TRIALS IN THIS WORLD!

Allah (The Most High) said:

وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ

"...And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience?" [Qur'an25:20]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:

This is universal amongst all the creation; they are put to trial by one another.

* Those whom the Messengers are sent to are a trial for the Messengers in calling them to the truth, exercising patience in facing their harm and bearing the difficulty in conveying the Message of their Lord.

* And the Messengers are a trial for those whom they have been sent to, as to whether they will obey and aid them, and testify to the truth of that which they have been sent with; or whether they will disbelieve, reject and fight them.

* The ignorant people are a trial for the scholars, as to whether they will teach and advise them, whilst exercising patience in teaching, advising, guiding them and been constant in that.

* And the scholars are a trial for the ignorant people, as to whether they will obey them and follow their example.

* The subjects are a trial for the kings and the kings are a trial for the subjects.

* The poor people are a trial for the rich people and the rich people are a trial for the poor people.

* The weak people are a trial for the strong people and the strong people are a trial for the weak people.

* The leaders are put to trial by those who follow them and those who follow are put to trial by way of the leaders.

* The slave master is put to trial by way of his slaves and the slaves are put to trial by way of the slave master.

* A man is put to trial by way of his wife and his wife is put to trial by way of him.

* The men are put to trial by way of women and women are put to trial by way of men.

* The believers are put to trial by way of the disbelievers and the disbelievers are put to trial by way of the believers.

* Those who enjoin good and forbid evil are put to trial by way of those whom they command good and forbid from evil, and those commanded with good and forbidden from evil are put to trial by way of those who command them with good and forbid them from evil. - ighaathatul Luhfaan: 2/170-172]

Four Eyes

There is not a person except he has four eyes: two in his head with which he sees the matters of this worldly life, and two in his heart with which he looks to the matters of the hereafter. So if Allâh wants good for his servant, He opens his heart’s eyes, and so he perceives what he has been promised in the unseen world. Thus he is saved from the unseen [punishment] through the unseen [reward for the obedient].-- 

​

Khâlid b. Ma’d

 ​an, ​

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`  

​Imagining the Hereafter​

"I have never heard the adhaan except that I remember the caller who will announce the Day of Resurrection, and I never see the falling snow except that I imagine the flying pages of the records of peoples deeds (on that day), and I never see swarms of locusts except that I think about the Great Gathering on the Last Day."

​ Raabiah​ Basriyyah 

Sifah Al-Safwah

O My Soul What Do You Long For​ ?

"I imagined myself in the Hellfire with its iron chains and blazing fire eating from Zaqqoom (a tree in hell with exceedingly bitter fruit), and drinking from its Zamhareer (a bitterly cold drink), so I said "O my soul what do you long for?" It replied "To return to the world and perform a righteous action by which I will be saved form this punishment". I also imagined myself in Paradise with its Hoori dressed in silken garments (of Paradise) with gold embroidery.

​I said "O my soul! What do you long for?"

It said "To return to the world and perform a righteous action by which this reward will increase." So I said to myself "You are in the world and (surrounded by) aspirations".-Ibrahim at-Taymee

True Goodness

Goodness is not in your wealth and offspring being plentiful; true goodness is when your [good] deeds are plenty and you have great understanding and forbearance, and when you compete to worship your Lord. If you do good you praise Allâh and thank Him, and if you sin you beg Allâh’s forgiveness. There is no good in this life except with two types of men: A man who sins but then corrects himself through repentance, and a man who strives and hastens to get [the good] of the hereafter.- ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib – Allâh be pleased with him – 

​Choose Wisely

 – If you ever have time and find yourself in ease, then take advantage of prayer, to draw near to Allah; If you ever wish to speak ill a word of falsehood, then instead put in its place, a word of glorification; Because taking advantage of silence is better than speaking frequently, even if you are eloquent in speech. - Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak

