How can we prefer the fading over the everlasting?!

 

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymīn رحمه الله said:

…how can we prefer the fading over the everlasting?! By Allāh, that’s ignorance from us and heedlessness. How can we value this life over the next even though we see it disappear without returning – so if we do not take the opportunity to fill our lives with righteous actions, we will lose out on this life and the next.

Source: The Description of Paradise, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, Taken from his classical work Al-Nuniyyah, Explained by Al-‘Allamah Muhammad b. Salih Al-‘Uthaymin, Translator: Uthman Mustafa, Publisher: Hikmah Publication, p. 194 

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“A slave of Allah may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him in degrees...”

 

 .....

It is reported in the two saheehs from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) who said that Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) said:

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ لاَ يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالاً يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَاتٍ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللَّهِ لاَ يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالاً يَهْوِي بِهَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ

“A slave of Allah may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him in degrees—and a slave of Allah may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.” 

(Bukhari, no. 6478)

SOURCE: https://abukhadeejah.com/backbiting-evil-and-permissible-critism-in-defence-of-islam/

And whoever turns away from Allaah's reminder - indeed, he will have a miserable life...

 

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ .

124. "But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ān nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” 

[Sūrah Ṭā Hā 20:124]

Souce: al-Hilâlî & Muhsin Khân Translation, Noble Qur'ân, Surah Tâ-Hâ: 20 verse 124, Part 16, page. 426.

How excellent is the grave...

 

Ibn Abī Dunyā reported that Muhammad bin Qudāmah narrated to me that her heard Bishr ibn al-Hārith say:

How good and excellent the grave is as an abode for the one who is obedient to Allāh.

Kitāb al-Qubūr of Ibn Abī Dunyā (pg. 130)

Trans. By Markaz Ar-Razizayn (Melbourne)

Plant Good

 

Imām Ibn Rajab رَحِمَهُ اللهُ said:

“Verily, man plants – with his speech and action – good deeds and bad deeds, and then, on the Day of Resurrection, he will harvest what he planted. So, whoever plants good speech and action will harvest dignity and honour. And whoever plants evil speech and action will harvest regret tomorrow.”

Jāmi’Al-‘Ulūm Wa Al-Ḥikam (2/147) | Tweeted By Shaykh ‘Abdullāh Al-Bukhari | Translated By RPubs Editorial

Three things that will bring salvation

 

Ibn Jarīr recorded that Yazīd bin Abi Maryam said:

“Umar, may Allāh be pleased with him, passed by Mu’ādh bin Jabal and asked, ‘What is the foundation of this Ummah?’ Mu’ādh said, “Three things, and they are the things that will bring salvation: Al-Ikhlāṣ (doing a deed for Allāh alone), which is the Fiṭrah with which Allāh created mankind; Ṣalāh, which is the thing that tells a believer apart from a disbeliever; and obedience, which is protection.’ ‘Umar said: ‘You have spoken the truth.”

Aṭ-Ṭabari 20:98.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 7, page. 546, Darussalam

Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه reported:

369. Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه reported:

A bedouin came to Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and said to him, “When will be the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)?” He (the Prophet ﷺ) said, “What preparation have you made for it?” He said, “Only the love of Allāh and His Messenger.”Then Messenger of Allāh ﷺ  said, “You will be with those whom you love.”[Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

The narration in Muslim is: The man replied: “I have made no significant preparation with regard to Salāh (prayer), Saūm (fasting) and Sadaqah (charity) but I love Allāh and His Messenger.”

Commentary: The love of the Companions  of the Prophet ﷺ for Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ was not verbal only, as is the case of present-day Muslims. Their love was full of obedience and submission to Allāh in the true sense. This is what the Bedouin mentioned in this Hadīth really meant when he said that he had not amassed a large treasure by way of Salāt, Saūm (fasts) and Sadaqah for presentation on the Day of Resurrection. What he meant by them was voluntary acts  and not the obligations. The reason being that the obligatory acts like Salāt , Saūm and Zakāt are incumbent on every Muslim and no one can claim to be a true believer and lover of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ who ignores them. Any Muslim who entertains true love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ, makes  it evident in his practical life by his strict performance of the duties and obligations enjoined by Allāh and demonstrated by His Prophet ﷺ through his Sunnah. Even if such a person does not have to his credit a large amount of voluntary acts, he will be successful by Allāh. This is the real import of this Hadīth, otherwise a Muslim’s claim for the love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ will be void if he does not fulfill his religious obligations. In fact, without the fulfillment of religious obligations, his claim will be nothing short of self-deception. His claim for the love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ, which is not supported by his actions will carry no weight before Allāh.This is what the following Āyah of the Noble Qur’ān enjoins: “Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind:) ‘If you (really) love Allāh then follow me (i.e., accept Islāmic Tauhid, follow the Qur’ān and the Sunnah), Allāh will love you and forgive your sins. And Allāh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (3:31)

Source: Riyād-us-Saliheen, Volume 1., Chapter 45 (under Visiting the Pious Persons Loving them and Adoption of their Company) Hadīth no. 369, page. 336-337, Compiled by Al-Imām Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi, Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, Translated by Dr. Muhammad Amin Abu Usamah Al-Arabi bin Razduq, Darussalam.

