Sunday, November 18, 2012

Look into what your are doing in your life; if it suits death and your grave, keep up the good work! But if it doesn't suit them, repent to Allah and go back to doing what suits death and your grave. You owe yourself this, at least.



Ibn al-Jawzi

Saturday, November 17, 2012

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."


The carpenter was in a shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he ever built!

Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah Ta'la has sent us to this world to build our homes in paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes where we will live forever.



A miser had accumulated, by effort, trade and lending, three hunderd thousand dinars. He had lands and buildings, and all kinds of wealth. He then decided that he would spend a year in enjoyment, living comfortably, and then decide as what his future should be.

But, almost as soon as he had stopped amassing money the Angel of Death appeared before him, to take his life away.

The miser tried, by every argument which he could muster, to dissuade the Angel, who seemed, however, adament. Then the man said: "Grant me but three more days and I will give you one-third of my possessions."


The angel refused, and pulled again at the miser's life, tugging to take it away.

Then the man said:

"If you only allow me two more days on earth, I will give you two hundred thousand dinars from my store."

But the Angel would not listen to him. And the Angel even refused to give the man a solitary extra day for all his three hundred thousand pieces.

The the miser said:

"Please, then, give me just time enough to write one little thing down."

This time the Angel allowed him this single concession, and the man wrote, with his own blood:

"Man, make use of your life. I could not buy one hour for three hundred thousand dinars. Make sure that you realize the value of your time."



Junaid Baghdadi earned his livelihood as a professional wrestler. As was the norm, the Leader of Baghdad announced one day, "Today, Junaid Baghdadi will demonstrate his skills as a wrestler, is there anyone to challenge him." An elderly man shakily stood up with his neck quivering and said, "I will enter the contest with him."

Whoever was witness to this scene could not contain themselves, they burst out howling with laughter, clapping their hands. The King was bound by the law. He could not stop someone who of his own free will entered the bout. The elderly man was given the permission to enter the ring. He was about sixty-five years old. When Junaid Baghdadi entered the ring, he was dumbfounded as was the King and all the spectators of the Kingdom who were present. The single thought that occupied their minds was, "How will this old man be able to fight?"

The old man addressed Junaid with these words, "Lend me your ears." He then whispered, "

I know it is not possible for me to win this bout against you, but I am a Sayyid, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). My children are starving at home. Are you prepared to sacrifice your name, your honour and position for the love of Allah's Prophet and lose this bout to me? If you do this I will be able to collect the prize money and thereby have the means to feed my children and myself for an entire year. I will be able to settle all my debts and above all, the master of both the worlds will be pleased with you. Are you, Oh Junaid, not willing to sacrifice your honour for the sake of the children of Rasulullah (peace be upon him)?"

Junaid Baghdadi thought to himself, "Today, I have an excellent opportunity."

In a display of fervour Junaid Baghdadi executed a couple of maneuvers, demonstrating his finesse so that the King does not suspect any conspiracy. Junaid with a great display of antics did not use his strength and allowed himself to be dropped. The elderly man mounted his chest thus entitling him to the prize.

That night, Junaid Baghdadi had a dream of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who said, "Oh Junaid, you have sacrificed your honour, your nationally acclaimed fame, your name and position which was heralded throughout Baghdad in the expression of your love for my children who were starving. As of today, your name is recorded in the register of the Auliya (friends of Allah)."

Thereafter, this great wrestler learnt to defeat his nafs (desires) and became one of the most eminent Auliya of his time!



If you see one sinning due to a momentary desire, then have hope for him. If you see one sinning due to arrogance, then fear for him. For Adam (may Allah be pleased with him) sinned due to a desire and was forgiven, while Iblees sinned due to arrogance and was eternally cursed.



Imam Sufyan Ibn Uyayna
The servant has a veil between him and Allah and another one between him and people. Whoever tore this veil between him and Allah, Allah will tear the veil between him and people.



Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, Al-Fawa’id
When a person sleeps, he may feel joy or pain, and that happens to his soul and his body. He may dream that someone is beating him and wake up with pain in his body, or he may dream that he is being fed some good food, then wake up with the food in his mouth. This is something that really happens. If the body and soul of a sleeping person can experience joy and pain that are not felt by the person next to him, and a sleeper may even cry out because of the intensity of pain or fear of what is happening to him, and those who are awake can hear him, and he may speak, reciting Qur’aan or dhikr, or talking to someone, and those who are awake can hear that, even though he is asleep with his eyes closed, and he does not hear them if they speak to him – then how can we deny that the one who is buried in his grave also feels things, when the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has told us that he “hears the sound of their footsteps” and “you do not hear what I say any better than they do?”


Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 
If you come across a situation where you feel someone has become dependant on you for any reason, consider it a favor from God. For He is the one who creates this dependency and provides you with a chance to do good for someone. Just like a small bird that falls out of its nest , needs help and noursihment until it can fly again. Only in that flight can you find true happiness and satisfaction.
Imam Hussain (AS)

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Aboo Tayyib At-Tabaree (an early scholar), was an old man – about a hundred years old. He was remarkable in that he was 100 years old and his vision and his hearing were sharp. He was physically capable of running and performing actions just like the young man. He once came back from a trip by sea – and you could imagine, during that time period, traveling by sea would exhaust people. Rather even today, by the time you land from an 8-houred flight, you are exhausted. This is with an air-conditioned seat and being served food, yet you are still exhausted. What about weeks and months at sea?
So when the boat landed and everyone was exhausted, Aboo Tayyib At-Tabaree jumps off the boat and hops down to the land. People were amazed. How could you be a hundred years old and jump around like this?
He said:
“When I was a young man, I preserved these bodily limbs from the disobedience of Allaah and Allaah preserved them for me in my old age”.

You can find this story mentioned by Ibn Rajab in his explanation to ‘Preserve Allaah and He will preserve you,’ of 40 Ahaadeeth of An-Nawaawee.

Source :
Al-Qawaa`id Al-Muthlaa – Shaykh Ibn Al-`Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)
I entered the mosque of Damascus, where I saw a young man who had a bright smile, and I saw the people gathered around him. When they disagreed on some matter, they referred it
 to him, and accepted his opinion. I asked who he was, and they told me, ‘This is Mu’adh Ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه . ‘ Early the next day, I went to the mosque but I found that he had arrived earlier than me. He was praying, so I waited until he had finished, then I approached him from in front, greeted him and said, ‘By Allah, I love you.’ He asked,’ For the sake of Allah?’ I said,’ For the sake of Allah.’ He repeated the question, ’For the sake of Allah?’ And I said,’ For the sake of Allah.’ So he took hold of my collar, pulled me towards him and said, ‘I have good news for you. I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم say:

“Allah says: ‘My love is granted to those who love one another for My sake, who visit one another for My sake, and who spend on one another for My sake.’”



Abu Idris al-Khawlani [Muwatta Malik]
Based on His infinite knowledge, Allaah already knew what choices human beings would make in their life, what provision and opportunities He would give them, and in what state of belief or disbelief they would die.



Dr. Bilal Philips
Those who were before you used to often consider the nearness of death. One of them would often take water for purity, fulfill the call of nature and perform ablution, fearing that Allaah’s Command (death) might come to him while he is not in a state of purity.


Hassan Al-Basree (rahimahullaah) ~ Az-Zuhd, by ‘Abdullaah bin Al-Mubarak, p99 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

I prefer that the answer to my prayer be delayed...

It is possible that a person has a need for something… so he earnestly prays and requests Allah for it, until the sweetness of asking and imploring Allah is opened for him.
So he enjoys being humbled before Him, and trying to draw closer to Him, using His Names and Attributes, and his heart becomes void of everything besides Him, and he cuts off any relationship or hope for good from anyone else – all of which would never have occurred had it not been for his need…
So it is possible that what good has come about because of this state of his is even greater, and more pleasing to him, than the actual need (that was the cause of such a state), to such an extent that he wishes to continue in this state, and prefers it over the actual fulfilment of his need.
So his happiness due to this state is greater than the happiness he would achieve had his need actually been fulfilled.
Some of those that have recognized (the signs of Allah) have stated: “Sometimes, I have a certain need (that I wish to ask) Allah, so I ask Him earnestly. Then, I find that the door of dialogue opens up for me, and I recognize Allah more (i.e. become more aware of Him), and feel humbled before Him, due to which I prefer that the answer to my prayer be delayed, so that this state may continue!"

