Ameerul Mumineen Umar Ibnul Khattaab (radiyallaahu-anhu) stated:
”Indeed, we are a people whom Allaah has given honour by way of Islaam; so when we (begin) to seek honour through other than what Allaah has given us honour, Allaah will degrade us!”
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[Reported by Al-Haakim (rahimahullaah) in Al-Mustadrak (1/61-62]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said: ‘Whoever realizes what the innovators have abandoned of the Sunnah and left behind and he clings to it, he is a person of the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah. He should be followed, helped and protected. He is one of those whom the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) bequeathed should be looked after'[1]
Shaikh Saaleh al Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) commented on this above statement of Imaam Barbahaari, saying: That is [found in the statement of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)]: ‘They are those upon that which I and my Companions are upon today’
He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) advised that one should be with them- with this Jamaa’ah; this gathering of people and this group; which is upon that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Companions were upon. However, this requires two affairs:
The First Affair is Knowledge; We learn that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Companions were upon. As for the Jaahil, he does not learn whilst thinking that what the one in opposition is upon is what the Messenger was upon, when that is not the case.
The Second Affair is (firmness): To be firm upon that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Companions were upon; because the one who traverses upon the (authentic) Sunnah will receive grief, trouble and intimidation from the people; but he must exercise patience and not turn away from the truth. He does not bargain (the truth) nor leaves anything of it; and for that reason it has been reported about the one who holds upon his Religion at the end of time is like one holding onto a burning coal or prickles as a result of what he will receive of hardship, grief and trouble from the people. So he requires patience.[2]
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[1]Source: Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank (rahimahullaah). Explanation of the Creed
[2] Source: It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree, Vol2, page68-69
Narrated Ibn Abbaas (radiyallaahu-anhuma): The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good.”[1]
Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: This is the true state of affairs. Many people are deprived of these two blessings. (They) depart from him (i.e. the person) without fruitful gain and that is: They depart from him without (him acquiring) any benefit.[2]
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References:
(1)Saheeh Al-Bukhaari Vol 8. Hadeeth No: 6412. Page: 233. The Book of Ar-Riqaaq (Softening of the Hearts) Publisher: Daarus Salaam
(2)Al-Hulalul Ibreeziyyah Min At-Taliqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Saheeh Al-Bukhaariy; Vol 4; page: 222. Footnote No: 1
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu): The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘Everyday two angels come down from heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allaah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause’, and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allaah destroy every miser’
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[Bukhari, No:1442]
The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated:
Allaah stated: ”O son of Aadam allocate time to worship me regularly, I will fill your heart with richness and remove your poverty. If you do not do so, I will make your hands filled with occupation and will not remove your poverty” [1]
The prophet (sallal-laahu alayhi wasallam) also stated:
”Your Lord (Glorified and Exalted Be He) stated: ”O son of Aadam! Allocate time to worship Me regularly; I will fill your heart with richness. O son of Aadam! Do not distance yourself from Me or I will fill your heart with poverty and your hands with occupation.’’ [2]
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[1] Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhee of Imaam Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) 2/300]
[2] As-Saheehah. No:1359
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
When you sit with the people, then [sincerely] make humility the sign by way of which you are recognised; fear of Allaah as your shield and giving advice to the servants of Allaah as your abiding way.
Be eager to bring about good in every gathering – either [through] research in affairs of knowledge or advice on religious matters; either directing [others] towards a general or a specific useful affair; either making a mention of the blessings of Allaah or mentioning the superior status of praiseworthy manners and good etiquettes, or warning against that which is detrimental to the well-being of one’s religious or worldly (affairs). The least of that [i.e. the good you should bring in every sitting] is to advise the people to seek the income from their occupations by way of the permissible [means] and through what is forbidden. You should behave well towards the young, the elders and your peers. Deal with each of them in a way they deserve and have respect for the one that deserves to be respected and honoured.
Be eager to make your sitting easy by way of speech that is appropriate and good, even if that was in relation to the worldly (affairs). That is because when [permissible speech] and [permissible gathering] becomes fruitful, sitting together will be easy, conversation is made easy and the heart feels tranquil, and all of that is attributed to praiseworthiness.
The sensible person achieves abundant good from the gatherings of the people and he becomes more beloved to them than [others]; because he approaches them with [matters] they approve and statements they desire. And the foundation of all of that is success in taking over control of all the affairs placed before them.
