Fifteen Examples of Supplications Immediately Answered by Allah

The Messenger of Allah related that Allah Said:

"...if he calls upon Me, I answer him, and if he asks of Me, I will give him..."

Ibn Rajab commented:"...This means that this person who is beloved and close to Allah has a special status with Allah such that if he asks Allah for something, He gives it to him, and if he seeks refuge with Allah from anything, He protects him from that thing, and if he calls upon Him, He answers him. So, he ends up becoming from those whose supplications are answered due to his honor with Allah.

And many from the righteous early generations were known to have their supplications answered.

It is related in the 'Sahih' that ar-Rubay' bint an-Nadr broke a tooth of a slave. So, they offered compensation, and they refused. They asked for pardon, and they refused. The Messenger of Allah was then going to implement the rule of retaliation between them. Anas bin an-Nadr said: "The tooth of ar-Rubay' will be broken? By the One who has sent you with the truth, her tooth will not be broken." So, the people were pleased and took the compensation. The Messenger of Allah then said: "Indeed, from the slaves of Allah are those who, if they make an oath upon Allah, He fulfills it."

...And Ibn Abi ad-Dunya reported with his chain that an-Nu'man bin Qawfal said on the day of Uhud: "O Allah, I swear that I will be killed and enter Paradise." So, he was killed, and the Prophet said: "Indeed, Nu'man made an oath upon Allah, and He fulfilled that oath."

And Abu Nu'aym reported with his chain from Sa'd that 'Abdullah bin Jahsh said on the day of Uhud: "O Lord, if I meet the enemy tomorrow, give me an adversary who is strong and harsh for me to fight for Your Sake and for him to fight me. Then, let him cut off my nose and ear so that when I meet You the next day, You Say: 'O 'Abdullah! Why were your nose and ear cut off?' I will say: 'For You and Your Messenger.' And You will Say: 'You have spoken the truth.'" Sa'd said: "I saw him at the end of the day with his nose and ear hanging from a thread."

And Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas would have his supplications answered. A man lied upon him, and he said: "O Allah, if he is lying, take away his eyesight, elongate his life, and expose him to trials and tribulations. " So, the man was stricken with all of this, as he used to walk through the streets and come into contact with the slave girls, saying: "I am an old man who is experiencing fitnah. I have been stricken with the supplication of Sa'd!"

And he supplicated against a man he heard insulting 'Ali, and immediately, a camel came and trampled him to death.And a woman disputed with Sa'id bin Zayd over some land he owned, claiming that he had taken from her land. So, he said: "O Allah, if she is lying, take away her eyesight and kill her in her own land." So, she became blind, and one night when she was walking in her land, she fell into a well and died.

And al-'Ala' bin al-Hadrami was on an expedition, and those with him became very thirsty. So, he prayed and supplicated: "O Knower, O Bestower, O Most High, O Mighty! We are Your slaves, and we are fighting Your enemy for Your Sake. Give us water to drink and make ablution from, and do not allow anyone else to benefit from this water!" They walked for a bit to find a river of water flowing from the sky. They drank from it and filled their vessels. Later, some of his companions returned to where the river was to find that there was nothing there, as if there had never been any water there.

And someone complained to Anas bin Malik of a drought in a part of al-Basrah. So, he performed ablution and went out to the patch of land, prayed two units, and it then began raining on the patch of land, and the rain did not fall anywhere beyond that patch of land....And Abu Muslim al-Khawlani was known for having his supplications answered. Once, a gazelle passed by him, and the young boys in the area said: "Ask Allah to allow us to capture this gazelle!" So, he supplicated, and he captured it and held it until they were able to take it from his hands.And he once supplicated against a woman who had ruined his relationship with his wife that her eyesight be taken away. She immediately went blind, and she came to him begging. So, he had pity for her and asked Allah to return her eyesight to her, and his wife returned to her normal state with him.

And a man lied upon Mutarraf bin 'Abdullah, and Mutarraf said: "If you are lying, I ask Allah to hasten your departure," and the man died on the spot.And a Kharijite used to pass by the classes of al-Hasan al-Basri and annoy those present. When it became unbearable, al-Hasan said: "O Allah, You Know how he has harmed us. So, suffice us against him with what You Will," and the man immediately collapsed and was carried dead to his family.And Silah bin Ashim was on an expedition, and his camel wandered off with all of his belongings, and there was nobody else around. So, he stood and prayed, saying: "O Allah, I swear that you will return my camel and belongings," and it walked back until it stood right in front of him....

And Habib al-'Ajami Abu Muhammad was known for having his supplications answered. He once supplicated for a young boy who was bald, and would weep and wipe his tears over the boy's head. The boy's hair began growing black all over his head, and it looked better than it had before....And Sa'id bin Jubayr was patient upon the harm inflicted upon him by al-Hajjaj until he killed him, and he was from those whose supplication was answered. He used to have a rooster whose crowing would wake him up to pray at night. One night, it didn't wake him up on time, and he became very distressed, saying: "What is wrong with it? May Allah cut off its voice!" It never crowed again, and his mother said: "My son, do not supplicate against anything ever again."See 'Jami' al-'Ulum wal-Hikam' (2/348-354) for more.

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Friday is the Best Day of the Week

Verily all praises and gratitude are due to Allaah, the One Who sent His messenger with Islam, so that it prevails over all other religions. Praise to the One Who lead us to Friday.

To our topic; below are some points of reminder for the Muslims. These benefits can be shared with the family on the way to Jum’ah, at breakfast or lunch. The previous nations before us were lead astray from this day and Allaah has allowed this ummah to be successful to acknowledge it.

· Friday is the Best Day of the Week.

Abu Hurayrah(may Allaah be pleased with him)mentioned that the Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him)said,”

“The best day of the week the sun rises is Friday. Adam was created, placed in Paradise, and removed from there on Friday”
Collected by Muslim in his Saheeh (2013)

· The Jum’ah prayer is on Friday. A great emphasis has been put on the obligation for the Prayer. Furthermore this prayer is the best congregational salah. Whoever is heedless of this prayer, Allaah will place a seal over his heart.
Abu Hurayrah(may Allaah be pleased with him)narrated that the messenger of Allaah said,”

“Advise the people to avoid missing the Jum’ah prayer, because if they neglect it Allaah will place a seal over their hearts .Then they will be among the heedless.”
Collected by Muslim in his Saheeh (2039)

Extra point of benefit: Shaykh Abdullah bin Baz said,” To take a different road home from the one you go to Jum’ah on is sunnah as well. The hadeeth which deals with practicing this action for ‘Eid carries the same meaning for Jum’ah and Hajj. Refer to Al-Hullul Ibreezeeyah min Ta’leeqahtul Bazeeyah ‘Ala Saheeh Al-Bukhari.1/ 291

· There is an hour during Friday when supplications are answered.

Abu Hurayrah(may Allaah be pleased with him)narrated that the messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings be upon him),

“There is an hour on Friday when the servant stands, prays and asks Allaah for something it is given to him ”

Collected by Bukari in his Saheeh (5294)

Ibn Al-Qayyim(may Allaah have mercy upon him)mentioned that there is a difference of opinion about when this particular hour is. The most acceptable of opinions are two: 1st This hour is from when the khateeb sits until he prays. 2nd. This hour is after Asr. And the 2nd point of view is the most superior.[ Zad Al-Ma’ad 1/389-390]

· Giving charity on Friday is the best day of the week to do so.

