Ill effects of grief on the slaves of Allaah

بـسـم الله والحمد لله والـصلاة والـسلام على رسول الله، وبـعـد

The Prophet ﷺ used to say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

❝O Allaah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men.❞
📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

🌴🌴🌴

🎓 Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

❝(Some of) the reasons that the Prophet ﷺ sought Allaah's refuge from (worry and) grief is because it:
⚡Weakens the heart
⚡ Dampens the resolution (determination)
⚡ Harms the will (to move on)
(⚡ Prevents from making proper decisions).

There is nothing more beloved to Shaitaan than seeing a Believer in grief.

As Allaah تعالى said:

إِنَّمَا النَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

{Secret counsels (conspiracies) are only from Shaitaan (Satan), in order that he may cause grief to the Believers}
📚 [Surah al-Mujaadalah (58):10]❞

📚 [Tareeq al-Hijratain (2/607)] 

Requesting for a good dream

➡️ Imaam al-Nawawee reported in his book: “Al-Adhkaar”, that `Aaishah رضي الله عنها before going to sleep used to say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أسألُكَ رُؤْيا صَالِحَةً، صَادِقَة غَيْرَ كاذِبَةً، نافِعَةً غَيْرَ ضَارَّةٍ.

"Allaahumma innee as-aluka ru’ya saalihatan, saadiqatan ghayra kaadhibah, naafi`atan ghayra dhaarrah"

"O Allaah! I ask you to show me a good dream, which is true not a lie, that is of benefit not of harm."

And when she used to say this, it was understood that she will not speak till she woke up in the morning or when she woke up in the night.

📚 [Reported by Ibn Sunnee (1/671) and Ibn Hajar graded  its chain as “Saheeh” in al-Futoohaat al-Rabbaaniyyaj (3/170)]

🌴🌴

➡️ In Saheeh al-Bukhaaree it is reported that `Abdullaah Ibn `Umar supplicated saying:

للَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ لِي عِنْدَكَ خَيْرٌ فَأَرِنِي مَنَامًا

📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7030, 7031)]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ لِي عِنْدَكَ خَيْرٌ فَأَرِنِي رُؤْيَا

📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7028, 7029) Ibn Maajah (3919)]“

O Allaah! If you see any good in me, show me a good dream.”

🌴🌴🌴

📑 The complete Hadeeth:

It was narrated that Ibn `Umar said: “I was a young unmarried man at the time of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, and I used to stay overnight in the Masjid. If any of us had seen a dream, he would tell it to the Prophet ﷺ. So when I went to bed one night, I said: ‘O ALLAAH! IF YOU SEE ANY GOOD IN ME, SHOW ME A GOOD DREAM that the Prophet ﷺ can interpret for me.’ So I went to sleep and I saw two angels who came to me and took me away. They were met by another angel who said: ‘Do not be alarmed,’ and they took me to Hell which was built like a well. In it were people, some of whom I recognized. Then they took me off to the right. In the morning I mentioned that to Hafsah, and Hafsah said that she told the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ about it, and he said: ‘Abdullah is a righteous man, if only he would pray more at night.’”

Even if only one deed was accepted...

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Yahya al-Ghassaanee said: A needy person came to Ibn `Umar, so he (Ibn `Umar) asked his son to give him a Deenaar. His son said to him: “May Allaah accept this from you, O my father!” He replied: ❝If I come to know that Allaah تعالى has accepted from me even one Sajdah or even one Dirham in charity, nothing would hide how much I would love to die (in that state). Do you know from whom does Allaah accept (their good deeds)? (He then recited): {Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqoon}❞

[al-Tamheed of Ibn `Abd al-Barr (4/256)]

[Surah al-Maaidah (5): 27]

Scrutinize before narrating

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

It is reported on the authority of Yazeed bin Mujaalid al-Mu`abbarah: I heard Yahya bin Ma`een رحمه الله saying:

❝When you write, gather (everything); and when you narrate, scrutinize (verify it before narrating).❞

Seeking Allaah's refuge from the Fitan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

It is reported that `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said:

❝One should not say: “I seek Allaah’s refuge from the Fitan”, as there is no one except that he will be tested and put to trials. Rather, if one has to seek refuge then he should say: “I seek Allaah’s refuge from falling into dilemma or going astray because of the Fitan.”

He then recited:

﴿إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ﴾

{Your wealth and your children are only a Fitnah} [Surah al-Taghaabun (64): 15]❞

Ibn Rajab said: “He (Ibn Mas`ood) was indicating that one does not seek Allaah’s refuge from wealth and children, even though they are a Fitnah, (but rather from the dilemma that arises because of them.)”