Talking To The Nafs

A poem someone wrote speaking to his nafs (himself), addressing himself, giving himself advice. So he says: 
Oh myself! What will calm you?
Can’t you remain patient for a day or two?
I tried to contain you but your strength overpowers 
But when we die, life will seem like ours
So can’t you be patient for part of a day
And remain steadfast upon the straight way?
The direction you are taking leads to my worst fears 
Of the day we stand for 50 000 years
No one will joke, nor talk, nor smile
And the sun from our heads will be at a mile
Nowhere to hide and nowhere to flee
Standing for what seems an eternity
Then the judgment begins and the books will land
Either on your right or your left hand
Oh myself! Do not become like those who left the right track
And put their left hand behind their back
Oh self! How do you plan to cross the sirat suspended in the air
Craftier than a fox, sharper than a sword, and thinner than a hair?
How do you plan to cross, or will you cross at all?
With the blink of an eye will you run or would you rather crawl?
The bad deeds you command will drop you from it and only good deeds put you back up on it
Oh self! It is a 500 year drop suspension over a terrible place I would rather not mention
Oh self! Don’t be fooled by this world and its illusions
And keep in mind judgment, the grave and other conclusions
Oh self! Wake up, don’t follow your desire
And ask for forgiveness to avoid the Fire
Oh self! Keep the command and avoid the prohibitions
And pay close attention to these admonitions
Be amongst those who are the best of planners 
Who prepared for the future with good deeds and good manners
Oh self! It’s simply about your control 
Being patient now so as to reach your goal
I don’t mean to put burden or to put much stress
Just to warn of a day when the limbs confess
Sins add up as you live through the years 
Then sadness won’t save you and nor will the tears
Every time you sin the Shaytan is winning 
So remember the One against Whom you are sinning
Oh myself! Life is short and ends when you least expect it
And then what will you say when you are resurrected?
The Angel of Death overlooked you and took the souls of your brothers
And one day It will come to you and overlook others
For great reward plant the righteous seeds 
Oh Allah, we seek refuge in the evil of ourselves and from the evil of our deeds!

No Poverty after Paradise and no Wealth in the Fire

Jundub b. ‘Abdillâh Al-Bajalî – Allah be pleased with him – was once asked for advice and instruction. He said:I advise you to fear Allâh and obey Him (taqwâ) and I advise you to adhere to the Quran, for it is a light in the dark night and a guidance during the day, so implement it no matter how much struggle and poverty you have to face. If a calamity befalls you, put your wealth forward to protect your religion, and if the calamity continues, put forward your wealth and your life to save your religion [but never risk your religion], for the ruined is he whose religion is ruined, and the looted is he whose religion is taken. And know that there is no poverty after Paradise, and no riches after the Fir

e.​

 -​Al Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 3:174.

Beyond Words​

It is reported that ‘Alī b. Abī Tālib – Allāh be pleased with him said:

​ ​Mention what you will of the greatness of Allāh, but Allāh is greater than anything you say. And mention what you will of the Fire, but it is more severe than anything you say. And mention what you will of Paradise, but it is better than anything you say. 

Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-’Ilm article 853.

From Death Bed

It is reported that when Al-Hasan Al-Basrî was on his deathbed, some of his companions came to him and said:O Abû Sa’îd, offer us some words you can benefit us with. He replied, “I will equip you with three words, then you must leave me to face what I am facing. Be the farthest of people from those things you have been forbidden, and be the most involved of people in the good you have been commanded to do; and know that the steps you take are two steps: a step in your favor and a step against you, so be careful where you come and where you go.”Abû Nu’yam, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` 2:154

The Good of Both Worlds

​

"The good of this world is knowledge and worship, and the good of the hereafter is Paradise." --Al-Hasan Al-Basrî

​Truly Hastening to Prayers​

By Allah! Hastening to the prayer is not accomplished by the feet.  Indeed they were prohibited from coming to prayer without tranquility and dignity.  Rather, it is about the hearts, the intention, and the submission.—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Biggest Blessing

“When God desires good for anyone He blesses him with a sound intellect, makes knowledge beloved to him, bestows taqwa (God-consciousness) on him, makes gentleness his way, enriches him with contentment, and shows him his faults.”