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Giving

charity of Friday with regard to the rest of the week is the best day to do so. This is similar to the superiority of giving charity during Ramadhan with regard to the rest of the months.”
Ka’b(may Allaah be pleased with him)said,”

“Giving Sadaqah on Friday is better than giving it on any other day of the week”

Collected by Abdur Razzak in his Musanaf(5558) . This narration’s isnad is Saheeh.

· Friday is the weekly ‘Eid

Ibn ‘Abbaas(may Allaah be pleased with him)conveyed that Allaah’s messenger(peace and blessings be upon him)said,

“Verily today is an ‘Eid which Allaah has decreed for the Muslims. So whoever comes for the Prayer must perform a ghusl…”

Collected by Ibn Majah in his sunnan (1152)and At-Tabarani in Awsot(142).Graded as being Hasan through other narrations that support it i.e hasan lee Ghayreehee. by Al-Abani in Saheeh At-Targeeb wat Tarheeb 707

· The servants’ past sins are forgiven on Friday

Salman Al-Faarasee( may Allaah be pleased with him)narrated that the messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings be upon him)said,”

"Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumu’ah prayer) and does not separate two people sitting together (in the masjid), then prays as much as (Allaah has) written for him and remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”
Collected by Bukhari in his Saheeh (843)

· Dying during Friday, whether day or night is a sign of a good departure from this world and he/she will be safeguarded against the trials in the grave.

Ibn ‘Amr (may Allaah be pleased with him)said, the messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings)said,” “Any Muslim who dies on Friday Allaah will protect him from the trials of the grave”

Collected by At-Tirmithi in his Sunnan(1095) and Ahmed in his Musnad(14/268) Graded as being Hasan by Al-Albani in his checking for Sunnah At-Tirmithi# 1074

Translated by: Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Ibn Dwight Lamont Battle

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Being Two-Faced

Being Two-Facedal-Haafidh Abu Haatim Muhammad ibn Hibbaan
Reference: Rawdat al 'Uqalaa: P. 49

Category: Sayings of the Salaf

Muhammad ibnul Hussain ibn Qutaybah in 'Asqalaan informed me that Ibraheem al Hawraani…on the authority of Sahl who said that the Messenger of Allaah said: 'There is no good in a companion who does not observe the same rights towards you as you observe towards him.'
Abu Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: It is compulsory for an intelligent individual who was blessed by Allaah to have love for a Muslim, to stay close/cling on to him. He should accustom himself to stay in contact with him if he cuts him off, to turn towards him if he turns away, to give him if he withholds, to draw close to him if he distances himself, to the point that he is like a pillar in his life. It is from the greatest of faults for a person to be two faced in his affection.

Al Muntasir ibn Bilaal al Ansaaree recited (this poem) to me:

How many a friend displays affection with his tongue,
but is deceitful in my absence and is not regretful.
He unwillingly amuses me so I may love him,
but his words in my absence strike me like arrows.
...

Abu Haatim said: The intelligent individual is not deficient in his affection, he does not have two faces or two hearts. Rather, what he conceals is identical to what he reveals, his actions are in accordance to his speech. There is no good in two companions where deficiency grows between them, and their state increases in corruption, as 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Sulaimaan al Abrash recited to me:

May Allaah revile one whom having affection towards is of no use,
and one whose rope/aid is feeble, when extended.
And one who is of two colors [two-faced], is not consistent,
in keeping ties, a betrayer of everyone trustworthy.
And one who has two hearts - meeting him,
is enjoyable, but is untrustworthy in his absence.
And one whom if his eyes were to speak,
they would cut off all paths of companionships.
...

'Amru ibn Muhammad an Nasaa-ee recited to me:
The eye reveals what is within the soul,
of hatred or love if present.
Indeed one who harbors hatred has an eye [look] which is apparent,
unable to conceal by it what lies within his heart.
The eye speaks even though the mouth moves not,
to the point where you would clearly see what lies within the heart.
...

'Alee ibn Muhammad al Basaamee recited to me:
A neighbor that continues to send me,
painful words that do not allow me to sleep.
His affection is distance from those close to him,
rather aversion, refuses to be consistent.
He rushes to extend the Salaam when we meet,
while underneath his ribs lies a diseased heart.
...

I heard Muhammad ibn al Mundhir say: I heard 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn 'Abdilaah say: Muhammad ibn Haazim said:

There are brothers who are always displaying smiles,
and brothers: 'Hayaak Allaah' and 'Marhaba (welcome)'.
And brothers: 'How are you and how's your family.',
but all this holds not the weight of a grain of sand.
Extremely generous when you are not in need of his wealth,
he says: I can give you a loan you if you are in need.
But if you tried to reach what is behind him,
you would find that his wealth is more distant than you thought.
...

Abu Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: The intelligent one does not befriend one who is two-faced, or one who has two hearts. He does not reveal anymore affection that what he conceals, and he does not conceal any less love than what he reveals. He should not be, when hardships arise, any different than he were before they arose or before getting involved, because a friendship that is unlike this is not praiseworthy. A man from Khuzaa'ah recited to Muhammad ibn Khalaf at Taymee, who recited to Muhammad ibnul Mundhir, who recited to me:
My brother is not the one who shows his love for me verbally,
but my brother is he who shows love for me during hardships.
He whose wealth is mine if I had none,
as my wealth is his if he were in need
So do not praise a friend during times of ease,
for he may forfeit his friendship during hardships.
He is only: 'How are you', and 'welcome',
but with his wealth is as evasive as a fox.
...

Abu Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: From the greatest of signs in knowing a persons affection...

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"Whoever abandons something for the sake of Allaah, He will replace it for him with something better than it"

"Whoever abandons something for the sake of Allaah, He will replace it for him with something better than it"

AUTHOR: 'Alee Hasan al-Halabee
SOURCE: Al-Asaalah Magazine (Issue 31, pg. 60-61)
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com

The teacher of our teachers,[1] the great scholar and historian, Shaikh Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh, rahimahullaah, mentioned the following story in his book “I’laam an-Nubalaa bi-Taareekh Halab ash-Shuhabaa” (7/231):

“Shaikh Ibraaheem Al-Hilaalee Al-Halabee – a pious and noble scholar – traveled to Al-Azhar University in search of knowledge. While seeking knowledge, he became very poor and used to rely on charity. One time, several days passed by and he did not find anything to eat, so he became extremely hungry.

So he came out of his room in Al-Azhar to ask for some scraps of food. He found an open door from which a pleasant smell of food was coming out of. So he entered the door and found himself in a kitchen with no one around. There he found some tempting food, so he grabbed a spoon and dipped it in, but when he lifted it to his mouth, he held himself back from eating it, since he realized that he had not been given permission to eat from it. So he left it and returned to his room in the dormitory of Al-Azhar, still hungry and starving.

