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Tag: softening the hearts

Partners In Crime [In The Worldly Life] Disown Each Other When It Will Be Too Late!

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا رَبَّنَا أَرِنَا اللَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ الْأَسْفَلِينَ

And those who disbelieve will say: “Our Lord! Show us those among jinns and men who led us astray, we shall crush them under our feet, so that they become the lowest.” [41:29]

[وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا  – And those who disbelieve will say]- that is those who were followers amongst them (will say) out of resentment towards those who misguided them:

[رَبَّنَا أَرِنَا اللَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ  – Our Lord! Show us those among jinns and men who led us astray]; that is the group who led them to misguidance and punishment – the devils amongst the Jinn, Mankind and the callers to the hell fire.

[نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ الْأَسْفَلِينَ   – we shall crush them under our feet, so that they become the lowest]; that is to be humiliated and disgraced, just as they misguided us and put us to trial and became the cause behind [our stay in this place of ours (i.e. the fire)].

This ayah shows their resentment and declaring their innocence from one another.

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[Source: Tayseer Ar-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’ Publisher: Daar Ibn Hazm’ 1st ed 1424AH (year 2003). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]

 

A Few Reminders to Our Beloved Youth about Preserving One’s Time during I’tikaaf

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Firstly: We bring this general remind for all of us. Allaah [The Most High]:

قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّي بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ

Say (O Muhammad): My Lord has commanded justice and (said) that you should face Him only in each and every place of worship, and invoke Him only making your religion sincere to Him. As He brought you (into being) in the beginning, so shall you be brought into being (on the Day of Resurrection). [7:29]

[قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّي بِالْقِسْطِ  – Say (O Muhammad): My Lord has commanded justice]; that is uprightness in worship and justice in dealings- neither oppression nor tyranny.

[وَأَقِيمُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ  – And you should face Him only in each and every place of worship]; that is you should face Allaah only (i.e. worship none but Allaah); strive to accomplish the acts of worship, especially the Salaah, and perform it outwardly (i.e. performed properly with its pillars, conditions and obligation) and inwardly (i.e. with sincerity, khushoo etc) and purify it from every deficiency and corruption.

[وَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ – And invoke Him only making your religion sincere to Him]; that is intend only Allaah by way of it (i.e. your worship) without associating any partner to Him. [Ref 1]

Secondly: We bring this general reminder for our beloved youth as a source of encouragement, regarding those steadfast young men mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَرَبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ إِذۡ قَامُواْ فَقَالُواْ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَن نَّدۡعُوَاْ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَـٰهً۬ا‌ۖ لَّقَدۡ قُلۡنَآ إِذً۬ا شَطَطًا

And We made their hearts firm and strong when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any ilah (god) other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief.’’ [18:14]

Made their hearts firm and strong: It necessitates fortification of their hearts with patience and firmness; strengthening and supporting (their hearts) with the light of Imaan, so that they were able to leave the land of their people and separated themselves from the comfort they were in, and fled to the cave (for the safety) of their religion. [Ref 2]

Likewise, remember the tremendous reward awaiting those young men who grew up in the worship of Allaah (The Most High). The Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: There are seven (people) whom Allaah will shade on a Day when there is no shade but His. They are a just ruler, a young person who grew up in the worship of Allah, a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two persons who love each other who meet and depart from each other for the sake of Allah, a man whom a beautiful woman of high status seduces but he rejects her by saying I fear Allah, a person who spends in charity and conceals it such that his right hand does not know what his left hand has given, and a person who remembered Allah in private and wept.” [Bukhaari & Muslim]

Thirdly: Let us remind you of preserving your time whilst you are in I’tikaaf! Spend your time wisely and do not engage in too much chatting and thus waste a lot of valuable time. Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:”Time wasting is more serious than death because time wasting cuts you off from Allaah and the home of the afterlife, whereas death cuts you off from the worldly life and its people.’’ [Ref 3]

He (rahimahullaah) also said: The greatest profit in the worldly life is that you preoccupy yourself- every time- with what is more worthy (or obligatory), and with what is more beneficial for (you) in the hereafter”. [Ref 4]

We ask Allaah [The Most High] to grant you abundant good and make you a coolness of the eyes of your parents. This is a supplication every parent would desire to be answered. Saeed Ibn Mansoor said: Hazm reported to us, saying: I heard katheer Ibn Ziyaad asking Al-Hasan about the statement of Allaah (The Most High): [ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ  – Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes (Ref 5)]; saying: O Abu Saeed! What is this comfort of the eyes- is it in this worldly life or the afterlife? He (Al-Hasan) said: No, rather, by Allaah, it is in this world. He (katheer) said: What is it? He (Al-Hasan) said: By Allaah it is (when) Allaah causes a slave to see (deeds) of obedience to Allaah from his wife, brother and close friend. By Allaah there is nothing more beloved to a Muslim than seeing his/her child, or father or a close friend being obedient to Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic). [Ref 6]