Imam Harith al-Muhasibi, Risala Al-Mustarshidin

Exercising Patience​

‘Abdur Rahman Ibn ‘Awf (رضي الله عنه) said,”When we were tried with adversities, we exercised patience, but when we were tried with comfort, we surely failed to exercise patience.”

Practicing Knowledge​

Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) said, “One does not become (truly) pious unless he becomes learned, and one does not enjoy the beauty and benefits of his knowledge unless he practices what he knows.”

Grief Over Lost Worship

We once went to visit a worshiper who was sick and found him crying, looking at his feet. We asked, ‘Why are you crying?’ To which you replied, ‘They did not become dirty in the path of Allah.’ Another person cried, and they asked: ‘Why are you crying?’ He answered: ‘Due to a day that passed without me fasting it and a night that passed without me standing in it.’”—Ibrāhīm b. Adham

(Read on pg 49, Ibn al-Jawzi, Sincere Counsel to the Students of Sacred Knowledge. Daar as-Sunnah Publishers. Birmingham: 2011.)

Better Sustenance

I looked at all the friends and did not find a better friend than safeguarding the tongue. I thought about all the dresses but did not find a better dress than piety. I thought about all sorts of wealth but did not find a better wealth than contentment in a little. I thought of all sorts of good deeds but did not find a better deed than offering good advice. I looked at all types of sustenance but did not find a better sustenance than patience.

​ Umar ibn Al Khattab​

​The Servant Exists between the Hands of Allah​

The servant exists between hands of Allah at two times: while standing during performing prayer and standing on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever fulfills the rights of the first standing, will in fact be facilitating the second one, and whoever considers this easy and does not pay due attention to it, he will be making the other one difficult for himself.

​ Ibn Al Qayyim--Al Fawaaid​

Etiquettes of Learning​

"There are six stages to knowledge: First: Asking questions in a good manner. Second: Remaining quiet and listening attentively. Third: Understanding well. Fourth: Memorizing  Fifth: Teaching. Sixth​:​
 and it is its fruit: Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits."

 ​-Ibn Al Qayyim, 

 Miftaah Daarus-Sa 'aadah ( p.283)

Hardest Thing Upon Ego

It was said to Sahl, “What is the hardest thing upon the ego (nafs)?”  He replied: “Sincerity, because​ ​

the ego has no share of it.” Madarij al-Salikeen, 2/70

​The Positive Fear​

The positive and recommended fear is that which prevents the individual from the forbidden.  Fear beyond that may lead the person to despondency, which is itself forbidden.—

​I​

bn al-Qayyim

​ ​

(Madaarij al-Saalikeen, vol. 1, p. 548.)

Keys to the Life of The Heart​

The keys to the life of the heart lie in reflecting upon the Qur’an, being humble before Allah in secret, and leaving sins.

—Ibn al-Qayyim [d. 751H/1350CE]

Hadiyyul-Arwah ila Biladil-Afrah [p.45] of Ibn ul-Qayyim

​Work Towards True Joy​

O Son of Adam! Your mother gave birth to you while you were crying, while those around you were laughing in joy.Work for a day, the day you die, so that you will be laughing in joy, while they will be crying for you. - Saidul Khatir, page 203

​He Breaks to Mend​

"From the perfection of Allah's ihsan is that He allows His slave to taste the bitterness of the break before the sweetness of the mend. So He does not break his believing

​ slave​

, except to mend him. And He does not withhold from him, except to give him. And He does not test him (with hardship), except to cure him." -

​Ibn al Qayyim

Nothing Should Own You​

'Detachment from this world is not that you should own nothing. But that nothing should own you.' Ali bin Abi Talib (R.A)

​Hate the Sin Not the Sinner

Actions are speculative and equivocal matters, not definitive proofs. Therefore, we should not be excessive in praising those doing overtly righteous deeds, nor excessive in disparaging those doing overtly evil deeds. Rather, we should disparage and blame the sin and not the sinner.