But no less than an hour passed by, when one of his teachers, accompanied by another man, came into his room. And his teacher said to him: ‘This noble man came to me seeking a righteous student of knowledge to choose for marrying his daughter, and I have chosen you for him. So rise and come with us to his home where we can complete the marriage contract between you and his daughter and you can become part of his household.’ So Shaikh Ibraaheem struggled to get to his feet, obeying the command of his teacher and went with them. And behold they took him to the very same house he had been to, and which he had entered and dipped the spoon into the food!

So when he sat down, the girl’s father married her to him and the food was brought out. It was the same food he had put the spoon into before and which he abandoned. But now he ate from it and said to himself: ‘I withheld from eating it when I had no permission, but now Allaah has given me this food with permission.’

Afterward, this righteous wife went back with him to Halab, after he had finished his studies. And she bore righteous children for him.” So this is the fruit of patience and this is the result of having taqwaa, as Allaah says: “And whoever has Taqwaa of Allaah, He will make a way out for him (from hardship), and He will provide for Him from places He never imagined.” [Surah At-Talaaq: 2-3]

But as for those who are hasty – those who do not distinguish between the truth and falsehood, seeking after the transitory vanities of this worldly life – they will never experience anything but grief and sorrow in their hearts, for they will never attain the worldly life nor will they ever achieve Religion. This is because they forget – or perhaps neglect – the saying of Allaah: “Is not Allaah sufficient for His servant?” [Surah Az-Zumar: 36] As for those who are patient and firm and who have Taqwaa, they will gain ascendancy in this life and glory and honor with their Lord on the Day of Judgement.

And Allaah says: “So give the glad tidings to the patient ones.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 155] And He says: “Verily, the patient ones will be given their reward without any reckoning.” [Surah Az-Zumar: 10]

Article Take From ---> http://al-ibaanah.com/articles.php?ArtID=81

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"How beautiful Knowledge is, better than gold and money, better than beautiful women, better than worldly possessions, Allah willing we will seek Knowledge until we die."

Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadee al-Waad'iee

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Could You?

Could you describe the sky

to a person without sight,

the gift of shades and shadows

you receive each day and night?

Could you depict the freedom

of walking down the street

to a person who has never

had the use of their two feet?

Could you express the comfort

of sleeping in a bed

to someone who does not have

a place to lay their head?

Could you explain the pleasure

of a satisfying meal

to a child who has never known

the fullness that you feel?

Could you, in all honesty,

with good and truthful measure,

say that you are thankful

and consider life a treasure?

Could You?
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The Weeping of Umm Ayman

On the authority of Anas, who said: ‘Aboo Bakr said to ‘Umar, after the death of the Messenger of Allaah sal’Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “Let us go visit Umm Ayman, as the Messenger of Allaah sal’Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to visit her.” When they finished visiting her (and were about to leave) she began to cry. So they asked her: “What is it that makes you cry? Is not that which is with Allaah better for the Messenger of Allaah sal’Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?” So she replied: I am not crying because I am not aware that that which is with Allaah is better for the Messenger of Allaah sal’Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but I am crying because the revelation from the heavens has stopped.” This moved them to tears, so they both began to weep with her.’ [Reported by Muslim]
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The Hardness of the Heart, by ibnul qayyim in al fa'wa'id

Al-Fawaa`id [pp. 111-112] of ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allaah
have mercy upon him.

[The translation is taken from 'An Explanation of Riyaadh as-Saaliheen Vol. 1, Trans. Abu Sulaymaan and modified.]

The servant is not afflicted with a punishment greater in severity than the hardening of the heart and its being distant from Allaah. The Fire was created to melt the hardened heart, this heart which is the most distant of hearts from Allaah. If the heart becomes hardened the eye becomes dry [and finds no joy or tranquillity].



There are four matters, when the limits are transgressed with regards to them, harden the heart: food, sleep, speech and sexual intercourse. A body afflicted by disease does not derive nourishment from food and water and similarly a diseased heart does not benefit from admonishment or exhortation.


. whosoever desires to purify his heart then let him give preference to Allaah over his base desires.

The heart that clings to its base desires is veiled from Allaah in accordance to the strength of its attachment to them. The hearts are the vessels of Allaah upon His earth, hence the most beloved of them to Him are those that are most tender, pure and resistant to deviation.

[A reference to the hadeeth, "Truly, Allaah has vessels from amongst the people of the earth, and the vessels of your Lord are the hearts of his righteous slaves, and the most beloved of them to Him are the softest and most tender ones" and it is hasan. Refer to as-Saheehah (no. 1691)]

The transgressors preoccupied their hearts with the pursuance of this world. If only they had preoccupied them with Allaah and seeking the Hereafter then they would have instead reflected upon the meaning of His Words and His Signs that are witnessed in creation. Their hearts would have returned to their owners (in whose chests they reside) bestowing upon them marvelous wisdom and pearls of benefit.

When the heart is nourished with dhikr, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters and be inspired with wisdom.

Not every individual who is endowed with knowledge and wisdom and dons its robe is from among its people. Rather the People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who have infused life into their hearts by slaughtering their desires. As for the one who has
destroyed his heart and given precedence to his desires then knowledge and wisdom are deprived from his tongue.

The destruction of the heart occurs through possessing a sense of security and negligence. The heart is fortified through fear of Allaah and dhikr. If the heart renounces the pleasures of this world then it will be directed towards pursuing the bliss of the Hereafter and it will be amongst those who call to it. Should the
heart become content with the pleasures of this world the bliss of the Hereafter ceases to be pursued.

Yearning for Allaah and His meeting is like a gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, blowing away the blazing desire for this world. Whosoever causes his heart to settle with his Lord shall find himself in a calm and tranquil condition and whosoever sends it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed. This is because the love of Allaah can never enter the heart which contains love of this world until the camel passes through the eye of a needle.

Therefore the most beloved servant to Allaah is the one whom He places in His servitude, whom He selects for His Love, whom He causes to purify his worship for Him, who dedicates his life to Him, his tongue to His dhikr and his limbs to His service.

The heart becomes sick as the body becomes sick and its cure lies in repentance and seeking protection from evil.

It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty and it is polished through dhikr.

It becomes naked as the body becomes naked and its adornment comes about through taqwaa.

It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry and thirsty and its hunger and thirst is satiated through knowledge, love, reliance, repentance and servitude to Allaah.



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To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)

Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 76 :: Hadith 509

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; ( i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him."

. And here is the rest of it. Read more!

Four Principles for a Noble Character

Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah


Reference: Madaarij ul Salikeen Vol.2 P.308


Category: General.

"It is not imagined that one can have noble character except if it is founded upon four pillars:

The First: Sabr (Patience)

The Second: 'Iffah (Chastity)

The Third: Shujaa'ah (Courage)

The Fourth: Adl (Justice)

Patience, inspires him to be tolerant, control his anger, endure the harms that he receives from others, to be forbearing and deliberate in his decisions. It motivates him to be gentle and not to be rash or hasty. Chastity, inspires him to avoid every imprudent characteristic, whether in statement or action, and encourages him to have a sense of modesty and integrity which is the epitome of all good. It prevents him from fornication, stinginess, lying, backbiting and spreading tales to cause separation and discord between the people.

