Abu Hafs [rahimahullaah] said to Abu Uthmaan Al-Naysaabooriy [rahimahullaah]:
When you sit with the people, then be an admonisher of your heart and soul, and do not be deceived by their gathering around you, for they [are only] aware of what they can see apparently, whilst Allaah is all aware of your inner self [i.e. your heart, soul]
Why Do You Travel to Study The Islamic Sciences?
[Think Carefully and Strive Hard Against Your Soul]
He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. He created you (all) from a single person (Adam); then made from him his wife [Hawwa’ (Eve)]. And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs (of the sheep, two, male and female; of the goats, two, male and female; of the oxen, two, male and female; and of the camels, two, male and female). He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness, such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away. If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, so He will inform you what you used to do. Verily, He is the All-Knower of that which is in (men’s) breasts.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah (The Most high) said:
إِنَّ قَـٰرُونَ ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ ۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلۡعُصۡبَةِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡقُوَّةِ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ قَوۡمُهُ ۥ لَا تَفۡرَحۡۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَرِحِينَ (٧٦) وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (٧٧) قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِىٓۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَهۡلَكَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مَنۡ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُ قُوَّةً۬ وَأَڪۡثَرُ جَمۡعً۬اۚ وَلَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ (٧٨) فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فِى زِينَتِهِۦۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا يَـٰلَيۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ قَـٰرُونُ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ۬ (٧٩) وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَڪُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٌ۬ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَلَا يُلَقَّٮٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ (٨٠) فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَمَا ڪَانَ لَهُ ۥ مِن فِئَةٍ۬ يَنصُرُونَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنتَصِرِينَ (٨١)وَأَصۡبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوۡاْ مَكَانَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيۡكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقۡدِرُۖ لَوۡلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَاۖ وَيۡكَأَنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (٨٢) تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادً۬اۚ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ
Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa’s (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: “Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours).
But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, [وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ – and seek not mischief in the land]– Meaning: through pride, disobedience (to Allaah), preoccupying yourself with the blessings (bestowed upon you by Allaah) at the expense of (obedience to Allaah, being thankful etc) [Ref 1];
[إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ -. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).
He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the Mujrimun will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account).
So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.”
But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).”
So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.
And those who had desired (for a position like) his position the day before, began to say: “Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful.
That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun [28:76-83]
[Ref 1: Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَيَدْعُ الْإِنسَانُ بِالشَّرِّ دُعَاءَهُ بِالْخَيْرِ ۖ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ عَجُولًا
And man invokes (Allah) for evil as he invokes (Allah) for good and man is ever hasty. [17:11]
This [behaviour] is from the ignorance and hastiness of the human being when he supplicates for evil against himself, his children and his wealth at the time of anger. He hastens to make such an evil supplication just as he hastens to supplicate for something good. But Allaah-out of His kindness-responds to him when he asks for good and not when he asks for evil. Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ
And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil (they invoke for themselves and for their children, etc. while in a state of anger) as He hastens for them the good (they invoke) then they would have been ruined. [10:11]
To be continued InShaaAllaah
[Source: (Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Paraphrased and abridged]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). (Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it). [50:16-18]
Few Reminders from the above Aayaat:
Allaah (The Most High) informed us that He alone created human beings-males and females- and He knows all their state of affairs. He knows everything that is hidden about them and what their own souls whisper to them. Allaah [The Most High] is nearer to them than their jugular veins by His knowledge, even though the jugular vein is the closest thing to the human. Therefore, this should make the human being mindful of Allaah, Who knows all the hidden affairs in the soul and heart of the human being in all circumstances. This should also make the human being shy in the presence of Allaah -that he (or she) is not seen committing what Allaah has forbidden or abandoning what Allaah has commanded. [1]
[1] [Source: (Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Abridged and paraphrased]
Repentance:
http://www.salaficentre.com/2016/08/salaah-tawbah-prayer-repentance/
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
فَأَمَّا الْإِنسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَنَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَكْرَمَنِ
وَأَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَهَانَنِ
As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honour and gifts, then he says [puffed up]: “My Lord has honoured me. But when He tries him, by straitening his means of life, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me!”