—Imām al-Qurṭubī [d. 671H/1272CE]

Crippling Imperfections​

If one has no manners, one has no knowledge, if one has no patience, one has no deen, and if one has no piety, one cannot come near to Allah.—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī 

Misfortune Could Be Your Greatest Blessing​

It could be that our Lord tests the slave with misfortune in order to save him from destruction; in that case, his misfortune would be the greatest of blessings upon him.—Ishaq al-’Abid

Sound Aspiration

The signs of sound aspiration are that the aspirant’s main concern lies in pleasing his Lord, preparing to meet Him, being grieved at the times he spent in other than his Lord’s pleasure, and regretting the missed opportunities to be close and intimate with Him.  The summary of this is that day-in and day-out he has no concern other than this.—Ibn al-Qayyim (Al-Fawa’id, p. 171)

​Strive Against Yourself​

Whoever strives hard against his lusts in Allāh’s Cause by means of repentance will be guided to paths of sincerity.  We will never be able to fight our enemy in the outside except when we fight our enemies within ourselves.  Whoever gains victory over himself will gain victory over his enemies, and whoever is defeated within himself will be defeated by his enemies.

Knowledge Leads to Leadership

A bedouin once passed by Basra and asked, “Who is the Master of this city?”

It was said to him, “Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī.”

He asked, “And how did he become their master?”

They replied, “He had no need of their worldly effects but they were in need of his knowledge.”

Love of Dunya and Taqwa

It has been conveyed to me that a time will come when the hearts of the people will become so filled with the love of this world that the fear of Allah will not enter their hearts.  You can understand this if you fill a bag with so much of something that the bag becomes full to the brim; then try to put something else in the bag, and you will undoubtedly find no space to put anything else inside.—Sufyān al-Thawrī

Treat Anger With Patience and Mercy

When your companion becomes angry and says something that is unwarranted, you should not take it too hard.  His situation is that of a drunken person who is not aware of what is taking place.  Instead, be patient, even if it means only for a little while.  If you reciprocate his words with harsh words of your own, you become like the sane person who seeks revenge on a madman, or the conscious person who seeks retribution from an unconscious one.  Look at him with a merciful eye and pity him for his actions.—Ibn al-Jawzī [d. 597H/1201CE] in Sayd al-Khaatir

Giving Shaitan Hopes

If the shaytaan looks at you and sees that you are consistent in an act of obedience to Allaah, he will try to come to you again and again. If he sees that you are persistent in your actions (despite his efforts) he will tire of you and leave you. But if he sees that you are one day like this and one day like that, he will have high hopes in you. - Al Hasan Al Basree

Soften The Hardness with Dhikr

A man said to al-Hasan al-Basri, “O Abu Sa’eed, I am complaining to you of the hardness of my heart.”

He said,“Soften it with dhikr. The more forgetful the heart is, the harder it becomes, but if a person remembers Allaah, that hardness softens as copper melts in the fire. Nothing can soften the hardness of the heart like the remembrance of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. Dhikr is healing and medicine for the heart. Forgetfulness is a disease, the cure for which is remembrance of Allaah

Knowledge Leads to Repentance

If a man comes out of his house carrying a burden of sins like the mountains of Tihamah, then when he hears some knowledge he fears Allah and repents, he will go back home with no sins on him.  So do not forsake the gatherings of the scholars.—’Umar Ibn Al-Khattab

A Sincere Advisor

A sincere advisor does not have enmity towards you if you do not accept his advice.—Ibn al-Qayyim [d. 751H/1350CE]

Fasting Hot Days

Fasting Hot Days

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (rah) used to fast in hot weather so it as said to him, “You are an old man.”

He said, “I’m preparing it for a long day [i.e. Day of Judgement].( Ibn al-Jawzi, Awakening From The Sleep of Heedlessness.) 