Courage, inspires him to have a sense of self esteem, to emphasize high and noble manners and to make it apart of his natural disposition. It also encourages him to exert himself and to be generous, which is in essence, true courage and it leads to strong will and self determination. It encourages him to distance himself from his ardent lowly desires, to control his anger, and to be forbearing because by such, he can control his temper, take it by the reins and curb his violent and destructive behavior just as the Messenger (SAllaahu alaihi wa salam) said:

"The Strong is not the one who can wrestle his opponent to the ground but rather the strong is the one who can control himself when he gets angry."

This is true genuine courage and it is the sole trait that the slave utilizes to conquer his opponent.

Justice, encourages him to be impartial in his behavior with people and to be moderate between the two extremes of negligence and extremism. It motivates him to be generous and kind which is the middle course between absolute degradation and arrogance, and to make this apart of his disposition and makeup. It encourages him to be courageous which is the middle course between cowardice and imprudence, and to be forbearing which is the middle course between extreme unnecessary anger and ignominy.

These four virtuous characteristics are the axis and provenance of all noble manners and the foundation of all repugnant and ignominious characteristics are built upon four pillars:

The First: Jahl (Ignorance)

The Second: Dhulm (Oppression)

The Third: Shahwah (following ones lowly desires)

The Fourth: Ghadab (Anger)

Ignorance, allows him to view good in the form of evil and evil in the form of good, and to consider that which is complete to be incomplete and that which is incomplete to be complete.

Oppression, causes him to put things in places which are not appropriate for them, so he gets angry when its time to be happy and he is happy when its time to be angry. He is ignorant and hasty when its time to be deliberate and deliberate when its time to be hasty, he is stingy when it is time to be generous and generous when its time to be stingy. He is weak when it is time to be courageous and assume responsibility, and he assumes responsibility when it is time to take a step back (and let someone else undertake the initiative). He is gentle and lenient when it is time to be harsh and firm and he is harsh and firm when it is time to be lenient. He is humble when it is time to be superior and arrogant when it is time to be humble.

Following (his) lowly desires, encourages him to be diligent in obtaining that which the soul ardently desires, to be stingy and greedy. It encourages him to adorn himself with all types of despicable and imprudent characteristics.

Anger, incites him to be arrogant, jealous, envious, to hold enmity of others and to be imprudent and shameless.

The foundation of these four repugnant and blameworthy characteristics are two pillars:

Either, Extreme Self ignominy.

Or Extreme Self Pride.. Read more!

The Story of an African King and His Friend

A story is told about a King in Africa who had a close friend that he grew up with. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) by remarking, “This is good, Allah Almighty knows best”

One day the King and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the King. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the King fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, “This is good! Allah Almighty knows best.”

To which the King replied, “No, this is NOT good!” and ordered his soldiers to put his friend into jail.
About a year later, the King was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured the King and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the King was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So after untying the King, they chased him out of the village.

When the King reached his Palace, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.

“You were right” the King said, “It was good that my thumb was blown off.” And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. “I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”

“No,” his friend replied, “this is good…Allah Almighty knows best”

“What do you mean, ‘this is good’! How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?”

The King’s friend replied: “Remember that the Almighty knows best and if I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you on that hunting trip.”

“He knows what is before them and what is behind them: And to Allah go back all questions (for decision)”
Qur’an: Surah Al Hajj 22:76

Do Not Judge Things or Events by its Immediate Outcome!

Although the decisions of Allah Ta’alah may seem harsh to us, they are full of wisdom.
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The Advice Of 'Umar Ibn Dharr --- Remembering The Destroyer Of Desires

An-Nadhr ibn Ismaa'eel said, "I heard Aboo Dharr saying in one of his speeches, "Concerning Death -- then it has been announced to you such that you are looking at it every day and night.

It appears to the one it takes away - who was dear to his people, noble amongst his clan, obeyed and followed among his folk - taking him to a dry arid pit, and to place of massive hard rocks of stone. The people there have no cushions - except cushions that are mixed and stuffed with poisonous reptiles and vermin -- for their cushions on that Day will be [as a result] of their [evil] deeds.

And it appears to those who are filled with concern and are like strangers, those whose concern is just this worldly life, who have striven long for it and their bodies have toiled hard for it. But then death overcomes them before they can attain their goal, for it has taken them by surprise.

And so Death appears to the young boy who is still being suckled, the sick man who is afflicted with pain, and the one who is a hostage of evil, being hell-bent on doing such deeds. Death has been allocated to all these people, and so they are all overtaken by it.

Have not the slaves taken heed of what the admonishers have said?!
Sometimes I say: Indeed Allaah is far from any imperfection, and exalted is His Splendour, for He has given you respite to the extent that it is as if He has left you to your own devices. Then I consider His Forbearance and His Complete Ability and Power. And so I say: Rather He has simply deffered us to our appointed times. Indeed He is far from any imperfection. And hence we are left until a Day during which the eyes will be transfixed and the hearts will be dry and withered:

"(They will be) hastening forward with their necks outstretched, their heads raised up (towards the sky), their gaze not returning towards them and their hearts empty (from thinking, due to extreme fear). {Soorah Ibraaheem 14:43}

O Lord! You have indeed given notice and warned us to be on gaurd, and so You have established the proof against your creation.

Then he recited:

"Warn (O Muhammad) mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them. Then the wrong doers will say, "Our Lord! Give us respite for a little while..." {Ibid., 44}

Then he continued ...

"O wrong-doing oppressor! You are within your appointed time which you have tried to postpone. So sieze the opportunity before your time takes place and hurry up before it escapes. The close of thise deadline is when one witnesses it with one's own eyes - and that is when Death descends. And when that happens, then being sorry and regretful will be of no benefit.

Indeed the son of Aadam is nothing but averse to and distressed about Death, for whomever Death fires its arrow at, it never fails to hit its target, and it will not hit anyone else.

O Indeed, the greatest good is the good of the Hereafter which lasts forever and never dwindles. It always remains and never perishes, and it is extensive and is not cut short.

The honoured slaves will be in the proximity of Allaah the Most High, living amongst all the things that the souls desire and the eyes find pleasure in, exchanging visits upon the excellent ones, meeting each other and recollecting what they used to do in the world.

There is nothing but ease and comfort for these people. They have indeed found their objective and have obtained what they requested, since they asked for and craved for the Master, the Noble One, the One who confers all favours [i.e Allaah]." Read more!