Ḥuṣain Ibn Miḥsan who said my paternal aunt said:

Fifth hadeeth

Ḥuṣain Ibn Miḥsan who said my paternal aunt said:

“I had a situation so I went to the Messenger of Allāh. So he said: You there; are you married? I responded: Yes. He then enquired: How do you treat your husband? I said: I do not fall short except in what I have no capability to do. He said: Look how you treat him because he is your paradise and your fire.”

Ibn Abū Shaybah (7/47), Ibn S’ad (8/459), An-Nasā’ ī  in Ishratah al-Nisā and Aḥmad (4/341). [TN] The Shaykh mentions some other sources and declares that this hadeeth is Ṣaḥīḥ.

Selected from the book: The Structure of the Muslim Family,  under Fifth Hadeeth, page. 22, By the Noble Scholar Al-‘Allāmah, Shaykh Muḥammad Amān Al-Jamī, Translation: Hassan Somali, Reviewed and Edited: IIIN Publications, 2015.

"They know only the outer appearance of the life of the world, and they are heedless of the Hereafter." (30:7)

 

Al-Ḥassan Al-Baṣri said, “It has reached the state that in this world one of them could put a Dirham on his finger and tell how much it weighs, but he does not know how to pray properly.”

يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ (7)

They know only the outer appearance of the life of the world, and they are heedless of the Hereafter.

Ibn ‘Abbās  said, “This means that the disbelievers know how to prosper in this world, but they are ignorant of matters of religion.”*

*Aṭ-Ṭabari 20:76.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 7, Sūrah 30. (7) Ar-Rūm (Part-21), page. 526, Darussalam

Indeed, The Promise of Allaah is True!

 

Shaykh ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz bn Bāz رَحِمَهُ اللهُ said:

“Allāh has commanded His slaves to  fear Him. And as a reward, He promised  them the easing  of their affairs, relief from afflictions, facilitation of sustenance, forgiveness of sins and the attainment of paradise.”

Majmū’ Al-Fatāwá (2/146)

Translated by Ar-risaalah Publications / (RPubs Editorial)

arrisaalahpubs.com

It is obligatory to obey the Book of Allāh, the Sunnah of His Messenger, the Rightly-Guided Khalīfahs and the Imāms when they command us to obey Allāh.

إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ۞(51) 

51. The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allāh and His Messenger, to judge between them , is that they say: “We hear and we obey”. And such are the successful.

 وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَخْشَ اللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ۞ (52)  

52. And whosoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger, fears Allāh, and has Taqwā of Him, such are the successful 

... Allāh tells us about the attributes of the believers who respond to Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ and who seek no other way apart from the Book of Allāh  and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. 

Allāh says:

 إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ۞ (51) 

The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allāh and His Messenger, to judge between them , is that they say: “We hear and we obey”.

Meaning, to hear  to obey. Allāh describes them as having  attained success, which is achieving what one wants and being saved from what one fears. So Allāh says:

وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

And such are the successful

Concerning the Āyah:

أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا

they say: “We hear and we obey”.

Qatādah said: “We were told  that when  ‘Ubādah bin As-Sāmit, who had been present  at Al-‘Aqabah and at Badr, and was one of the leaders of the Anṣār, was dying, he said to his nephew Junādah bin Abi Umayyah:  ‘Shall I not tell you what you must do and what is your due?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘You have to listen and obey when times are easy and when they are hard, when you feel energetic and when you do not want to, and when you feel selfish. You have to train your tongue  to speak the truth. Do not go against those who are in authority, unless they openly command you to commit acts of disobedience to Allāh. Whenever you are commanded to do something that goes against the Book of Allāh, then follow the Book of Allāh. “^(1)*

Qatādah said: We were told that Abu Ad-Dardā’ said, “There is no Islām except through obedience to Allāh, and no goodness except in Jamā’ah. Sincerity is to Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ, and to the Khalīfah and all the believers.” He said: “And we were told that ‘Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭab, may Allāh be pleased with him, used to say; ‘The bonds of Islām are Lā ilāha illallāh, establishing prayer, paying Zakāh and obeying those whom Allāh has given authority over the affairs of the Muslims.’” This was recorded by Ibn Abi Ḥātim.^(2)*...

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

And whosoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger,

in what he is commanded with, and avoid  what he is forbidden,

وَيَخْشَ اللَّهَ 

fears Allāh, means, for his past sins,

وَيَتَّقْهِ

And has Taqwā of Him, regarding sins he may commit in the future.

فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ

Such are the successful. means, those  who will attain all goodness  and be saved  from all evil in this world and the Hereafter.

^*(1) Ibn Abi Ḥātim 8: 2623.