The Most Eloquent Speaker

Allah’s Apostle (s a w) was the most eloquent speaker of all of Allah’s creation. His speech was sweet, comprehensive, and he had the most beautiful way with words. His words captured the hearts and souls. Even his enemies had to admit to this quality.—Ibn al-Qayyim [d. 751H/1350CE]

Losing Time Is Grave

"Losing time is harder than death, as losing time keeps you away from Allah and the Hereafter, while death keeps you away from worldly life and people."~ Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah

Perfect Your Prayer and Tongue

"Two matters, if a person perfects them, everything else will also be perfected: his prayer, and his tongue" ~ Yunus. B. Ubayd

Blessing of Allah

“When God desires good for anyone He blesses him with a sound intellect, makes knowledge beloved to him, bestows taqwa (God-consciousness) on him, makes gentleness his way, enriches him with contentment, and shows him his faults.”

Imam Harith al-Muhasibi, Risala Al-Mustarshidin

Giving Shaytaan Hope

If the shaytaan looks at you and sees that you are consistent in an act of obedience to Allaah, he will try to come to you again and again. If he sees that you are persistent in your actions (despite his efforts) he will tire of you and leave you. But if he sees that you are one day like this and one day like that, he will have high hopes in you. - Al Hasan Al Basree

Politeness-Characteristic of Believer

Politeness is part of the attitude of the believers, and it is lowering the wing of humility to people, speaking gently, and not speaking harshly to them,which are among the best means of creating harmony—ibn Battaal

Desiring Good for Others

I have never spoken to anyone without wanting success for him, and desiring that he be directed to the right way, be helped and have protection and preservation from Allah Almighty.—Imām al-Shāfi‘ī 

Shaitaan Runs Away Through Zikr of Allah

Abdullah Bin Abbas  narrated that Rasool Allah  said, “The Shaitan sticks to the heart of the child of Adam. When he does Zikr of Allah, he (the Shaitan) runs away from him. And when the child of Adam becomes careless from the Zikr of Allah, the Shaitan begins to put was-wasah (evil suggestions) into his heart. (Bukhari)

Shaytaan's First Trick

	The first confounding of Iblis [Satan] on people: He prevented them from knowledge,because knowledge is a light, if their lights go out he [Iblis] would strike them in the darkness however he wishes.  Ibn Al Jawzi

Disease of Criticizing

“Some people have the disease of criticising all the time. They forget the good about others and only mention their faults. They are like flies that avoid the good and pure places and land on the bad places and on wounds. This is because of the evil within the self and the spoiled nature.” Ibn Taymiyyah

Hold fast to God

"In God, there is no sorrow or suffering or affliction. If you want to be free of all affliction and suffering, hold fast to God, and turn wholly to Him, and to no one else. Indeed, all your suffering comes from this: that you do not turn toward God and no one else."–Imam Al Ghazzali

Good and Bad Actions

Ibn `Abbas [may Allah be pleased with him] said:

“Indeed good actions are a light in the heart, a strengthening for the body, a glow on the face, a cause for extensive provisions and love in the hearts of the creation. Indeed bad actions are a darkness in the heart, a blackness on the face, a weakness for the body, a cause for decrease in provisions and hatred in the hearts of the creation.”[Imam Ibn al Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah RahimahuAllah]

Hardwork in Seeking Glory

"If you do not work hard and face difficulties along your way in seeking glory, you will never taste honor and relief when you attain victory." Ibn al Qayyim

You feel darkness because of the light

If you find darkness in your heart after you have sinned, know then that in your heart there is a light, because of this light you felt the darkness.-- Ibn Al Jawzi

A Wise Person's Conceren

If a person were wise, his concern over his own sins would distract him from seeing the faults of others.— Imam Shafi’ee

Iblees's Determination

If Iblees conquers the son Adam with one of the three [things] he says,
'I will not seek anything else from him.
(1) being fond of himself,
(2) deeming his deeds to be plentiful, and
(3) forgetfulness of his sins.'"