Allah is Beautiful and Loves Beauty

Allaah is Beautiful and Loves Beauty - Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah
’Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood radiallaahu ’anhu who said that the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said, “No one will enter Paradise who has an atom’s weight of pride in his heart.” A man said, “What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?” He said, “Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people.” [1]Ibnul-Qayyim (d.751H) radiallaahu ’anhu said, commenting upon this hadeeth:‘‘The phrase ‘Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty,’ includes the beautiful clothing which was asked about in the same hadeeth. It is included by way of generalization, meaning that beauty in all things is what is meant here.. In Saheeh Muslim, it says: “Allaah is good and only accepts that which is good.” [2]In Sunanut-Tirmidhee it says: “Allaah loves to see the effects of His blessing on His slave.’’ [3] It was reported that Abul-Ahwas al-Jashamee said: The Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam saw me wearing old, tattered clothes, and asked me, “Do you have any wealth?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “What kind of wealth?” I said, “All that Allaah has given me of camels and sheep.” He said, “Then show the generous blessings that He has given you.” [4]Allaah, may He be glorified, loves the effects of His blessings to His slave to be made manifest, for this is part of the beauty that He loves, and that is part of the gratitude for His blessings which forms an inner beauty (beauty of character). Allaah loves to see the external beauty of His slaves which reflects His blessings on them, and the inner beauty of their gratitude to Him for those blessings. Because He loves beauty, He sends down on His slaves clothes and adornments with which they may make their outward appearance beautiful and He gives them taqwaa which makes their inner characters beautiful. Allaah says:“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better.” [Sooratul-A’raaf 7:26]And He says, speaking of the people of Paradise:“…and He gave them Nadrataan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise and silken garments, because they were patient.” [Sooratul-Insaan 76:11-12]Their faces will be made beautiful with the nadrah (light of beauty), their innermost being with joy and their bodies with silken garments. Just as Allaah loves beauty in words, deeds, garments and outward appearance, so He hates ugliness in words, deeds, garments and outward appearance. He hates ugliness and its people, and loves beauty and its people. But two groups are misguided with regard to this issue: a group who say that everything that He has created is beautiful, so He loves all that He has created and we should love all that He has created and not hate anything. They say: whoever realizes that all that exists comes from Him will see that it is beautiful … these people have no sense of jealousy for the sake of Allaah or hatred and enmity for the sake of Allaah, or denouncing what is evil (munkar), or jihaad (struggle) for the sake of Allaah, or adhering His limits. They regard the beauty of images, male or female, as being part of the beauty that Allaah loves, and seek to worship Allaah through immoral acts. Some of them may even go so far as to claim that the One Whom they worship is manifested or incarnated in those images.The second group, on the other hand, say that Allaah condemns the beauty of images, forms and outward appearances. Allaah says about the munaafiqoon (hypocrites):“And when you look at them, their bodies please you…” [Sooratul-Munaafiqoon 63:4]“And how many a generation have We destroyed before them. Who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?” [Soorah Maryam 19:54]In Saheeh Muslim it is reported that the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said: “Allaah does not look at your outward appearance and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and deeds.” [5]According to another hadeeth: “Shabbiness is part of faith.” [6] Allaah condemns those who are extravagant, which applies to extravagance in clothing as well as in food and drink.In order to settle this dispute, we may say that beauty in clothing and outward appearance is of three types, one of which is commendable, one is blameworthy and one of which is neither. The kind of beauty which is to be commended is that which is done for the sake of Allaah, to help one to obey Allaah and fulfill His commands, such as when the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam made himself look beautiful (i.e. handsome) when meeting the delegations that came to him. This is like wearing armour or battle-dress when fighting, or wearing silk and showing off (in front of the enemy). This is commendable because it is done to make the word of Allaah supreme and to support His religion and annoy His enemies. The blameworthy kind of beauty is that which is done for the sake of this world, for reasons of power, false pride and showing off, or to fulfill some (selfish) desires. This also includes cases where beauty is an end in itself for a person and is all he cares about. Many people have no other concern in life. As for the kind of beauty which is neither commendable nor blameworthy, it is that which has nothing to do with either of the two purposes mentioned above (i.e., it is neither for the sake of Allaah nor for the sake of worldly purposes).The hadeeth under discussion refers to two important principles, knowledge and behaviour. Allaah is to be acknowledged for beauty that bears no resemblance to anything else, and He is to be worshipped by means of the beauty which He loves in words, deeds and attitudes. He loves His slaves to beautify their tongues with the truth, to beautify their hearts with sincere devotion (ikhlaas), love, repentance and trust in Him, to beautify their faculties with obedience, and to beautify their bodies by showing His blessings upon them in their clothing and by keeping them pure and free of any filth, dirt or impurity, by removing the hairs which should be removed, by circumcision, and by clipping the nails. Thus they recognize Allaah through these qualities of beauty and seek to draw close to Him through beautiful words, deeds and attitudes. They acknowledge Him for the beauty which is His attribute and they worship Him through the beauty which He has prescribed and His religion. The hadeeth combines these two principles of knowledge and behaviour.’. Read more!

The Three Days Of Dunya

Advice of Al-Hasan al-Basree to Umar ibn Abdul-Azeez
The dunya is nothing more than 3 days ..

The day that has passed by so there is no hope in it.
The day you are living in, and so it is proper that you should make the most of it.
And the day that is to come, concerning which you have no knowledge of whether or not you will be of it's people. And you do not know if perhaps you will die before reaching it. Read more!

An Occupied Space Cannot Contain Two Opposites {Imaam Ibnul Qayyim al-Jawziyyah}

For a space to accept what is being put in it, it has to be emptied of the opposite. The same way this is relevant with individuals and objects, it is also true for beliefs and wills. So, if the heart is occupied with loving and believing in falsehood, then it has no space for loving and accepting the truth. Just like if a tongue is busy uttering what does not have benefit, then its owner will not be able to utter what has benefit for him except if he stops talking about what is useless.
Also if the different body parts are busy doing what is not obedience then it is not possible to keep them occupied in doing what is obedience except if he (the owner) frees them of the opposite. In the same way, a heart full of loving other than Allaah, wanting him, longing to meet him, and enjoying his company cannot be occupied with love for Allaah, wanting Him, longing to meet Him except by emptying it (the heart) from attachment to anything other than Him (Allaah).
And the tongue cannot move to remember Him nor can the body parts move to His service except if he (the owner) frees them from mentioning and servicing other than Him. So if the heart is full of occupation with creation and sciences that do not have benefit then there is no space for being occupied with Allaah and knowing His Names, Attributes, Laws. And the secret of that is that the Isghaa (listening in concentration) of the heart is like the Isghaa (listening in concentration) of the ears, so if he listens to other than the Hadeeth (meaning speech , words, subject) of Allaah, then there will be no room to listen to or understand the Hadeeth of Allaah.

Just like if he is inclined in love towards other than Allaah then he would have no room to incline in love towards Allaah. If the heart utters other than the remembrance of Allaah then it will not have any space to utter His remembrance by using the tongue. And that is why we find in an authentic narration from the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam): "It is better for your mouths to be full of pus until it makes it go bad than to be full of poetry." [1]

So he made it clear that a mouth can be full of poetry and therefore it also becomes full of doubts, fictions and unexisting measures. Also the sciences that have no benefit, jokes, comedies, stories and so on. If the heart is full of that, then when the truths of the Qur`aan, and the sciences that can make it experience its full function and happiness, come to him, it will not find any space for itself and no acceptance (from it), so it bypasses it (the heart) and moves to another place. If you give advice to a heart full of its opposite, it will not find a way in and (the heart) will not accept it. It does not enter inside but it only passes by briefly and not from the inside. That is why it was said:

"Clean your heart from other than Us , and you will find Us
For our Highness is compatible with every clean heart
And patience is a chest for the treasure of being associated with Us
He who makes the chest compatible wins its treasure."

Footnotes:
[1] Narrated by Sa'ad Ibn Abee Waqqaas in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaabush Shi'ir (Book of poetry) (27/5610).taken from:Kitaabul Fawaa'id (page 44-45)By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
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Towards a nourished heart

"Not every individual who is endowed with knowledge and wisdom and dons its robe is from among its people. Rather the People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who have infused life into their hearts by slaughtering their desires." ..