Finally: A few reminders about I’tikaaf: http://www.salaficentre.com/2016/06/prophetic-guidance-itikaaf-reminders-imaam-ibnul-qayyim-imaam-albaani-rahimahullaah/

Abu Faatimah (Abdullah Al-Gambi)

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[Ref 1: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ Publisher’ Daar Ibn Hazm (1 Volume) pages 263-264. Slightly paraphrased and abridged]

[Ref2: Madaarij As-Saalikeen: 3/67-68]

[Ref3: Source: Al-Fawaaid. page 59]

[Ref 4: Al-Fawaa’id..page 60]

[Ref 5: Surah Al-Furqaan Ayah 74]

[Ref 6: Fathul Baari 8/491. At-Tabari 19/318]

Commanding Ourselves With Three Affairs When We Speak, Remain Silent or Perform a Deed- By Haatim al-Asam

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Haatim Al-Asam (rahimahullaah) said:

Command yourself with three affairs:

When you perform an act, remember Allaah’s Sight over you;

when you speak, remember Allaah’s Hearing over you and when you keep silent, remember Allaah’s knowledge about you. 

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[Siyar 11/484]

Abu Faatimah (Abdullah Al-Gambi)

The Effects On Our Hearts -During and After Admonitions’ [By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi]

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam.

Imaam Ibnul Jawzee (rahimahullaah) said:

Indeed the listener is awaken at the time of hearing admonitions, but when he leaves a gathering (in which) Allaah was remembered he returns to a (state) of impenitence and heedlessness. So I pondered and came to know of its causes and saw that the people were in different (circumstances) in that regard. The general state of affairs is that the heart does not remain upon a distinct state of wakefulness after one hears an admonition, and this is due to two reasons:

Firstly: An admonition is like a whip and a whip does not cause harm after its use ceases.  Its pain is (felt) at the time it is used.

Secondly: Whilst listening to admonitions a person may be withdrawn from (worldly influences)—his body and thoughts are isolated from the influences of the worldly life and he pays attention with his heart; however when he returns to the (worldly) preoccupations, he is captivated by its hassels. Therefore, how can he be as he was (during the time of the admonition)?! This state of affairs encompasses all the creation, except that what maintains wakefulness differs in the manner their influences are maintained.

There are those amongst the (people) who are firm and they do not go back and forth—they proceed towards (wakefulness and righteous action) without turning away.  And had it been that they were hindered by their natural inclinations, they would not have complained just as Handhalah (radiyallaahu-anhu) complained about himself, (saying): ‘’Handhala has turned to be a hypocrite.’’ [1]

There are a people amongst the people whose natural inclinations make them incline towards heedlessness at times, and at other times they are called through admonitions to perform (righteous) actions.  They are similar to a grain of (corn) that is blown back and forth by the breeze.

There are a people who are not affected by (admonitions) except in accordance with the degree of what they heard, similar to water rolling on a smooth rock.  [Source: Saydul Khaatir: page: 14. abridged and slightly paraphrased]

[1]Hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim: Handhala (radiyallaahu-anhu) complained to Abu Bakr (radiyallaahu-anhu) that he has turned to be a hypocrite, because when he is the company of Allaah’s Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi wa sallam) he ponders over Hell-Fire and Paradise as if he was seeing them with his very eyes.  And when he leaves the company of the Messenger (sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam) he is diverted by his wife, children etc and this makes him less attentive to what he heard from the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam).  So Abu Bakr (radiyallaahu-anhu) told him that he also experiences the same thing. So they both went to the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and handhala complained to the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) about himself (i.e. that he does not find himself in the same state when he leaves the company of the Messenger).  So the Messenger (sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my soul is, if you remained in the same state as you are when in my company, the Angels will shake hands with you in your beds and in your pathways…. [Saheeh Muslim No. 6623]

Abu Faatimah (Abdullah Al-Gambi)

[3] Few Reminders From Imaam Ibnul Qayyim about The Diseased Heart

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam.

The diseases of the heart revolve around four things: corruption, weakness (i.e. unable to restrain oneself), forgetfulness (i.e. due to being heedless) and oppression.

Doubt, ignorance, confusion, misguidance, love of deviation and wicked lowly desires (found) in heart returns back to these four affairs (i.e. corruption, weakness, forgetfulness and oppression); so a slave (i.e. a person) pursues the causes of the heart’s sickness until he becomes sick (i.e. his heart becomes sick), then Allaah punishes him by increasing this disease due to him giving preference to the causes of this disease and pursuing them.

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[Source: Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnu Qayyim’ Vol 1. Pages 96-97]

[2] Few Reminders From Imaam Ibnul Qayyim about The Diseased Heart

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam.