Fudayl ibn 'Iyad

The State of a Believer

"The believer speaks little, but does much. 

And the hypocrite talks a lot, but does little. 
The believer's speech is wisdom, 
his silence is contemplation, 
his gaze is pondering, 
his actions are righteous. 
So if this is your state, you shall perpetually be in worship" - Fudayl bin Iyyad

Allah's Decree Is Most Beneficial

“As I look back on my life, I realise that every time I thought I was being rejected from something good; I was actually being redirected to something better. You must convince your heart that whatever Allah has decreed is most appropriate and most beneficial to you.”__Imam Al-Ghazali

Distress The Body Not The Soul

"You may distress the body in order to relieve the soul, but do not distress the soul to relieve the body; relief and distress of the soul is greater and more lasting, while relief and distress of the body is shorter and easier." Ibn al Qayyim 

The Intelligent Tongue

The intelligent person’s tongue is behind his heart: when he wants to speak, he first thinks. If [his words] will be in his favor, he says them, and if they will be against him, he does not speak. The ignorant person’s heart is behind his tongue; when he merely thinks of saying something, he says it, whether it is for or against him.--Al-Hasan Al-Basri

The Knowledgeable

‘A person does not stop being knowledgeable so long as he seeks knowledge. The moment he thinks that he is knowledgeable, he becomes ignorant.’-Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

The Knowledgeable

‘A person does not stop being knowledgeable so long as he seeks knowledge. The moment he thinks that he is knowledgeable, he becomes ignorant.’-Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

Sadness Over Sins And Heedlessness

Know that the heart of a person of sound mind cannot be free of sadness, because he remembers his previous sins, therefore becomes sad, he thinks about his negligence, reflects on what the scholars and the righteous have said, as a result he becomes sad for not taking heed.—Ibn al-Jawzī [d. 597H/1201CE]

Become Righteous, Others Will Follow

Were the people of the Qur’an to be righteous, all people would be righteous.—Maymoon b. Mihran

Drawing Close To Allah

Were you to go to the door of the governor, he would not receive you or give you any attention, perhaps he will even prevent you from getting near him.  But the King of kings is saying ‘Whoever comes to me walking, I will go to him running,’ yet you turn away from Him and run after another!—Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī

The best of people

The best of people are those who traverse the path of Prophet (s.a.w) and the elite of his companions (r.a) such that they are moderate in the bodily actions of worship and strive to correct the affairs and states of heart. this is because the journey to the Hereafter is cut short by the journey of the hearts, not the journey of bodies - ibn Rajab al Hanbali, The Journey to Allah

Soften Hearts With Dhikr

A man said to al-Hasan al-Basri, “O Abu Sa’eed, I am complaining to you of the hardness of my heart.”

He said,“Soften it with dhikr. The more forgetful the heart is, the harder it becomes, but if a person remembers Allaah, that hardness softens as copper melts in the fire. Nothing can soften the hardness of the heart like the remembrance of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. Dhikr is healing and medicine for the heart. Forgetfulness is a disease, the cure for which is remembrance of Allaah.”

Your Need For Acceptance Is Greater

“Know that your need of Allah accepting your charity is infinitely greater than the need of the one whom you give to your charity.-Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah 

Capital Of The Believer

The capital of the believer is his religion, it is always with him, he does not leave it behind when on a journey and neither does he entrust it to another.- Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī 

Sell Dunya, Win Aakhirah and Dunya

O son of Adam!  Sell your current life for your latter life, and you will win both.  Do not sell your latter life for this life, for you will lose them both.  The period of stay is short, and the righteous ones went away before you, so what are you waiting for? By Allah, it is about to come, and then the latter ones will join the former ones among you.—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE]

Sincerity for Allah

“Sincerity is not combined in the heart along with the love of being praised by the people, and being commended by them, and also having greed for what the people have, except like water being combined with fire.”[Imam Ibn al Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah RahimahuAllah]