[Ibn Rajab in الجامع المنتخب (1/104) and al-Tabaraanee in Mu`jam al-Kabeer (8931). Al-Haithamee said in Majma` al-Zawaaid (11959), “it is reported by al-Tabaraanee and its chain is broken in.”]

NOTE: The purpose of this post is to indicate that the Fitnah is not always bitter. At times it can be sweet and tempting, as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ﴾

{And We shall test you with EVIL and with GOOD as trial; and to Us you will be returned.} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 35]

And the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝The (Hell) Fire is surrounded by all kinds of desires and passions, while Paradise is surrounded by all kinds of disliked undesirable things.❞ [Saheehain]

The one who comes out safe from it will be successful, and the one who does not will be left confused, or misled or destroyed, as the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Believer in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a Believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his faith for worldly goods.❞ [Saheeh Muslim (169)]

Contrary to the statement of Ibn Mas`ood, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed to say:

نَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ

We seek Allaah’s refuge from the Fitan, both visible and invisible.

[Saheeh Muslim]

The Gardens of `Ibaadah (Worship) and Adhkaar (remembrance)

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

❝There is no (true) comfort for man, or enjoyment, or pleasure (or satisfaction), or perfection except through knowing Allaah تعالى and loving Him (as such), and when feeling calm and tranquil while making His Dhikr (remembrance), and when finding joy and pleasure in trying to get nearer to Him (through obedience and worship), and yearning to meet Him. This is the Jannah (Paradise) of this worldly life. Like how there is no comfort for him in the Hereafter nor success except by being in His (Allaah's) company, in the House of Delight, in the Jannah of the next life. For a man there are two Jannah, he will not be able to enter the second one if he does not enter the first one. I heard Shaikh al-Isaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله saying: ❝There is a Jannah in this world, whoever does not enter it will not be able to enter the Jannah of the Hereafter.❞❞

[Madaarij al-Saalikeen (1/452)]

From the signs of rudeness...

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said:

❝Four things are from rudeness:

1) that a person urinates while standing; ^[1]

2) that a person prays while people are passing in front of him, and he does not have a Sutrah in front of him to act as a barrier between him and the people; ^[2] 

When things get expensive

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Some people approached Abu Haazim complaining to him, saying: “O Abu Haazim! Do you not see that the prices (of commodities) have gone up?!” He replied: ❝Why does that distress you? The One (i.e. Allaah) who provides sustenance for us when the things are inexpensive is the same Who will provide for us when it gets expensive.❞

[al-Hilyah (3/239)]

Bishr Ibn al-Haarith said: ❝If the increase in prices distresses you out, then remember death, for it will take away from you the distress of the increase in prices.❞

[al-Hilyah (8/347)]

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures.❞ (i.e. death) 

[Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2307), Sunan Ibn Maajah (4258), and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (1824) and graded as “Hasan Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Love for the Qur’aan is a sign of the love for Allaah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

One’s love for the Speech of Allaah (the Qur’aan) is indeed a sign for (his) love for Allaah عز وجل. If you ever want to know how much love - you or other than you - have for Allaah, then look for how much love you have for the Qur’aan in your heart, and that your delight upon listening to the Qur’aan is much more than the pleasure one derives from listening to the entertainers (actors and performers) and music and singing. For it is well known that when a person is in love with someone, then the speech and conversation of his beloved is dearer to him than anything else. As it was said:

When you claim to love me…

Then why did you abandon my writings?

Did you not contemplate on what it contains…

Of the sweetness from my speech?

And `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan رضي الله عنه said:

❝Were our hearts to become pure, we would never get tired of the Speech of our Lord.❞

[Al-Jawaab al-Kaafee (1/235-236) (the book is also known as al-Daa’ wal-Dawaa’]

Al-Baihaqee further added to the statement of `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه:

❝I hate that a day ever goes by in which I have not looked into the Mus-haf (the Qur’aan).❞ 

[al-Asmaa was-Sifaat of al-Baihaqee (524/1/593)]

4 Narrations on the importance of advising the tyrant rulers

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

• Four narrations on the importance of advising the rulers privately even if they are tyrants.

• The scholars’ advice the rulers privately as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed us.

• Only because we do not witness it doesn't mean that the scholars do not do it.

• Shouting from the minbar (pulpit) against the rulers is not from the Sunnah.

• Your hatred towards the rulers should not make you go against the Sunnah.

• Shouting behind their back is Gheebah (backbiting) and does not achieve the purpose (as the message does not reach them), except that it cause chaos and disruption.

