islaam nurtures the human being. Islaam does not neglect the body, rather it purifies the soul.


As for the body, Islaam has prepared for it all the means to (attaining) physical comfort. It made lawful for it all the good and pure things and forbade the filthy and impure things that are harmful to the body. Whether (the person’s) life passes away quickly or is delayed, he still comes across his food, drink, dwelling place and permissible enjoyment. And Islaam lifted difficulty from (him) in that which Allaah has legislated. Allaah said: ''And has not laid upon you in religion any hardship’’ [Soorah Hajj: Ayah: 78]


The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: The Prophet said. "Make things easy for the people and do not make it difficult for them; and give them glad tidings and do not make them flee.’’ [Bukhaari 69: Muslim 1732]


Islaam prescribed the body with cures against illnesses so that it is not destroyed by it. The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ''O slaves of Allaah! Seek medication. Indeed Allaah has not sent down an illness except that He did send a cure for it’’ [Abu daawood: 3855; tirmidhee;2038; Ibn Maajah:3436. Declared authentic by Imaam Al-Albaanee in as-saheeh al-jaami; No:2930]


[Source: Tareeqatul Islaam Fit-Tarbiyah: page:8,9, 27 and 28]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy


A Fundamental Principle
[The Daraahim (i.e. we call it: US Dollar, British Pound etc)]

Which of the Four Daraahim is yours?

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:


The Daraahim are four (types):



[1]The dirham that was earned in obedience to Allaah and spent in fulfilment of the rights of Allaah; this is the best of the daraahim.



[2]The dirham that was earned in disobedience to Allaah and spent in disobedience to Allaah; this one is the most evil of the daraahim.



[3] The dirham that was earned by way of harming a Muslim and spent to harm a Muslim; this one is the same as (dirham number two)



[4] The dirham that was earned by way of permissible means and spent on permissible desires; this one is neither for nor against (you).



This is the original affair with regards to the daraahim........


Source: Al-Fawaa-id: page: 247

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy


Allaah tied Guidance and striving Together

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:


Allaah (The Most High) said: ''As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths.’’ [Al-Ankaboot: Ayah: 69]




Allaah (subhaanah) tied guidance and striving together, thus the people with the most perfect guidance are those with the greatest striving. And the most obligatory (type) of striving is to strive against the soul, desires, shaytaan and the worldly life. So whoever strives against these four (affairs), Allaah will guide him to the paths of His pleasure that leads to His Paradise. And whoever abandons striving, he will lose guidance in accordance with what he neglected of striving.


Al-Junayd (rahimahullaah) said (with regards to the above ayah Ankaboot Ayah: 69): ''Those who strive hard against their desires in (Our Cause) with repentance, We will guide them to the paths of sincerity.’’




It is not possible to strive against the enemy in the open, except for the one who strives against these enemies inwardly. So whoever is aided against them, he will be victorious against his enemy. And whoever is made to be overcome by them, his enemy will be made victorious over him.



Source: Al-Fawaa-id: page:97

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy


Ibn Al-Jawzee (rahimahullaah) stated in [Ath-Thabaat Indal Mamaat, page: 11]



And indeed many of the creation become helpless when their loved ones die. So amongst them is one who tears his clothes; and amongst them is one who strikes his face out of despair and amongst them is one who raise objections. And indeed I have seen an old man who reached nearly eighty years of old and he used to strictly guard the congregational prayer. So a son of his died and he said: ‘’It is not befitting for anyone to supplicate, for indeed he will not be answered.’’ He then said: ‘’Indeed Allaah has turned away from us, for He has not left us with a child.’’ So, I realised that his prayers and performance of good deeds was merely a habitual thing, because they were not nurtured upon knowledge and Imaan. These (people) are those who worship Allaah on an edge (i.e. in doubt). [1]


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[1] Allaah [The Most High] said: ‘’And among mankind is he who worships Allah on an edge (i.e. in doubt); if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him, he turns back on his face.’’ ([Soorah Al-Hajj: Ayah 11]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Some Admonitions of Abdullaah Bin Mas'ood (radiyallaahu-anhu)

He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



‘’Indeed, you see a disbeliever with the healthiest body amongst the people and with the sickest heart; and you will come across a believer with the most upright of hearts and the unhealthiest body. I swear by Allaah, if your hearts were sick and your bodies healthy, you will be more insignificant to Allaah than dung beetles.’’



He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



‘’Search for your heart in three situations: When the recitation of the Qur’aan is heard, in the gatherings where Allaah is remembered and in times of seclusion. If you do not find your heart in these situations, then ask Allaah to grant you a heart, for indeed you do not have a heart.’’



He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



‘’Sins are a possessor of the hearts.’’



He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



”Indeed, knowledge is not to narrate a lot, rather knowledge is to fear Allaah.’’



He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



‘’Indeed, the people make their speech very good and appropriate; the one whose speech is in conformity with his actions is that one who has achieved his portion of (goodness). And the one whose speech is in opposition to his actions, then he is that one who has rebuked himself.’’



He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



‘’There is not anything on the face of the earth more needed than a prolonged imprisonment of the tongue.’’