These affairs become more emphasised during a journey [i.e. when people accompany one another on a journey]; because during a journey sitting together is prolonged and the travellers are in need of having someone who revives their hearts with good statements, the news of events, sense of humour-if all of that is truth and not too much. Good etiquettes makes [its possessor] more pleasurable to the people than the pleasure derived from a cold drink, and its influence bears heavier upon their souls than hard stones. And Allaah (Alone) is the One Who grants success.
Source: Noorul Basaair Wal al-baab fee ahkaam al -Ibaadaat Wal Mu’aamalaat Wal Huqooq Wal Aadaab- Imaam Abdur Rahmaan As Sa’dee (rahimahullaah) Page 64-65
Umm Salamah [رضي الله عنها] said:
The Prophet [ﷺ] never left my house except that he raised his eyes towards the sky, (and) then said:
اللهم أعوذ بك أن أضل أو أضل ، أو أزل أو أزل ، أو أظلم أو أظلم ، أو أجهل أو يجهل علي
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[Sunan Abu Daawud. Declared authentic by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah)]
Sharh Sunan Abee Daawud 363..by Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad (may Allaah preserve him)
See details and audio on this link: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=148121
Allaah (The Most High) stated:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
”Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things. Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. [67:1-2]
Allaah (The Most High) stated:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ
Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing). [3:185]
Allaah (The Most High) stated:
أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ
“Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!” [4:78]
Allaah (The Most High) stated:
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
We have decreed death to you all, and We are not unable, to transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not. [56:60-61]
Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ
And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad ), then if you die, would they live forever? [21:34]
Allaah (The Most High) stated:
إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ
Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die and verily, they (too) will die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be disputing before your Lord. [39:30-31]
Allaah (The Most High) stated:
وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
And the stupor of death will come in truth: “This is what you have been avoiding!” [50:19]
The Hadeeth of al Baraa ibn Aazib reported by Ahmad, Abu Daawud, al Haakim and others; The following is the wording of Imaam Ahmad rahimahullaah with authentic additions from others, compiled and authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaanee –rahimahullaah-in ‘Ahkaamul-Janaa`iz(pp.198-202) and it is up to the standard of Imaams al- Bukhaari and Muslim :
‘We went out with the Prophet sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam on a funeral of a man from the Ansaar. So we came to the grave and he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam had a stick, with which he was prodding the earth. He began looking towards the sky, and looking towards the earth, and raising his gaze and lowering it three times, and then he said:
Seek Allaah’s refuge from the Punishment of the Grave! …two or three times, and then he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: O Allaah, I seek your refuge from the Punishment of the Grave. …three times; And then he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam said:
The believing servant, when he is departing from this world and going on to the Hereafter – then some angels from the heaven descend upon him, with white faces as if their faces were the sun. With them, there are shrouds from the shrouds of Paradise and perfume for embalming from the perfume of Paradise – until they sit at a distance away from him that can be reached by the sight.
And then the Angel of Death alaiyhis-salaam comes, until he sits by his head and he says: O Pure soul! (and in one narration – at rest), come out to forgiveness from Allaah and His Pleasure! So it comes out flowing just like a drop of fluid flows out of a vessel. So he (alayhis-salaam) takes it – and in one narration – when his soul comes out, then every angel between the Heavens and the Earth makes supplication for it and every angel in the Heaven and the Gates of the (lowest) Heaven are opened for him.
And there are no inhabitants (i.e. angels) present at any gate except that they make supplication to Allaah that his soul be taken up from their direction.
So when he (the Angel of Death) takes it, he does not leave it in his hand even for the blink of an eye until he takes it and places it in that shroud and in that perfume – and that is His Saying, He the Most High: ‘Our Messengers take his soul in Death, and they do not fall short in their duty.’
And a smell comes from him like the smell of the purest musk found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it (the believing soul) and they do not pass by any (group of angels) expect that they say: What is this pure soul? So they say: It is so and so, the son of so and so. …mentioning him by the finest names which he used to be called in this world, until they take him to the lowest heaven and they request that it be opened for him – so it is opened for him.
And then the closest ones from every heaven accompany him to the next heaven until he reaches the seventh heaven – and Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic says: Write down the record of My servant in Illiyyeen (the highest heaven)! ‘And what will explain to you what is Illiyyoon? (in it will be) the written down record. Witnessed by those drawn close.’
So he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam said: Then his record will be written down in Illiyyeen. Then it will be said: Return him to the earth, for I have promised them that: From it I created you, and to it I shall return you, then I shall take you out from it again.