Intoxicants: The mother of all evils

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

This is the state of every home whether in the West or in the East. Whenever intoxicants like Khamr (wine) or drugs (including marijuana, heroin) become common, it leads towards fornication/adultery and unlawful killing:

`Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan رضي الله عنه said: ❝Avoid Khamr (intoxicants) for it is the mother of all evils. There was a man among those who came before you who was a devoted worshiper and used to stay away from people. An immoral woman fell in love with him. She sent her slave girl to him, saying: “We are calling you to bear witness.” So he set out with her slave girl, and every time he entered a door, she locked it behind him, until he reached a beautiful woman who had with her a boy and a vessel of wine.

She said: “By Allaah, I did not call you to bear witness, rather I called you to have intercourse with me, or to drink a cup of this wine, or to kill this boy. [But if you refuse, I will shout and scream and expose you. So when he realized that he had no escape but to comply] He said: “Pour me a cup of this wine.” So she poured him a cup. He said: “Give me more.” And soon he had intercourse with her and killed the boy. So avoid Khamr, for by Allaah faith and addiction to Khamr cannot coexist but, one of them will soon expel the other.❞

[Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5666, 5667) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee and said this is authentic only as the statement of `Uthmaan. The words within the brackets are from Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (5348)]

Note: He chose Khamr thinking that it was lesser than the other two sins, but eventually under the influence of wine he committed the other two sins as well.

The simplest definition of al-Ikhlaas (sincerity):

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

`Ataa Ibn al-Saa’ib said: It has reached me that `Alee Ibn Abu Taalib رضي الله عنه said:

❝Righteous deeds are those for which you do not seek praises for yourself but for Allaah (alone).❞

[Ibn Abee al-Dunya in “al-Ikhlaas wal-Niyyah (5)]

۞۞۝۞۞

[TN: In today’s terms, it would also include: “the number of followers / likes / hits / counts” etc. These things should not bother us or be our main concern. Our aim should be to seek Allaah’s pleasure. We should bring ourselves to account; if our posts are motivated by the number of “likes”, then we have failed in our aim.]

Ibn al-Qayyim: Sins reduces the reward and corrupts the fruits of fasting

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

“The (true) fasting individual is the one whose limbs abstain from sins; and whose tongue abstains from lying, profanity, and forged statements; and whose stomach abstains from food and drink; and whose private parts abstain from obscenities.

When he speaks, he does not say things which may harm his fasting; when he does something, he doesn’t do anything which may nullify his fasting. He only says things which are beneficial and good. Similarly, his actions are like the fragrance which a person sitting next to the owner (or seller) of Musk can smell. Likewise, the one sitting with a fasting person benefits from his companionship, and the gathering is safe from falsehood, lies, immorality, and oppression.

Fasting, False Speech and Bad Actions

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Fasting is one of the greatest forms of `Ibaadah (worship). Allaah تعالى specifically attributed this action that it is done for Him and that He تعالى has taken upon Himself to reward them for it personally. Allaah will reward them without measure:

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah تعالى said: {All the deeds of Aadam’s sons are for them, except Fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’...}”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1904, 5927, 7492, 7538) and Saheeh Muslim (2564, 2566, 2568)]

And in another narration in Muslim it is reported:

“All the deeds of Aadam’s sons are rewarded ten times to seven hundred times. Allaah تعالى said: {Except Fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it, for he has avoided his desires and food for my sake.}”

[Saheeh Muslim (2567)] 

Allaah تعالى singled out Fasting from among all the other deeds, and that is because of its high status with Him, and His love for it, and the apparent sincerity there is in it for Him, because it is hidden between the slave and his Lord and nobody knows about it except Allaah. A person may be between a group of people and none will know that he is Fasting. He might be alone, where there is no one to see him, yet he will not eat or drink, knowing that Allaah is watching Him. This is the highest level of Ikhlaas (sincerity).

But yet, the magnificent reward for this great action may be lost because of a person not taking control of his tongue or his actions; for fasting is not only abstaining from food and drink, but from everything which Allaah تعالى hates and has made it prohibited.

A few narrations on the importance of controlling the tongue and actions while Fasting:

#1 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), evil deeds, and speaking bad words (i.e. indulging in obscene language) to others, then Allaah is not in need of his (Fasting) leaving his food and drink.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1903, 6057)]

#2 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Fasting is a Shield. If one of you is Fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and avoid quarreling (and behaving foolishly), and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am Fasting.’”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1894, 1904) and Saheeh Muslim (2566)]

#3 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “There may be a Fasting person who gets nothing more from his Fast except hunger and thirst, and there may be a person who prays Qiyaam (night prayers) and all he gets from his Qiyaam is a sleepless night.”