[89:15-16]
Reminders from Above Aayaat
When tried with richness and wealth, and given in abundance, he says that his lord has honoured him due to what he has been given. And when afflicted with poverty, he says that his lord has degraded him. However, this view of his is not correct; rather he should praise Allaah in both circumstances-in times of poverty and richness. [Ref 1]
The human is ignorant and unjust. He has no knowledge of the final end results of events. He thinks that the situation in which he finds himself is to continue and will never cease. He thinks that the kind treatment and blessings he receives from Allaah in the worldly life is an indication that he is honoured by Allaah and that he is one close to Him. However, not everyone who receives Allaah’s blessings in this worldly life is one honoured by Allaah, and not everyone whom Allaah afflicts with poverty is one humiliated by Allaah; rather riches and poverty, scarcity and abundance are a trial and a test by way of which Allaah makes known those who will show gratitude and those who will exercise patience. [Ref 2]
To be continued..InShaaAllaah
[Ref1: Source: (Zaadul Maseer’ by Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah). Abridged and paraphrased]
[Ref2: (Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Abridged and paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّٮٰكَ فَعَدَلَكَ
فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ
O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; in whatever form He willed, He put you together. [82:6-8]
Few Reminders from The Above Aayah:
Have you [i.e. the human] become negligent regarding the rights of Allaah; or do make a mockery of the punishment He has promised [the evil doers]; or do you disbelieve in His Recompense?! Is He is not the One Who created you, fashioned you perfectly in the best of forms and gave you due proportion? Is it befitting that you disbelieve in the blessings of your Lord or wilfully deny the kindness of the one who showed you kindness? Indeed, this behaviour of yours is out of nothing else, except due to your ignorance, unjust behaviour, obstinacy and thoughtlessness. So, praise Allaah for not making your image similar to that of a dog, a donkey or what is similar to them. And because of this, Allaah said: [فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ -In whatever form He will, He put you together].
To be continued InShaaAllaa
[Source: (Tayseer al-kareem Ar-Rahmaaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Abridged and paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said in Surah Al-Alaq Aayaat 6-7:
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ
أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَىٰ
Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds (in disbelief and evil deed, etc.). Because he considers himself self-sufficient.
Reminders from the Above Aayaat
He considers himself self-sufficient – not in need of his Lord and not in need of obedience to his Lord. This view of his is the cause of every destruction and transgression. It distances him from servitude to Allaah and the fact that he is completely in need of Allaah. [Ref 1]
Due to his ignorance and wrongdoing, he transgresses after considering himself self-sufficient; rebels and becomes haughty towards guidance [i.e. the guidance sent down by Allaah]. He forgets that he will finally return to his Lord and he fears not the recompense [on the day of judgement]; rather he might reach such a state that he abandons guidance and call others to abandon it, such as forbidding (others) from performing the prayer which is the best act of Eemaan. [Ref 2]
[Ref 1: (Badaa’i At-tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim’ Vol 3. page 344). abridged & paraphrased]
[Ref 2: (Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan of Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). abridged & slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَائِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَىٰ ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying down on his side, or sitting or standing. But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on his way as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him! Thus it seems fair to the Musrifun [transgressors] that which they used to do. [Soorah Yoonus. Ayah:12]
Few Reminders from the Above Ayah
When afflicted with illness or calamity, he strives in making supplication. He supplicates to Allaah whilst sitting, standing or lying down on his side so that the calamity is removed. However, when the calamity is removed, he carries on in heedlessness and turns away from his Lord as if he was not afflicted. So what type of ill treatment is greater than this?! He seeks after his goal from Allaah and Allaah fulfils it; however after reaching his goal, he does not give consideration to the Rights of his Lord, as if Allaah has no rights over him. This behaviour is beguilement from shaytaan, who beautifies for a person what sound intellect and [sound] natural disposition disapproves and considers repugnant.
To be continued…InShaaAllaah
[Source: (Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan). Abridged and paraphrased]