Al-Allaamah Muqbil bin Haadi (rahimahullaah) said:
In the majority of cases the journalists are capricious; so they praise the rulers in order to be given wealth. And it may be that they accept the realities, whilst launching attacks against the people of knowledge (i.e. the scholars). Therefore, a person should be principled and truthful, and he should not care who opposes him. But if he is capricious, then the people will not be at ease with his newspaper because it becomes that of lies and (also) its articles.
So whoever wishes for victory and assistance from Allaah, and to make the word of (Allaah) uppermost, then he should change that which he is upon of disobedience, sins and opposition to the command of Allaah. And your Lord has stated:
‘Allaah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islaam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me.'[24:55]
Allaah (subhaanah) did not say that He has made a promise to those who attribute themselves to the Quraish or the Arabs or those who build castles and excavate petroleum….rather Allaah tied this affair to true Imaan and righteous action-regardless whether they are Arabs or non-Arabs….[Source: Booklet Titled: Your Enemies Are About To Gather Against You: ‘The Causes Of The Weakness Of The Muslims In The Presence Of Their Enemy'(page:29-30)]
”And of them are some who made a covenant with Allah (saying): “If He bestowed on us of His Bounty, we will verily, give Sadaqah (Zakat and voluntary charity in Allah’s Cause) and will be certainly among those who are righteous. Then when He gave them of His Bounty, they became niggardly [refused to pay the Sadaqah (Zakat or voluntary charity)], and turned away, averse. So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant with Allah) which they had promised Him and because they used to tell lies. [9:75-77]
Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) mentioned in his Tafseer that Allaah punished the Munaafiqoon by putting hypocrisy in their hearts; because they made a covenant with Allaah that they will spend in charity if given of Allaah’s Blessings, but they became n*gg*rdly and turned away after they were given of His Blessings.
Therefore, the believer is warned against this evil characteristic of the Munaafiqoon, such that he makes a covenant with his Lord to do such and such, but when he reaches his goal he fails to fulfil that; for indeed, it may be that Allaah will punished him by putting hypocrisy in his heart just as he punished the Munaafiqoon.
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said:
Indeed, defeat of the Muslims occurred due to one act of disobedience (i.e. during the battle of Uhud). And at present we want victory whilst disobedience is plenty amongst us. And due to this it is not possible for us to rejoice with victory as long as we are upon this state of affairs, unless Allaah shows us kindness and rectify all of us.
Narrated Abu Sa’eed (radiyallaahu-anhu): Allah’s Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “The thing I am afraid of most for your sake, is the worldly blessings which Allah will bring forth to you.” It was said, “What are the blessings of this world?” The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said, “The pleasures of the world.” A man said, “Can the good bring forth evil?” The Prophet kept quiet for a while till we thought that he was being inspired divinely. Then he started removing the sweat from his forehead and said,” Where is the questioner?” That man said, “I (am present).” Abu Sa’id added: We thanked the man when the result (of his question) was such. The Prophet said, “Good never brings forth but good. This wealth (of the world) is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and all the vegetation which grows on the bank of a stream either kills or nearly kills the animal that eats too much of it, except the animal that eats the Khadira (a kind of vegetation). Such an animal eats till its stomach is full and then it faces the sun and starts ruminating and then it passes out dung and urine and goes to eat again. This worldly wealth is (like) sweet (fruit), and if a person earns it (the wealth) in a legal way and spends it properly, then it is an excellent helper, and whoever earns it in an illegal way, he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied.” [1]
Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) clarified that good only brings good. Wealth is not absolute goodness, rather it is a trial. So whoever spends it in its rightful (place), then it is good; and whoever spends it in dubious ways, then it will be bad for him, such as the eater of the khadira (i.e. a kind of vegetation); but it becomes safe and sound when it defecates and urinates. [2]
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu): Allaah’s Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”If anyone of you looked at a person who was made superior to him in wealth and (good) appearance, then let him also look at the one who is below him and to whom he has been made superior.” [1]
Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: So that he may recognize Allaah’s blessing upon him. And in another narration (it is stated): So that he does not belittle the blessings Allaah has bestowed upon him. [2]
Narrated Abdullaah (radiyallaahu-anhu): ”The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: Paradise is nearer to any of you than the Shiraak (leather strap) of his shoe, and so is the (Hell) fire.” [1]
Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: This (i.e. the above speech of the Prophet) is from Jawaami Al-kalim (i.e. a short expression with a vast meaning). There is nothing between him (i.e. a person) and paradise except dying (in a state) of Imaan and (that can be within) a few moments. And there is nothing between him and the hell fire except dying (in a state) of disbelief and (that can be within) a few moments. [2]