When the heart is nourished with dhikr( rememberance of God), its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters and be inspired with wisdom.

The servant is not afflicted with a punishment greater in severity than the hardening of the heart and its being distant from Allaah. The Fire was created to melt the hardened heart, this heart which is the most distant of hearts from Allaah. If the heart becomes hardened the eye becomes dry [and finds no joy or tranquillity].
There are four matters, when the limits are transgressed with regards to them, harden the heart: food, sleep, speech and sexual intercourse. A body afflicted by disease does not derive nourishment from food and water and similarly a diseased heart does not benefit from admonishment or exhortation.
Whosoever desires to purify his heart then let him give preference to Allaah over his base desires.
The heart that clings to its base desires is veiled from Allaah in accordance to the strength of its attachment to them. The hearts are the vessels of Allaah upon His earth, hence the most beloved of them to Him are those that are most tender, pure and resistant to deviation.
[A reference to the hadeeth, "Truly, Allaah has vessels from amongst the people of the earth, and the vessels of your Lord are the hearts of his righteous slaves, and the most beloved of them to Him are the softest and most tender ones" and it is hasan. Refer to as-Saheehah (no. 1691)]
The transgressors preoccupied their hearts with the pursuance of this world. If only they had preoccupied them with Allaah and seeking the Hereafter then they would have instead reflected upon the meaning of His Words and His Signs that are witnessed in creation. Their hearts would have returned to their owners (in whose chests they reside) bestowing upon them marvelous wisdom and pearls of benefit.
When the heart is nourished with dhikr, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters and be inspired with wisdom.
Not every individual who is endowed with knowledge and wisdom and dons its robe is from among its people. Rather the People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who have infused life into their hearts by slaughtering their desires. As for the one who has destroyed his heart and given precedence to his desires then knowledge and wisdom are deprived from his tongue.
The destruction of the heart occurs through possessing a sense of security and negligence. The heart is fortified through fear of Allaah and dhikr. If the heart renounces the pleasures of this world then it will be directed towards pursuing the bliss of the Hereafter and it will be amongst those who call to it. Should the heart become content with the pleasures of this world the bliss of the Hereafter ceases to be pursued.
Yearning for Allaah and His meeting is like a gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, blowing away the blazing desire for this world. Whosoever causes his heart to settle with his Lord shall find himself in a calm and tranquil condition and whosoever sends it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed. This is because the love of Allaah can never enter the heart which contains love of this world until the camel passes through the eye of a needle.
Therefore the most beloved servant to Allaah is the one whom He places in His servitude, whom He selects for His Love, whom He causes to purify his worship for Him, who dedicates his life to Him, his tongue to His dhikr and his limbs to His service.
The heart becomes sick as the body becomes sick and its cure lies in repentance and seeking protection from evil.
It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty and it is polished through dhikr (rememberance).
It becomes naked as the body becomes naked and its adornment comes about through taqwaa (fearing God by staying away from sins).
It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry and thirsty and its hunger and thirst is satiated through knowledge, love, reliance, repentance and servitude to Allaah.
Al-Fawaa`id [pp. 111-112] of ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him.
[The translation is taken from 'An Explanation of Riyaadh as-Saaliheen Vol. 1, Trans. Abu Sulaymaan and modified.] Read more!

Merit of Love for the Sake of Allaah

60) Narrated Abu Huraira (radhiyallaahu 'anhu): Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Allaah will say on the Day of Ressurection: Where are those who love one another for My glory's sake. Today I will shelter them in My shade, today there is no shade but only My shade. {This Hadith is sound and reported by Muslim}

61) Narrated 'Ubaada bin as-Saamit (radhiyallaahu 'anhu): I heard Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) quoting his Lord ('Aza wa jal) Who said: My love is established for those who love one another for My sake; and My love is established for those who spend money for My sake; and My love is established for those who visit one another for My sake. (In Fact) those who love one another for the sake of Allaah will be at pulpits of light in the shade of Allaah's Throne on a day when there is no shade but His shade. {This Hadith is sound through all its channels and reported in Musnad Ahmad.}

62) Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal (radhiyallaahu 'anhu): He said: I heard Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying: Allaah ('Aza wa jal) said: For those who love one another for the sake of My glory there will be pulpits of light for which the Prophet's and Martyrs will ENVY them (on the Day of Ressurrection). {This Hadith is good and reported by Tirmidhi.}

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A Fly or a Mountain

‘Abdullah b. Mas’ûd – Allah be pleased with him – said:

The believer sees his sins as if he is sitting at the foot of a mountain fearing that it might fall on him, while the sinner (fâjir) sees his sins as a fly that lands on his nose, he just waves it away.

{Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh, The Book of Supplications, Chapter on Tawbah.}

Ibn Hajr quotes in his commentary, Fath Al-Bârî:

Ibn Abî Jumrah said, “The reason for this [fear] is that the heart of a believer is illuminated; so when he sees from himself something that goes against what he illuminates his heart with, it is very distressing to him. The wisdom behind giving the example of a mountain is that a person might find some way to escape from other dangers, but if a mountain falls on a person he does not survive. In short, the believer is dominated by fear (of Allah) due to the strength of îmân he has; he does not therefore feel falsely secure about being punished because of his sins. This is the way of the Muslim: he always fears and checks on himself, his good deeds are little to him and he fears even the small bad deeds he has done.”

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Read The Qur'an Regularly

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Read the Qur'an regularly. By the One in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, it escapes from memory faster than a camel does from its tying ropes.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Sa`id Ar-Rafi` bin Al-Mu`alla (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an before you leave the mosque?'' Then he (PBUH), took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur'an. He (PBUH) said, "It is `Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil `Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab` Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft-repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur'an which is given to me.''

[Al-Bukhari].

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Treat Women Nicely

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 548:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah 's Apostle said, "Treat women nicely, for a women is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women nicely."

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Ibn al-Qayyim's beautiful description of Paradise from 'Haadi al-Arwaah'

Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

"And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.

And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.
And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.

And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!'

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allaah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allaah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!'

So, they will all give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, He will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will all give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allaah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?' and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.'

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife...

{Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord...} (al-Qiyaamah:22-3)


[from the amazing and beautiful book Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad il-Afraah by Ibn al-Qayyim, pg. 193]



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Allaah Has Named us Muslims, So Why Ascribe Ourselves to the Salaf?