[Sunan Ibn Maajah (1690) and Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (8856) and graded as “Hasan-Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

#4 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Fasting does not just mean giving up food and drink, rather Fasting also means giving up idle and obscene talk.”

[Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah (1996), and Mustadrak of al-Haakim (1570) and graded as “Saheeh” by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Targheeb (1082) and Saheeh al-Jaami` (5376)]

#5 It was narrated that Taleeq ibn Qays said: Abu Dharr said: “When you Fast then be careful as much as you can.” When Taleeq was Fasting he would enter his house and only come out to pray.

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8878)]

#6 Jaabir ibn `Abdallaah al-Ansaaree رضي الله عنه said: “When you Fast, then let your hearing, your sight and your tongue also Fast from lying and sin, and stop abusing the servants, and be tranquil and dignified on the day when you Fast. Do not let the day when you do not Fast and the day when you Fast be the same.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8880)]

#7 Al-Mutawakkil رحمه الله said: “When Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه and his companions Fasted, they would stay in the Masjid and say: “We are keeping our Fast pure.”

[Hilyatul Awliyaa’ (1/382) and Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8881)]

#8 `Umar ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه said: “Fasting does not mean that one abstains from food and drink only; it also means abstaining from lying, falsehood, idle talk and (false) oaths.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8882)]

  

#9 Maimoon Ibn Mihraan رحمه الله used to say: “The easiest part of Fasting is abstaining from food and drink.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8883)]

  

#10 `Alee ibn Abi Taalib رضي الله عنه said: “Fasting does not just mean giving up food and drink; it also means giving up lies, falsehood and idle talk.”

 [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8884)]

#11 Mujaahid رحمه الله said: “Whoever protects himself from these two characteristics, his Fasting will be correct: Gheebah (backbiting) and telling lies.” 
[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8887)]

#12 Ibraaheem al-Nakha`ee رحمه الله said: “They used to say that telling lies breaks the Fast.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8888)]

#13 Abu al-`Aaliyah رحمه الله said: “A Fasting person is in (a state of) `Ibaadah as long as he does not backbite anyone.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8889)]

To attain Zuhd (asceticism) first shun the sins:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Yahya Ibn Mu`aadh used to say:

❝I am not instructing you to (completely) forsake the Dunya (worldly pleasures); but I only instruct you to abandon the sins.

Forsaking the Dunya is Fadheelah (graciousness or doing more than what is obligatory), while abandoning the sins is Fareedhah (an obligation).

For you are in a greater need of fulfilling the obligations (as they have precedence over) fulfilling that which is optional.❞

[Sifatul-Safwah (2/297)]

Between Extremism and Negligence in religion

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Imaam al-Awzaa`ee رحمه الله said:

❝ There is no matter which Allaah تعالى has commanded, except that Shaitaan opposes it (and misleads many people towards) two characteristics regarding it - and it doesn't matter to which one of them he leads - either Ghuloo (extremism, exaggeration, excessiveness) or Taqseer (failure to comply, falling short, negligence, abandonment).❞

 [Kashf al-Khafaa' (1/470), and Majoo` al-Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah (3/381 & 14/483)]

Superiority of knowledge

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا﴾

{and say (O Muhammad): “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”} [Surah TaaHaa (20): 115]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

❝It is enough an honor for `Ilm that Allaah تعالى instructed His Prophet to beseech Him for more of it.❞

[Miftaah Daar al-Sa`aadah (1/50)]

Be a follower in good instead of a leader in evil

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said:

❝There will be Hannaat (hardship, calamities, corruption) and issues that are dubious. So you must be patient and refrain from hastiness. It is better that you are a follower in good than a leader in evil.❞

[Musannaf of Ibn Abee Shaibah (37188) al-Ibaanah of Ibn Battah (176)]

In another narration it is… ❝It is better that a man is a follower in good than a leader in misguidance.❞

[al-Ibaanah of Ibn Battah (177)]

The definition of Asceticism (al-Zuhd الزهد)

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the narration mentioned by Ibn Maajah, The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝Renounce the world and Allaah will love you, and renounce what the people possess and the people will love you.❞

[Sunan Ibn Maajah (4102) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

❝It is not Zuhd that you let go of the Dunya (worldly desires) from your hands while it still lingers in your heart. Zuhd is to let it go from your heart while it is still in your hands.❞

[Tareeq al-Hijratain (1/252)]

Bid`ah: the foundation of Kufr

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

❝BID`AH is the foundation of Kufr and its habitat (where it thrives); like how (following) the legislated SUNNAH is the manifestation of Imaan and a booster of Imaan – for Imaan increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience.❞

[Majmoo` al-Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah (10/565)]