So he will be returned to the earth and his soul will be returned to his body, and he will hear the striking of the feet of his companions when they depart from him going away (from his grave). Then two severe angels will come to him, and they will be very abrupt with him, they will make him sit up and they will say to him: Who is your Lord? So he will say: My Lord is Allaah. They will say to him: What is your religion? So he will say: My religion is Islaam. So they will say to him: What was this man who was sent amongst you? He will say: He is Allaah’s Messenger sal Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam. So they will say to him: How did you know? So he will say: I read the Book of Allaah, and I believed in it, and I affirmed it.
So he will be abrupt with him, and say: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet? And this will be the last trial that the believer will face. So that is about what Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic said: ‘Allaah will make those who are believers firm, with the firm saying in the life of this world.’ So he will say: My Lord is Allaah, my Religion is Islaam and my Prophet is Muhammad sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam.
Then a caller will call from the heavens: ‘My Servant has spoken the Truth, so give him a bed from Paradise, and give him clothing from Paradise and open for him a door towards Paradise.’ So its gentle breeze and fragrance will come to him, and his grave will be expanded for him as far as the eye can see. And then there will come to him (in one narration there will be shown to him) a man with a handsome face, with fine clothing, with a beautiful scent, and he will say:
Receive good news of that which is pleasing for you! Receive good news of pleasure from Allaah and of gardens containing everlasting delight! This is your day which you were promised. So he will reply to him: And you – may Allaah give you good tidings – who are you? Your face is the face of one who comes with good. So he will say: I am your righteous deeds. For by Allaah, I have not known you except to be quick upon obedience to Allaah, slow to disobey him, so may Allaah reward you with good.
And then a gate will be opened for him from Paradise and a gate from the Fire, and he will say: This would have been your place, had you been disobedient to Allaah but Allaah has exchanged this for you instead of it. And when he sees what is in Paradise, he will say: O My Lord, hasten the establishment of the Hour so that I can return to my family and what is for me! So it will be said to him: Be calm. And he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam said: And as for the kaafir (disbelieving servant) (and in one narration – the faajir, the wicked one), when he is departing from this world and going on to the Hereafter, then angels descend upon him from the Heaven – angels who are severe and stern with black faces, having sack- cloths from the Fire. So they will sit at a distance from him that the sight can reach, and then the Angel of Death will come until he sits by his head and says: O foul and filthy soul! Come out to the Wrath of Allaah and His Anger! So it (his soul) will scatter throughout his body. So he will drag it out, just as a pronged roasting- fork with many prongs is pulled through wet wool. The veins and tendons will be torn along with it. And he will be cursed by every angel between the Heaven and the Earth and by every angel in the Heaven. The gates of the Heaven will be locked. There will not be any inhabitants of any gate except that they make supplication to Allaah that his soul should not ascend from their direction. So he will take it (the soul) and when he takes it, he will not leave it in his hand even for the blink of an eye – until he places it in that sack cloth. And there will come out from him a smell like the worst stench of the foulest corpse rotting upon the earth.
So they will take it up, and they will not pass by any group of angels except that they say:What is this foul spirit? So they will say: So and so, the son of so and so. …mentioning the worst names which he used to be called in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven, and request is made for him that it be opened but it will not be opened for him.
Then he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam recited: ‘The gates of the Heaven will not be opened for them (the disbelievers) nor will they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle.’ So he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam said: So Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic will say: Write his record in sijjeen (the lowest earth)! Then it will be said: Return My Servant to the Earth because I have promised them that from it I created you, and to it I shall return you and from it I will bring you out another time. So his spirit will be thrown down from the Heaven until it lands in his body. Then he sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam recited: ‘And whoever commits shirk along with Allaah, then it is as if he had fallen down from the Heaven and been snatched by birds – or the wind had carried him and thrown him in a far off place.’ So his soul will be returned to his body and he will hear the footsteps of his companions when they are departing from him, and two angels will come to him who are severe. And they will be severe with him, and they will make him sit up and they will say to him: Who is your Lord? So he will say: Haah, haah… I don’t know. So they will say to him: What is your religion? So he will say: Haah, haah… I don’t know. So they will say: So what do you say about this man who was sent amongst you? So he will not be able to mention his name.