 

The hearts of the hypocrites are (afflicted) with the sickness of doubt and illusion. The hearts of the disobedient ones are (afflicted) with the sickness of deviation and lowly desires. Indeed, Allaah referred to all of them (i.e. doubt, illusion, deviation and lowly desires) as diseases.

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[Source: Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnu Qayyim’ Vol 1. pagePage 96]

Oppression Against Oneself- [Rejecting Truth, Affirming falsehood and Giving Precedence to The Intellect Over Texts of The Qur’aan and Sunnah]

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam.

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said:

When a person does not act on truth he is in needs of-neither affirming nor loving it, he is an oppressor against himself. When he affirms falsehood or loves it, and follows his desires, he is an oppressor against himself. Oppression against oneself returns back to following conjecture and what the soul desires, and this can be by way of following one’s views and desires. Bidah is the basis of evil and that is to give precedence to one’s intellect over the revealed text and choosing one’s desires over the fulfilment of a command. Following the guidance is the basis of good, as Allaah (The Most High) said:

فَإِمَّا يَأۡتِيَنَّڪُم مِّنِّى هُدً۬ى فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشۡقَىٰ

وَمَنۡ أَعۡرَضَ عَن ذِڪۡرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُ ۥ مَعِيشَةً۬ ضَنكً۬ا وَنَحۡشُرُهُ ۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعۡمَىٰ

”Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” [Taha Aayat 123-124]

[Source: شرحُ حديث ٱللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلما كثيرا of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah. Page: 66]

Servitude to other than Allaah!

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Belief - 'Aqeedah', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) was asked about the statement of a person who says: ”I am free (or liberated?)”

Answer

If a liberated (or free person) says this and intends by it freedom from slavery to the creation, then yes he is free from slavery to the creation. However, if he intends by this that he is liberated (freed) from servitude to Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic), then indeed he has erred in his understanding of servitude and he does not understand the meaning of freedom. That is because servitude to other than Allaah is bondage. As for the servitude of a person to Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic), then this is real freedom because if he does not humble himself to Allaah, he will humble himself to other than Allaah. So he deceives himself when he says that he is free (or liberated), meaning: he is liberated from obedience to Allaah and does not fulfil (such obedience to Him).

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[Source: Al-Manaahiy al-Laf’dhiyyah: page: 117]

 

From the excellent outcomes of knowing one’s rightful status amongst the people!

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Question to Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-Uthaymeen

May Allaah have mercy upon a person who knows his limitations and worth- [Does this (saying) have an (established) source and has it been transmitted in a hadeeth?]

Answer:

I do not know of an (established) source for it; however its meaning is correct. (That is) because when a person knows his (limitations and worth), he will be humble in the presence of his Lord. He will worship Allaah and will know that he is not free from being in need of Allaah in the twinkling of an eye. If he knows himself, he will know his status amongst the people and this knowledge will make him not to be haughty towards them because haughtiness is from the major sins, and looking down on the people is from the forbidden affairs. And that is why when the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) warned against haughtiness (or pride), they (i.e. the people) said: “Everyone of us loves that his clothes and shoes are nice;’’ so he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “Indeed, Allaah is beautiful and He loves beauty; haughtiness (or pride) is to reject the truth and look down on the people.”

So when a person knows his (limitations and worth), he will know his rank amongst the people.  He will place himself in his (rightful) place; humble himself in the presence of his lord and in the presence of Allaah’s creation.  And whoever humbles himself to Allaah, Allaah will raise him.

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[Source: Noor Alad-Darb: cassette: 250]

 

Had it not been the Tawfeeq of Allaah upon you, your souls would not have yielded to Imaan

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Belief - 'Aqeedah', Methodology - 'Manhaj', Monotheism - Tawheed, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Qur'aan, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْأِيمَانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الرَّاشِدُونَ فَضْلاً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

And know that, among you there is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you (i.e. follow your opinions and desires) in much of the matter, you would surely be in trouble, but Allah has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience (to Allah and His Messenger) hateful to you. These! They are the rightly guided ones, (This is) a Grace from Allah and His Favour. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. [Soorah al-Hujuraat: Ayah 7-8]

Your love for Imaan, desire for it and its beautification in your hearts is not from yourselves; rather it is Allaah who placed it in your hearts. He is the one who made it preferable and pleasing to you; therefore do not put yourself before My [i.e. I (Allaah)] Messenger-neither speak until he speaks nor act until he commands you. The one (i.e. Allaah) who made you love Imaan is the most knowledgeable concerning what is of benefit for His slaves than yourselves.  And had it not been the Tawfeeq of Allaah upon you, your souls would not have yielded to Imaan. Imaan would not have been (acquired) through your consultation and bestowed from yourselves, nor would you have given it precedence because your souls are unable and weak to (do that), and cannot reach it…. [For further details, See ‘Madaarij As-Saalikeen 1/414—415]

Abu Mu’aawiyah (Abdullah Al-Gambi)