He (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:



‘’Indeed, I detest that I should see a man being idle, neither (occupied) with anything of the deeds of the worldly life nor that of the hereafter.’’



[Source: Al-Fawaa-id of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim: page: 213-221]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy


The Misers

Allaah (The One Free from all imperfections) said:

‘Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other men and hide what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment.’4:37



Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said about the statement of Allaah:



'Those who are miserly’, that is: They refrain from fulfilling the rights obligatory upon them to fulfil. ’‘And enjoin miserliness on other men” through their statements and actions. ”And hide what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties’; That is knowledge, through which the astray are guided and the ignorant ones are led aright.


So, they hide it from them and make apparent to them falsehood that comes between them and the truth. Thus they (i.e. the misers) have gathered between miserliness with regards to wealth and knowledge, and between hastening towards loss for themselves and for others. This is a characteristic of the disbelievers, and for that reason Allaah (The Most High) said: ”And We have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment.”





Source: Tayseer Al-Karem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseeri Kalaam Al-Mannaan

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said that Shaqeeq Ibn Ibraaheem (rahimahullaah) said:

The door of (success and wellbeing granted by Allaah in this life and the next) has been closed against the creation in six things:

[1]Their pre-occupation with the blessings of (Allaah), whilst being unthankful;

[2]Their desire for knowledge, whilst they abandon action;

[3]They rush towards sin, whilst delaying repentance;

[4]They are (given) prestige in accompanying the righteous people, whilst they abandon following their deeds;

[5] The worldly life elapses on them, whilst they run after it;

[6] and the afterlife is approaching them, whilst they turn away from it.


I say: The basis of this is a lack of fervent desire, fear, weakness in certainty, short-sightedness, humiliation and lowliness of the soul, and exchanging that which is better for that which is lower; otherwise, if the soul were noble and exalted, it would not have been pleased with something lower. [Al-Fawaa-id: page: 255]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Narrated Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him): ‘’The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: the example of a miser and an alms-giver is like the example of two people wearing two iron cloaks from their breasts to their collar bone; and when the alms-giver gives in charity, the cloak becomes capacious till it covers his whole body to such extent that it hides his fingertips and covers his footprints. And when the miser wants to spend, it (the iron cloak) sticks and (its) every ring gets stuck to it place, he tries to widen it, but it does not become wide.’’ [1]



Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) commented on this hadeeth saying:



This shows that the soul of the generous and kind person is at ease in alms-giving. And whenever the covetous and miserly person wants to give charity, his soul is constricted. This is an indication of that which is in his heart of covetousness, and that is because he is not prepared to spend. [2]



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[1][Saheeh Al-Bukhaari: Vol 2: hadeeth number: 1443: Book of Zakat]

[2][Source: Al-Hulalul Ibreeziyyah Min At-Ta’liqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Saheeh Al-Bukhaari: Vol: 1; page: 436. Footnote: 3]

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In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

The Captive of Shaytaan And Prisoner of Desires

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:



Disobedience is the cause of being in Shaytaan’s captivity and a prisoner of lowly desires. And from its afflictions is that a disobedient person is always in the captivity of his devil, the prison of his lusts and the leadership of his desires; so he is a captive and a shackled prisoner. There is neither a captive whose state of affairs is more evil than a captive whose captor is his worst enemy, nor is there a prison more restricted than the prison of desires and shackles that are more restrictive than the shackles of lust; so how can a heart that is a captive and a shackled prisoner traverse the path to Allaah and the home of the afterlife?


How can he proceed upon a singular track? When the heart is shackled, it is stricken with harm from every angle in accordance with the (severity) of its shackles. The likeness of the heart is that of a bird; it distances from harm whenever it flies high, and it is surrounded by harm whenever it lands.



And it is reported in a hadeeth: ‘’Shaytaan is a wolf to a human being.’’ And just as an unprotected sheep in the midst of wolves is quickly destroyed, likewise if there is no protection from Allaah for the slave, it is a must that his wolf will prey on him. He (the slave) is protected by Allaah through Taqwaah (fear of Allaah). It (Taqwaah) is a shield and shelter from Allaah between the person and his wolf; just as it is shield against punishment in this life and the afterlife.



And whenever the sheep is closer to its shepherd, it is safer from the wolf; and whenever it is distanced from the shepherd, it comes closer to being destroyed. So the sheep is more protected when it is closer to the shepherd, for the wolf only takes away the (sheep, cattle etc.) that are distanced, and it the ones far away from the shepherd.



The basis of this affair is that whenever the heart is distanced from Allaah, then harm upon it is quicker; and whenever it is comes closer to Allaah, it is distanced from harm. Being distanced from Allaah is of various levels, and some are more severe than others. Being distanced from (Allaah) through disobedience is greater than being distanced from (Allaah) through thoughtlessness; and being distanced from (Allaah) through innovation in religion is greater than being distanced from (Allaah) through disobedience; and being distanced from (Allaah) through hypocrisy and polytheism is greater than all of that.

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[Source: Ad-daa-u Wad-dawaa-u: page.119-120]