Ibn al-Qayyim
Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said, “I heard this saying: In one of the gatherings, there was a topic being thoroughly discussed. Also present was one of the people of knowledge, but this Imam did not speak except for one remark after the people had spoken and finished. They asked him, “O Shaykh, why did you not speak?” So he replied, “I will only speak about that which Allah will give me a reward.” 


What is khushoo (sincerity) of salat?

We have all heard of the need for khushoo in salat (prayers) and other Ibadat. But, what does it mean? Here is a short explanation by Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) who said,

“The khushoo’ of true faith is when the heart feels aware and humble before the greatness and glory of Allaah, and is filled with awe, fear and shyness, so that the he
art is utterly humbled before Allaah and broken, as it were, with fear, shyness, love and the recognition of the blessings of Allaah and its own sins. So no doubt the khushoo’ of the heart is followed by the khushoo’ of the body. . (Al-Rooh, p. 314)

Hudhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to say: “Beware of the khushoo’ of hypocrisy.” He was asked, “What is the khushoo’ of hypocrisy?” He said, “When the body shows khushoo’ but there is no khushoo’ in the heart.” Fudayl ibn ‘Ayaad said: “It was disliked for a man to show more khushoo’ than he had in his heart.” One of them saw a man showing khushoo’ in his shoulders and body, and said, “O So and so, khushoo’ is here.” – and he pointed to his chest, “Not here.” – and he pointed to his shoulders. (al-Madaarij, 1/521)


Sahl Ibn Abdullah once said, “I was a child of three years, and I would stay awake at night looking at my uncle, Muhammed bin Sawwaar, praying. So he said to me one day, “Why don’t you remember Allah, the One who created you?”

So I asked, “And how do I remember Him?”

He replied, “Say, three times in your heart without moving your tongue: Allah is with me, Allah is watching over me, Allah is a wi
tness over me.”

I then said this number of nights until I became accustomed to this. He then said to me, “Say it eleven times every night.”

So I said it, and I felt the sweetness of this statement in my heart.

A year on from this, my uncle said to me, “Memories and safeguard what I have taught you, and act according to it up until you enter your grave.”

So I continued acting upon these words for years and I would find the sweetness of it in my privacy.

He then said, “O Sahl, whomsoever Allah is with, and He watches him and is a witness over him – do you think such a person should disobey Allah? Beware of disobeying Allah.”

After this, I advanced to school and memorized the Qur’aan when I was only six or seven years old. I would then fast all the time, my daily sustenance was bread made from barley and thereafter I would wake during the night in order to pray.



Indeed, the hearts are containers so occupy them with the Qur’aan and do not occupy with other than it.



[‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood (radhiAllaahu anhu) (Hilyatul Awliya 1/131)]

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Anyone of you who is with me should adhere to five characteristics...
Firstly, he should direct me to justice through the best possible ways which I would not miss.
Secondly, he should help me in doing good.
Thirdly, he should tell me something that no one else can tell me.

Fourthly, he should never talk in my presence about anyone behind his back.
Finally, he should be trustworthy to those who entrusted him. If anyone of you has these characteristics, then he is welcome to be in my company, but if not then he should not be allowed in my company and to be in my presence.




Umar ibn Abdul Aziz to his companions. (Al-Faraj, Al-Jawzi, Al-Qurashi, Al-Baghdadi, Salami 96)
Diseases of the heart are mentioned in the Qur'an. 
Some of them are related to hypocrisy resulting in doubts and misconceptions. Allah says: “In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease”. 
These diseases can also be desires and lusts related to fornication or adultery. 
Allah says to the Mothers of the believers and to all women in general: “Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner.”