^*(2) Ibn Abi Ḥātim 8: 2623, 2624

Selected from: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 7, Sūrah 24. An-Nūr (51- 52) (Part-18), page 107-111, Darussalam 

Note: Edited 24/2/2024 @ 7:29 PM

Be Mindful of Allāh and He Will Aid You

 

ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿ Azīz delivered  a sermon  one day and mentioned:

Oʾ people! Rectify the affairs  of your Hereafter and Allāh will  rectify your worldly affairs. Rectify your private  affairs and Allāh  will rectify your public affairs.

Source: ٦٩٢ /١٢  البداية والنهاية

Translated by : Munīb al-Ṣumālī

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https://www.youtube.com/@troidorg

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ “But you prefer the life of this world although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (87:16-17)

 

Imaam ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

“The most deceived and deluded of the creation is the one who is beguiled with the life of this world and its immediate delights, and prefers it over the Hereafter (Paradise), and is pleased with it more than the Hereafter.”

[Ad-Daa’wad-Dawaa’ pg.79, Daar ‘Aalim al-Fawaaid print, 2^nd edition]

Markaz Mu’aadh bin Jabal Islamic Centre

MarkazMuaadh.com

Indeed, the effect (or fruitful outcome) is great indeed

 

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

97. Whoever works righteousness  - whether male or female  - while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islāmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life  (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).

Souce: al-Hilâlî & Muhsin Khân Translation, Noble Qur'ân, Sûrah 16. An-Nahl, Ayâh 97, Part 14, page. 362

Prepare for death and what is to come after it! - by Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him)

 

-----

The Muslim is like a stranger in this worldly life: The stranger is one residing in a country other than his country. The worldly life is not the Muslim’s permanent place of residence; rather the Muslim’s permanent place of residence is paradise. He is in this worldly life to work for entry into Paradise. He takes what is needed from this world to aid him work for entry into paradise.

The Muslim is like a traveler in this worldly life: The traveler takes rest during his journey and then carries on travelling. He does not reside permanently in that place he stopped to take a rest. In the life of this world the Muslim is that traveler. In reality he is not a permanent resident in the worldly life because his time in it is very little. His nights and days take him towards the afterlife.

What is befitting the Muslim with regards to the days, nights, and his health etc! If you reach the morning do not delay good deeds till in the evening because it maybe that you will not reach the evening. If you reach the evening do not delay good deeds till the morning because it maybe that you will not reach the morning. Do not delay repentance and righteous deeds till another time.

As long as a person is in a state of good health and wellbeing, he is able to perform fasting, the night prayer etc; but when he becomes sick he is not able to perform fasting, the night prayer etc. Therefore, as long as Allaah has given you good health, then hasten towards righteous actions because a time will come in which you will be unable to perform them-either due to illness, old age, or senility. Prepare for death and what is to come after it. Allaah gave you this life in order that you busy yourself with what will benefit you in the afterlife. So do not spend your life in play and jest.

Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Minhatur Rabbaaniyyah Fee sharh al-arba’een of Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) pages 285 287. slightly paraphrased]

Selected from the article: Believers Warned Against Those Who Make The Worldly Life Their Goal or Greatest Goal!

https://salaficentre.com/2022/02/07/believers-warned-against-those-who-make-the-worldly-life-their-goal-or-greatest-goal/

Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

 

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“Whoever recites Aayatul-Kursee after every obligatory Prayer, nothing will prevent him entering Paradise except death.”

Recorded in Sunan al-Kubraa of an-Nasaaee, declared  authentic by  Imām Albaanee in Silsilahal-Ahadeeth as-Saheehah no.972

Imām ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

It has reached me regarding our Shaykh, Aboo ‘Abbās ibn Taymiyah –may Allaah sanctify his soul-that he said;

“I have not left off (reciting Aayatul-Kursee) after the end of every (obligatory) Prayer.”

Zaad al-Ma’ad 1/304, taken from Fiqh al-Ad’eeyah wal-Adhkaar pg.79.

Translation source: MarkazMuaadh.com

------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: English Translation & Roman Transliteration of the above Quranic verse added for the benefit of new muslims who cannot read Arabic:

 اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ 

255. Allaahu laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa Huwal-Hayyul Qayyum, laa ta’khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-‘ardh, man thal-lathee yashfa’u ‘indahu ‘illaa  bi’ithnih, ya’lamu maa bayna ‘aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay’im-min ‘ilmihi ‘illaa bimaa shaa’a, wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samaawaati wal’ardh, wa laa ya’ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Adheem.

255. Allāh! Lā ilāha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyuum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists).Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures)  in this world, and whatwill happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

“Tell us about the Fire, how is it?”

 

A man said to ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas’ūd (raḍī Allāhu ‘anhu), “Tell us about the Fire, how is it?”

So Ibn Mas’ūd said to him:

“If you were to see it, your heart would disappear from its place.”

Source: Sifah an-Nār (no. 54) of Ibn Abī ad-Dunyā.

Translation source: www.MuSunnah.com