Constantly Conscious of Death

Those who were before you used to often consider the nearness of death. One of them would often take water for purity, fulfils the call of nature and perform ablution, fearing that Allah’s Command (death) might come to him while he is not in a state of purity.—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE]

Desiring Good For Others

I have never spoken to anyone without wanting success for him, and desiring that he be directed to the right way, be helped and have protection and preservation from Allah Almighty.—Imām al-Shāfi‘ī [d. 204H/820CE]

Medicine of the heart

دواء القلب خمسة أشياء

The medicine of the heart is five things:

قراءة القرآن بالتفكر

1) reading the Qur’aan along with contemplation and pondering

وخلاء البطن

2) having an empty stomach

وقيام الليل

3) praying at night (qiyaam al-layl)

والتضرع عند السحر

4) beseeching Allaah at the time of suhoor

ومجالسة الصالحين

5) keeping in the company of the righteous people

————————————————————————-

[* As mentioned by Yahyaa ibn Mu'aadh (radiyaAllaahu 'anhu)]

Develop Good Through Patience

“You are going to face something difficult, and nothing can save you from it except the truth. Accustom yourself and those who are with you to doing good, start everything with good, and remember that for every good habit there is a means to develop it. The means of developing good is patience. If you are patient in bearing everything that befalls you or happens to you, you will gain the fear (taqwa) of Allaah.”~‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (advice to Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas)

Fill your heart with the love of Allah

“As long as the tongue is occupied in dhikr, it will be safe from unbecoming speech and lies, because it never keeps quiet. Alike it is with the heart, if it is not occupied in love of Allah then it will love the creation.”--Ibn al Qayyim 

Need Of A Servant

“The servant is never in need of any other thing as much as he is need of guidance to the straight path.” Ibn al Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah 

Book of My Lord

“If our hearts were truly pure, we would never get enough of the Words of our Lord, and I hate that one day passes with me not looking in the Mushaf.”‘Uthman bin ‘Affan said:

Ibn Abi Mulaykah narrated: Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl used to press the Mushaf to his face and cry, saying: “The Book of my Lord! The Words of my Lord

CERTAIN BUT NO ACTION

We are all certain that death will come, yet we do not see those who are prepared for it. 

 We are all certain of Paradise, yet we do not see those who work to earn it. 

 We are all certain of the Fire, yet we do not see those who are afraid from it.  

Therefore, what is it that you are waiting for? Death? Certainly, death is the first comer from Allah that will bring you good or evil [news].  So brothers, take the journey back to your Lord in a good manner.—Khulaid al-’Asri Sifatu as-Safwah, v 3, p. 231

Hearts that are dead

“Even the sleeping awake when shaken. If you are still unaffected by rightful guidance and not moved to repentance when entering the gatherings of the righteous, then your hearts are not asleep but dead.”— Hasan al-Basri

On Contentment And Silence

He who remembers death often will be content with little provisions, and he who knows that his words are among his actions, will speak little.—al-Awza’i

Ibtilaa': Tests are medicine

“The ibtilaa’ (testing) of the believer is like medicine for him. It cures him from illness. Had the illness remained it would destroy him or diminish his reward and level (in the hereafter). The tests and the trials extract these illnesses from him and prepare him for the perfect reward and the highest of degrees (in the life to come).”Calamities, trials and tests are signs of love from Allaah for the believers. They are comparable to a cure; although it may be bitter, you accept it because it is from the one whom you love; and to Allaah belongs the best example.-Ibn al Qayyim

Hold firm to five issues

- Worship Allah as much as you need to worship Him

- Take from the world according to your stay in it.

- Sin according to your stamina to absorb its punishment.

- Take provisions from the world according to your stay in the grave.

- Work for Paradise as much as you desire to stay there.