The first type of disease can only be cured by knowledge of Allah and His beautiful names and attributes and by knowing the Sunnah of our Prophet sallaAllahu alaihi wa sallam.
The second disease can only be cured by righteousness and the fear of Allah. 
This means that if you are ignorant, sinful or both, you have a sick heart that must be treated before it kills you or leads you to hypocrisy.


[Sheikh Assim Alhakeem]
Think of your heart as a sponge, and every sin you commit falls as a drop of black ink into the heart. What does the heart do? It absorbs it. Trials and tribulations attack the heart until it is soaked. The only way to get the ink out is very painful: by crying until the tears wash your heart, and wringing it out. Over and over again. These cycles of crying and wringing cleanse the heart. It’s a painful process but it is also healing.



Ustadh Hassan Elwan
The essence of taqwa is to make a shield (which guards) against Allah’s anger and punishment. That shield is to obey His commandments and abstain from His prohibitions.


Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
Sometimes, we do things and we expect that we did well. It saddens you when people don’t like what you did or they don’t praise what you thought to be good. 
Don’t worry and don’t feel sad.
It is a sign of sincerity when praising and criticism of others are equal in your heart providing that the deed was correct. People will never all approve of what you do. 
The Prophet sallaAllahu alaihi was
allam was criticized by the hypocrites while Qarun, the cousin of Moses, peace be upon him, was praised by his ignorant people. 


So, when someone praises you, don’t be flattered and when someone criticizes you, don’t become depressed. If you succeed in this, you are sincere.




[Sheikh Assim Alhakeem]

Monday, November 5, 2012

Is the veil oppression?

A Christian woman asked:
I’ve been told that women in Islam wear a veil because in that way men will treat them respectfully.
I see the veil as a form of oppression, because why should they have to cover themselves because of the weakness of men?
Shouldn’t they be treated with respect regardless, could you please explain the veil and did Mary have to wear a veil?

Answer by Ahmad Deedat:
Your Bible says that the woman must cover her head, and that the woman who does not cover her head must shave of her hair. Your Bible says that.
And your Bible says that she must not be allowed to open her mouth in the Church.
But that’s just Churches, they don’t believe all that. And your people don’t believe in that.
So you are inviting trouble.
Because of this, in America no woman is safe after dark.
No woman is safe in France, during daytime women have been raped in the street, and people just walk by saying: ”Oh maybe they are just enjoying themselves.
The Nuns, the women from the Catholic Church, nobody gives them a second look. If Mary the mother of Jesus came along, you wont give her a second look.
But those woman on your commercials with bikinis g-strings, it’s attracting all the men.
This is the nature of men, God made us like that. The thing that allures men more than anything on earthly existence is women.
The Qur'an says:
Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him. [3:14]
The first thing mentioned by Allah is WOMEN, then children, then gold and silver, then horses, cattle and well-tilled land.
But the first thing is WOMEN. The Qur'an says that the number one thing which allures men the most in this world is women!
And this is true.
Look at the advertisements in the West. One company was selling second hand trucks, and on the trucks that they advertise, there was a woman in bikini on the top of the truck.
Another company was selling tractors by advertising with a woman sitting on top of the tractor.
What has a woman in bikini to do with a second hand truck or a new tractor?
Nothing, the woman is merely being dangled infront of the man so that he reads the advert.
BMW had a advert in the newspaper, where you see a BMW car, with a woman in the skimpiest of bikini’s. She’s standing in front of the car and it says on the bottom of the advert: ”Test drive her now.
This is what the West is leading themselves to.
The Westerner sells his own mother, his wife, his daughter. His wife is a star and she’s been banged on the screen simulating rape.. and they enjoy it.
They enjoy their wife being simulated in a rape scene, it’s not real rape, and you know it’s being simulated, but you can see everything about being raped, your wife, your mother, your daughter, and you enjoy everything about it because your wife is now a star.
It’s sick, sick, sick!
Alhamdullilah we haven’t come to that sickness yet. We Muslims try to keep away from it.
This is your pleasure, your privillege. We have no right to force you.
But we are saying that you are playing with fire my child, and you are going to pay the price, you are paying the price now, and you will pay the price later.