Allaah Has Named us Muslims, So Why Ascribe Ourselves to the Salaf?This doubt was very beatifully answered by Imaam al-Albaani in his discussion with someone on this subject, recorded on the cassette entitled, “I am Salafi”, and here is a presentation of the vital parts of it:
Shaikh al-Albaani: “When it is said to you, ‘What is your madhhab’, what is your reply?”
Questioner: “A Muslim”.
Shaikh al-Albaani: “This is not sufficient!”.
Questioner: “Allaah has named us Muslims” and he recited the saying of Allaah Most High, “He is the one who has called you Muslims beforehand.” (al-Hajj 22:78)
Shaikh al-Albaani: “This would be a correct answer if we were in the very first times (of Islaam) before the sects had appeared and spread. But if we were to ask, now, any Muslim from any of these sects with which we differ on account of aqeedah, his answer would not be any different to this word. All of them – the Shi’ite Rafidi, the Khaariji, the Nusayri Alawi – would say, “I am a Muslim”. Hence, this is not sufficient in these days.”Questioner: “In that case I say, I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah.”
Shaikh al-Albaani: “This is not sufficient either”.
Questioner: “Why?”
Shaikh al-Albaani: “Do you find any of those whom we have just mentioned by way of example saying, ‘I am a Muslim who is not upon the Book and the Sunnah’?” Who is the one who says, ‘I am not upon the Book and the Sunnah’?”
At this point the Shaikh then began to explain in detail the importance of being upon the Book and the Sunnah in light of the understanding of the Salaf us-Saalih…
Questioner: “In that case I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf us-Saalih”.
Shaikh al-Albaani: “When a person asks you about your madhhab, is this what you will say to him?”
Questioner: “Yes”.
Shaikh al-Albaani: “What is your view that we shorten this phrase in the language, since the best words are those that are few but indicated the desired intent, so we say, ‘Salafi’?” End of quotation.
Hence, the point is that naming with “Muslim” or “Sunni” is not enough, since everyone will claim that. And Imaam al-Albaani emphasised the importance of the truth being distinguished from the falsehood – from the point of view of the basis of manhaj and aqidah, and that is taking from the Salaf us-Saalih, as opposed to the various sects and groups whose understandings are based upon those of their mentors and leaders and not that of the Salaf, fundamentally.
Questioner: [Continuing from where we left off] “Alright, I will submit to you and I say to you: Yes (I agree about summarising with saying ‘I am Salafi’), yet my belief is what has preceded, since the first thing that a person thinks of when he hears that you are a Salafi is that he recalls much of the experience he has had and which has involved severity which leads to harshness, all of which sometimes occurs from the Salafis.”
Shaikh al-Albaani: “Lets accept that your words are correct. If you said ‘I am a Muslim’, will not a person’s think of a Shi’ite Rafidee, or a Druze or an Ismaa’eeli (and incline to him).”
Questioner: “It is possible, however, I will have followed the noble verse, “He has named you Muslims”.
Shaikh al-Albaani: “No my brother! You have not followed the verse, since the verse means the correct form of Islaam. It is necessary that you address the people according to their level of understanding… so will anyone understand from you (when you say ‘I am a Muslim’) that you are indeed a Muslim with the desired meaning in the verse (of correct Islaam)? As for the various cautionary matters you have mentioned, then these are sometimes correct and sometimes they are not correct. Since your saying about harshness, then this can sometimes occur from individuals, yet this is not representative of a methodology that is tied to knowledge and belief. Leave aside individuals for now, we are actually talking about manhaj (methodology). This is because when we say Shi’ite, or a Druze, or a Khaarijee, or a Soofee, or a Mutazilee, the various cautionary matters you raised come into play (and can apply to them aswell). Hence, this is not the subject of our discussion. We are investigating a name which gives evidence to the madhhab of an individual and by which he worships Allaah… Are not all the Companions Muslims?”
Questioner: “Naturally.”
Shaikh al-Albaani: “However, there was amongst them, one who stole, or fornicated, but this does not allow any of them to say, ‘I am not a Muslim’, rather he is a Muslim and a Believer in Allaah, as a chosen way, however he sometimes opposes his chosen way, because he is not infallible. And it is for this reason that we – may Allaah bless you – are speaking about a word which indicates our aqidah and our thought and our starting point in our lives and which relates to the affairs of our religion by which we worship Allaah. As for the issue of so and so who is harsh and so and so who is lax and too soft, then that is an entirely different issue…. I wish that you would reflect upon this concise word (i.e. Salafi) so that you do not persist upon the word ‘Muslim’. And you know that there is no one who will understand what you really intend (by using the word ‘Muslim’ alone) ever…” End Quote (Cassette “I am a Salafi”). Read more!

Abû Bakr to ‘Umar on his Deathbed

When Abû Bakr Al-Siddîq was on his deathbed he called ‘Umar - Allah be pleased with them - and said:

Fear Allah o ‘Umar, and know that Allah has deeds to be done for Him in the day which He will not accept if done at night, and He has deeds to be done for Him at night which He will not accept if done during the day. He will not accept extra (nâfilah) deeds unless you fulfill the obligatory deeds. The scales of those whose scales will be weighty on the Day of Resurrection will only be weighty because they followed the truth in this life and it was weighty to them. And scales in which the truth will be placed tomorrow truly deserve to be heavy. And the scales of those whose scales will be light on the Day of Resurrection will only be light because they followed falsehood in this life and it was a light matter to them. And scales in which falsehood will be placed tomorrow truly deserve to be light. Allah the Exalted has mentioned the people of Paradise and mentioned them in the context of their best deeds, and overlooked their evil deeds, so when I remember them I say to myself: I fear that I will not be included with them. And Allah the Exalted has mentioned the people of Hell and mentioned them in the context of their worst deeds and rejected their best deeds, so when I remember them I say: I hope I won’t be amongst them. Allah’s worshippers should always be in a state of hope and fear, they shouldn’t wish flimsy wishes about Allah and neither should they despair of Allah’s mercy.

If you keep to this advice of mine, no one who is not with you now should be more beloved to you than death – and it is sure to come to you. But if you disregard this advice, no one who is not with you now should be more hated to you than death – and you cannot escape it.

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` Vol.1 p18; and Ibn Al-Jawzî, Sifah Al-Safwah. Read more!

The Great Virtue Of Lowering The Gaze

Imaam ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rahimahullah
Taken from 'al-Muntaqaa min Ighaathatul Lufhaan fee Masaayid ash-Shaytaan'[pp.'s 102-105] of ibn al-Qayyim

Allaah, the Exalted said,
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allaah is well acquainted with all that they do." [an-Nur (24):30]
So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance ..