So it is said: Muhammad. So he will say: Haah, haah…I do not know. I heard the people saying this. It will be said: You do not know and you did not recite. So then a caller from the Heavens will call: He has lied. So give him bedding from the Fire, and open for him a door to the Fire. So its heat and its scorching wind will come upon him, and his grave will be constricted upon him until his ribs cross over. Then there will appear to him a man with an evil looking face with foul clothing, smelling of an evil stench and he will say: Receive news which will upset you. This is your day which you were promised. So he will say: And may Allaah give you news of evil! Who are you? For your face is the one who comes with evil. So he will say: I am your foul deeds. I have not known you except being slow upon obedience to Allaah, quick to disobey Allaah, so may Allaah reward you with evil.
And then there will be set loose upon him one (angel) who is blind, dumb and deaf and he will have a heavy hammer in his hand. If a mountain were struck with it, it would become dust. So he will strike him with it, until he is smashed to dust. And then Allaah will return him to how he used was before, and (then) he will strike him with it again, and he will scream with a scream that will be heard by everything, except for mankind and jinn. And then a gate will be opened for him from the Fire and bedding will be given to him from the Fire. So he will say: O my Lord, do not establish the Hour! [This hadeeth was posted on salafitalk.net]
We ask Allaah for sincerity, steadfastness and a good ending in this life. Aameen
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) stated:
The Shahaadah ‘None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah’ (uttered) at the time of death has a great effect in wiping away evil deeds and nullifying them. That is because it is a testimony from a slave who is certain of it and has knowledge of its meaning. All his desires come to an end; his rebellious soul (becomes) mild and submissive after being in (a state of) refusal and disobedience; approving after turning away, and humbled after being held in high esteem. Its (i.e. the heart and the soul) eagerness for the worldly life and its merits departs-cut off (from everything) in the presence of its Lord, Originator and true Protector. Humble to Him, hopeful of His Pardon Forgiveness and Mercy. The Oneness of Allaah frees and cuts it off from the means to Shirk and the reality of its falsity is established; so those wishes which it busied itself with ceases and all its concern is (directed towards) The One it is certain to meet (i.e. Allaah).
The slave entirely focuses on Allaah- turning towards Allaah with his heart, soul and desire; submitting to Him alone inwardly and outwardly. His inward affair (i.e. the heart and soul) and outward affair (i.e. what he proclaims) become the same, and he sincerely says: “None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah.” Indeed, his heart is freed from attachment to other than Allaah and departs from inclining towards other than Him. All the worldly life departs from his heart and thus he is about to stand in the presence of his Lord. The intensity of his desires is extinguished and his heart is filled with the (affair) of the afterlife, so it becomes the attention of his eyes and the worldly life is (placed) behind him.
This sincere testimony becomes his last deed–purifying him of his sins and thus he is entered (into a noble position) by his Lord because he meets his Lord with a truthful and pure testimony, whose outward manifestation is in agreement with (what is hidden in the heart and soul). If he stated this (type) of testimony during the time of well-being, he would have deserted the world and its people-fleeing to Allaah from the people and leaving everything else other than Him. However, he made this testimony (in the world) with a heart filled with desires, love of life and its means of subsistence….
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[Source: Al-Fawaa-id. Page: 91-92. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]
Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) stated:
If you see that your time is elapsing and your lifespan dwindling, whilst you have not produced anything beneficial nor useful, nor do you find a blessing in your time, then beware (lest you be from those included in) the statement of Allaah (The Most High):
وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا
”And obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair has been lost.” [18:28]
That is: His affair has strayed and become disconcerted, and there is no blessing in it. It should be known that some people do remember Allaah, however he (or she) remembers (Allaah) with a heedless heart and for that reason he (or she) does not benefit. Indeed the person who remembers Allaah with his (or her) tongue and not with his (or her) heart is deprived of blessings in his (or her) deeds and time, until his (or her) affair is lost. You find him (or her) hanging around for long hours and he (or she) does not achieve anything. However, if his (or her) affair was with Allaah (i.e. truly spent in attentiveness to Allaah), he (or she) would have received blessings in all his (or her) actions. [Tafseer Soorah Al-Kahf of Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)] [1] [End of quote]
So we remind ourselves of the following Aayaat, so that we do not lose hope in Allaah’s Mercy and rush to repentance. Allaah (The Most High) said:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
“And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.
“And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” [2]
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[1] This serious reminder was sent to us in Arabic via WhatsApp by Ustaadh Ismaa’eel Al-Maghribi [Arabic Teacher @ Redstone Academy (Birmingham) and Qur’aan teacher @ Masjid Salafi (Wright Street) -may Allaah preserve him and all his colleagues…Aameen)]
[2] Soorah Az-Zumar. Aayaat 53-55 [Note: We added these Aayaat as a reminder]