I have not seen or heard of anything that brings repose, honour, and dignity as much as seclusion does.
It helps one to stay away from evil, it protects one’s honour, and it saves time. It keeps one away from the jealous minded and those who take pleasure in your affliction. It promotes the remembrance of the Hereafter, and it allows one to reflect on the meeting with Allah.
In times of seclusion, one’s thoughts may roam in that which is beneficial, in that which contains wisdom.

Ibn al-Jawzi
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-Hanbali
If any of you really knew [about that Day], you would plead until your voice went, and pray until your back was broken.



`Abdullāh b. `Amr
Man taught his dog how to catch prey for him and the dog overcame his desire to eat the prey out of respect for his owner and fear of his power, and Allah taught you and you do not accept His teaching.



Ibn Qayyim (al-Fawaa’id, p.120)
As long as you can sleep at night with a clear conscience knowing that you are trying your best to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah to the best of your ability, people's opinion of you should not matter.



Omar Suleiman
With good manners, you understand the knowledge. With the knowledge, your actions are corrected. With actions, wisdom is obtained. With wisdom you understand zuhd (abstinence) and are granted its benefits. With zuhd comes abandoning the world. With abandoning the world comes desire for the Hereafter. With desire for the Hereafter, the pleasure of Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – is obtained.



Yunus Ibn ‘Ubayd (d.139H) – (rahimahullaah)
"Whoever exerts himself to have patience and pushes himself, when he doesn't think that he can be patient anymore, Allaah will grant him success and Allaah will make him patient because of his struggle."



(Collected by Ahmad in his Musnad (3/12) from the narration of Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree. It was also collected by al-Bukhaaree (1469) and Muslim (1089) with a longer wording)

Translated by Abul-`Abbaas Moosaa Richardson who added ‘NOTE: The translations may seem a bit lengthy for only a few words in Arabic, but they are heavy Arabic phrases employing lots of linguistic devices.’
Hisham ibn 'Urwah related that his father said to him:


"O my son, let your face always beam and let your words always be sweet, for that is more beloved to people than giving them gifts."



[Rawdhat al-`Uqala']

Sunday, November 4, 2012

A Bedouin visiting Basrah asked its inhabitants, “Who is the leader of this area?”
They answered, “Ḥasan al-Basri.”
The Bedouin inquired, “Isn’t he a descendant of slaves?”
They answered, “Yes.”
The Bedouin: “How then did he become their leader?”
They said, “Because our people are in need of his knowledge while he has no need of our dunya (worldly possessions).”

The Bedouin replied, “That is real leadership.”


Ibn al-Qayyim
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. 


Ibn al-Qayyim 
Do not feel secure because of a great number of deeds for you do not know if they have been accepted or not. Do not feel secure about your sins for you do not know if they have been expiated or not. This is because all of your deeds are unseen to you and you have no idea what Allah will do with them.


Ibn ‘Awn  [The Journey to Allaah, Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali]

Guidance is from Allah. No matter how intelligent you are, without Allah's guidance, you will never succeed.

The Byzantium's Ruler asked Abu Sufyan about the Prophet sallaAllahu alaihi wa sallam a number of questions to know more about him being a Prophet or not. 

He asked him about his linage, whether there was a king in his ancestors, whether he was accused of lying, his followers; 
whether their numbers increase or decrease, and whether any one of them leaves Islam while hating it, and whether he showed any signs of treachery in wars and treaties.

After hearing the answers, he confessed that our Prophet was sent by Allah and he wished to have been with him to wash his feet.

All this wisdom and intellect did not help this Byzantium's Ruler as he refused giving away his kingdom and preferred it over Islam.

Therefore, be grateful and praise Allah for choosing to guide you over so many unguided people.


[Sheikh Assim Alhakeem]