The First: experiencing the delight and sweetness of faith.
This delight and sweetness is far greater and more desirable that which might have been attained from the object that one lowered his gaze from for the sake of Allaah. Indeed, "whosoever leaves something for the sake of Allaah then Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, will replace it with something better than it." [1]
The soul is a temptress and loves to look at beautiful forms and the eye is the guide of the heart.
The heart commissions its guide to go and look to see what is there and when the eye informs it of a beautiful image it shudders out of love and desire for it. Frequently such inter-relations tire and wear down both the heart and the eye as is said:
When you sent your eye as a guide For your heart one day, the object of sight fatigued you For you saw one over whom you had no power Neither a portion or in totality, instead you had to be patient.
Therefore when the sight is prevented from looking and investigating the heart finds relief from having to go through the arduous task of (vainly) seeking and desiring.
Whosoever lets his sight roam free will find that he is in a perpetual state of loss and anguish for sight gives birth to love (mahabbah) the starting point of which is the heart being devoted and dependant upon that which it beholds. This then intensifies to become fervent longing (sabaabah) whereby the heart becomes totally dependant and devoted to the (object of its desire). Then this further intensifies and becomes infatuation (gharaamah) which clings to the heart like the one seeking repayment of a debt clings firmly to the one who has to pay the debt. Then this intensifies and becomes passionate love (ishk) and this is a love that transgresses all bounds. Then this further intensifies and becomes crazed passion (shaghafa) and this a love that encompasses every tiny part of the heart. Then this intensifies and becomes worshipful love (tatayyuma). Tatayyum means worship and it is said: tayyama Allaah i.e. he worshipped Allaah.
Hence the heart begins to worship that which is not correct for it to worship and the reason behind all of this was an illegal glance. The heart is now bound in chains whereas before it used to be the master, it is now imprisoned whereas before it was free. It has been oppressed by the eye and it complains to it upon which the eye replies: I am your guide and messenger and it was you who sent me in the first place!
All that has been mentioned applies to the heart that has relinquished the love of Allaah and being sincere to Him for indeed the heart must have an object of love that it devotes itself to. Therefore when the heart does not love Allaah Alone and does not take Him as its God then it must worship something else.
Allaah said concerning Yusuf as-Siddeeq 'alayhis salaam,
"Thus (did We order) so that We might turn away from him all evil and indecent actions for he was one of Our sincere servants." [Yusuf (12): 24]
It was because the wife of al-Azeez was a polytheist that (the passionate love) entered her heart despite her being married. It was because Yusuf 'alayhis salaam was sincere to Allaah that he was saved from it despite his being a young man, unamarried and a servant.
The Second: the illumination of the heart, clear perception and penetrating insight.
Ibn Shujaa` al-Kirmaanee said, "whosoever builds his outward form upon following the Sunnah, his internal form upon perpetual contemplation and awareness of Allaah, he restrains his soul from following desires, he lowers his gaze from the forbidden things and he always eats the lawful things then his perception and insight shall never be wrong."
Allaah mentioned the people of Lut and what they were afflicted with and then He went on to say,
"Indeed in this are signs for the Mutawassimeen." [al-Hijr (15): 75]
The Mutwassimeen are those who have clear perception and penetrating insight, those who are secure from looking at the unlawful and performing indecent acts.
Allaah said after mentioning the verse concerning lowering the gaze,
"Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth." [an-Nur (24): 35]
The reason behind this is that the reward is of the same type as the action. So whosoever lowers his gaze from the unlawful for the sake of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, He will replace it with something better than it of the same type. So just as the servant restrained the light of his eye from falling upon the unlawful, Allaah blesses the light of his sight and heart thereby making him perceive what he would not have seen and understood had he not lowered his gaze.
This is a matter that the person can physically sense in himself for the heart is like a mirror and the base desires are like rust upon it. When the mirror is polished and cleaned of the rust then it will reflect the realities (haqaa`iq) as they actually are. However if it remains rusty then it will not reflect properly and therefore its knowledge and speech will arise from conjecture and doubt.
The Third: the heart becoming strong, firm and courageous.
Allaah will give it the might of aid for its strength just as He gave it the might of clear proofs for its light. Hence the heart shall combine both of these factors and as a result, Shaytaan shall flee from it. It is mentioned in the narration, "whosoever opposes his base desires, the Shaytaan shall flee in terror from his shade." [2]
This is why the one who follows his base desires shall find in himself the ignominy of the soul, its being weak, feeble and contemptible. Indeed Allaah places nobilty for the one who obeys Him and disgrace for the one who disobeys Him,
"So do not lose heart nor fall into despair; for you must gain mastery if you are true in faith." [Aali Imraan(3): 139]
"If any do seek for nobilty and power then to Allaah belongs all nobility and power." [Faatir(35): 10]
Meaning that whosoever seeks after disobedience and sin then Allaah, the Might and Magnificent, will humiliate the one who disobeys Him.
Some of the salaf said, "the people seek nobilty and power at the door of the Kings and they will not find it except through the obedience of Allaah."
This is because the one who who obeys Allaah has taken Allaah as his friend and protector and Allaah will never humiliate the one who takes his Lord as friend and patron. In the Du`aa Qunut their occurs, "the one who You take as a friend is not humiliated and the one who You take as an enemy is not ennobled." [3]
FOOTNOTES:
Reported by Ahmad [5/363], al-Marwazee in 'Zawaa`id az-Zuhd' [no. 412], an-Nasaa`ee in 'al-Kubraa' as mentioned in 'Tuhfah al-Ashraaf' [11/199] from one of the Companions that the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said, "indeed you will not leave anything for the sake of Allaah except that Allaah will replace it with something better than it." The isnaad is saheeh.
This is not established as a hadeeth of the Prophet (SAW)
Reported by Abu Daawood [Eng. Trans. 1/374 no. 1420], an-Nasaa`ee [3/248], at-Tirmidhee [no. 464], ibn Maajah [no. 1178], ad-Daarimee [1/311], Ahmad [1/199], ibn Khuzaymah [2/151] from al-Hasan from Alee (RA). The hadeeth is saheeh. The isnaad has been critcised by many, however none of the critcisms hold. Refer to: 'Nasb ar-Raayah' [2/125] and 'Talkhees al-Habeer' [1/247]

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Trapped inside a cave

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "While three persons were traveling, they were overtaken by rain and they took shelter in a cave in a mountain. A big rock fell from the mountain over the mouth of the cave and blocked it. They said to each other, "Think of such good (righteous) deeds which, you did for Allah's sake only, and invoke Allah by giving reference to those deeds so that Allah may relieve you from your difficulty ..

One of them said, 'O Allah! I had my parents who were very old and I had small children for whose sake I used to work as a shepherd. When I returned to them at night and milked (the sheep), I used to start giving the milk to my parents first before giving to my children. And one day I went far away in search of a grazing place (for my sheep), and didn't return home till late at night and found that my parents had slept. I milked (my livestock) as usual and brought the milk vessel and stood at their heads, and I disliked to wake them up from their sleep, and I also disliked to give the milk to my children before my parents though my children were crying (from hunger) at my feet. So this state of mine and theirs continued till the day dawned. (O Allah!) If you considered that I had done that only for seeking Your pleasure, then please let there be an opening through which we can see the sky.' So Allah made for them an opening through which they could see the sky. Then the second person said, 'O Allah! I had a she-cousin whom I loved as much as a passionate man love a woman. I tried to seduce her but she refused till I paid her one-hundred Dinars. So I worked hard till I collected one hundred Dinars and went to her with that But when I sat in between her legs (to have sexual intercourse with her), she said, 'O Allah's slave! Be afraid of Allah ! Do not deflower me except legally (by marriage contract).' So I left her O Allah! If you considered that I had done that only for seeking Your pleasure then please let the rock move a little to have a (wider) opening.' So Allah shifted that rock to make the opening wider for them. And the last (third) person said 'O Allah ! I employed a laborer for wages equal to a Faraq (a certain measure) of rice, and when he had finished his job he demanded his wages, but when I presented his due to him, he gave it up and refused to take it. Then I kept on sowing that rice for him (several times) till managed to buy with the price of the yield, some cows and their shepherd. Later on the laborer came to me an said. '(O Allah's slave!) Be afraid o Allah, and do not be unjust to me and give me my due.' I said (to him). 'Go and take those cows and their shepherd.' So he took them and went away. (So, O Allah!) If You considered that I had done that for seeking Your pleasure, then please remove the remaining part of the rock.' And so Allah released them (from their difficulty)." Sahih BukhariVolume 8, Book 73, Number 5

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