—Shaqeeq Balkhi

Allah Gives Greatest Reward

When a man goes to the king of the kings of this world, he receives the treasures of this world.  What about the man who goes to the King of all the Worlds, will Allah not give him a greater reward?—Abd al-Aziz b.Umayra

Forgiveness of Sins is a Favor

O Allah, You have ordered and forbade me, but I disobeyed you.  If you pardon, then You will have given a favor.  But if you punish, You will not have done injustice.—Muhammad b. al-Munkadir

Evaluate Yourself with The Quran

May Allah have mercy upon a slave who presents himself and his actions to the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic; if these conform to the Book of Allah, he praises Allah and asks Him for more; but if these oppose the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, he scolds himself and returns (to goodness) quickly.—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE]

Time In The Life Of A Believer

Time is the dearest thing to him (believer) and he would feel very sad if time passes without him doing what he is meant to do. If he misses time, he can never make it up, because a second time has its own duties. So if he misses time, there is no way he can bring it back.—Ibn al-Qayyim

Every Day Is A Witness

Every single day of this wordly life calls out:" O People! I am a new day and I am witness to all that which is performed in me, and once the sun has set, I will not return back to you until Yaw al - Qiyamah." - Hasan al basri

Least Of Blessings

Ibn Abi al-Dunya mentioned that Prophet Dawud (عليه السلام) asked Allah, “What is the least of Your blessings?” Allah revealed to him, “O Dawud, take a breath.” Dawud did so, and Allah told him, “This is the least of My blessings on you.”— [excerpt from Patience and Gratitude by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, 

Allah is All-Aware

“O people who do your things in hiding, you should know that with Allah (SWT) things are done in the open.  Allah has said: ‘Therefore, by the Lord, We will, of a surety, call them to account for all their deeds (Qur’an 15:92-93).”- Umar ibn Abdul Aziz

Do not look at him as a sinner

“If one night you see someone committing a sin, tomorrow do not look at him as a sinner, he may have repented during the night and you did not know.”— Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiallahu anhu)

The Reality of This World

“This world does not really please as much as it hurts; it pleases for a short time, but it leads to longer agonies and wider sadness.”- Umar ibn Abdul Aziz

Remember Death in Any Situation

“Try as much as you can to mention death.  For if you were having hard times in your life, then it would give you more hope and would ease things for you.  And if you were having abundant affluence of living in luxury, then it would make it less luxurious.- Umar ibn Abdul Aziz

A Sign Of Allah's Love

Whenever He hinders you from attaining what you desire and makes you resort to what He desires, it is a sign of His love for you. Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shadhili

Failing To Act Upon Knowledge

Woe one time, to he who does not know and acts! If Allah wants, He will teach him. And Woe seven times to he who knows and does not act upon his knowledge!—Abū Dardā’

Relationship between Fear of Allah and Good Character

“The Prophet (S.A.W) established a relationship between the fear of Allah and good character because fearing Allah improves the relation between the servant and Allah, and good character improves the relation between a person and others. Therefore, fearing Allah makes it possible for Allah to love him, and good manners makes it possible for people to love that person.”Ibn al Qayyim 

EFFECT OF SINS

❝Sins generate more sins, and one leads to another, until they overpower a man and he finds it difficult to repent from that.❞

As one of the scholars said: 

One of the punishments of bad deeds is more bad deeds, and one of the rewards of good deeds is more good deeds. - Ibn al Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah

LOVE OF ALLAH FOR HIS SLAVE

Had Allah lifted the veil for His slave and shown him how He handles his affairs for him, and how Allah is more keen for the benefit of the slave than his own self, his heart would have melted out of the love for Allah and would have been torn to pieces out of thankfulness to Allah. Therefore if the pains of this world tire you do not grieve. For it may be that Allah wishes to hear your voice by way of duaa. So pour out your desires in prostration and forget about it and know that verily Allah does not forget it. Ibn Al Qayyim Al Jawzi

Wise Sayings of Luqman

“If you’re in prayer, take care of your heart;

If you’re eating, take care of your throat;

If you’re in another man’s house, take care of your eyes;

If you are among people, take care of your tongue.

Remember two matters and forget two matters:

Remember Allah (SWT) and death;

Forget any good that you have done to another

and any evil that was done to you by another.”