Reflections on moments passed

Alhamdulillahi Rab Al-'aalameen.  Alhamdulillahi hamdan katheeran tay-yiban mubaarakan feeh.


THE GREATNESS OF ALLAAH

He is controlling the affairs of all the kingdoms. He commands and prohibits, creates and gives provision, and gives death and gives life. He raises and lowers people’s status, alternates night and day, gives days (good and not so good) to men by turns, and causes nations to rise and fall, so that one nation vanishes and another emerges. His command and decree are carried out throughout the heavens and on earth, above it and below it, in the oceans and in the air. He has knowledge of all things and knows the number of all things. He hears all voices, and does not mistake one for another; He hears them all, in all the different languages and with all their varied requests and pleas. No voice distracts Him from hearing another, He does not confuse their requests, and He never tires of hearing the pleas of those in need. He sees all that is visible, even the walk of a black ant across a solid rock in the darkest night. The unseen is visible to Him, and secrets are known to Him…

"Whosoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him [its needs from Him]. Every day He has a matter to bring forth" [Sooratur-Rahmaan 55:29].

He forgives sins, eases worries, relieves distress, helps the defeated person back on his feet, makes the poor rich, guides the one who is astray and confused, fulfils the needs of the desperate, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, conceals faults, and calms fears. He raises the status of some and lowers the status of others… Even if all the inhabitants of heaven and earth, the first and the last of them, mankind and jinn alike, were to be as pious as the most pious among them, this would not increase His sovereignty in the slightest. If they all, the first and the last of them, mankind and jinn alike, were to be as rebellious as the most rebellious among them, this would not decrease His sovereignty in the slightest. If everything in heaven and on earth, the first and the last of them, mankind and jinn, living and dead, animate and inanimate, were to stand in one place and ask of Him, and He were to give them everything that they asked for, this would not decrease what He has by even an atom’s weight… He is the First, before Whom there is nothing, and the Last, after Whom there is nothing, may He be blessed and exalted. He is the Most deserving of being remembered, the Most deserving of being worshipped, the Most deserving of being thanked. He is the Most Compassionate of kings, the Most Generous of those who are asked… He is the King Who has no partner or associate, the One who has no rival, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who has no son, the Most High, and there is none like unto Him.

"Everything will perish save His face." [Sooratul-Qasas 28:88]

" [Sooratul-Qasas 28:88]

And everything will vanish except His sovereignty… He will not be obeyed except by His permission, and He will not be disobeyed except with His knowledge. He is obeyed, so He shows His appreciation, and He is disobeyed, so he forgives. Every punishment on His part is justice, and every blessing from Him is a favour. He is the closest of witnesses and the nearest of protectors. He seizes people by their forelocks, records their deeds and decrees the appointed time for all things. Hearts conceal nothing from Him, for secrets are known to Him. His gift is a word and His punishment is a word,

"Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" – and it is." [Soorah Yaaseen 36:82] 

From al-Waabilus-Sayyib (p. 125), as quoted in "The Advice of Ibnul-Qayyim," available at: http://www.troid.org/ibaadah/scholarly-admonitions/the-advice-of-ibnul-qayyim.html

 Allah's Messenger sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, "Ya Sabahah!" (an Arabic expression used when one appeals for help or draws the attention of others to some danger).  The people said, "Who is that?"  Then they gathered around him, whereupon he sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Do you see?  If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe me?"  They said, "We have never heard you telling a lie."  Then he said, "I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment." 

...

Abu Lahab said "May you perish!  You gathered us only for this reason?"  Then Abu Lahab went away.  So Surat Al-Masad "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!" was revealed.


A reminder to myself of the warning and the fate of the one who was too arrogant to heed it or appreciate it, waAllahul musta'aan.

Source: 
Part of Sahih Bukhari Vol 6, Hadith 495 and other text as quoted in The Nobel Quran (Hilali/Khan translation and commentary).
 

 http://abdurrahman.org/knowledge/benefittingfromknowledge.pdf

I may have posted a quote from this before, but I did a quick search and could not find it, so I wanted to post a link to the whole document--it is short and worth the read in my opinion waAllahu a'alem.

 

May Allah make us of those who please Him.  Ameen.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

 قُلْ مَا يَعْبَأُ بِكُمْ رَبِّي لَوْلَا دُعَاؤُكُمْ فَقَدْ كَذَّبْتُمْ فَسَوْفَ يَكُونُ لِزَاماً 


Muhsin Khan: Say (O Muhammad SAW to the disbelievers): "My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to Him. But now you have indeed denied (Him). So the torment will be yours for ever (inseparable permanent punishment)."

Sahih International: Say, "What would my Lord care for you if not for your supplication?" For you [disbelievers] have denied, so your denial is going to be adherent.

Quran 25:77

***
From Tafsir Ibn Kathir:

(Say: "My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to Him...'') meaning, He would not care to pay attention to you if you did not worship Him, for He only created mankind to worship Him Alone and to glorify Him morning and evening.

Wa Allahu ta'alaa a'alem (and Allah, Exalted is He, knows best).

 May Allah reward the brother or sister who created this.  Ameen.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ 

 Recite (O Muhammad SAW) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat­as­Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha' (i.e. great sins of every kind) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, etc.]. And Allah knows what you do.

It is said by Ibn 'Abbas and 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud radiyaAllahu 'anhum: If the Salat (prayer) of anyone does not prevent him from Al-Fahsha and Al-Munkar, then his Salat (prayer) increases him in nothing but loss, and to be far away from his Lord (Allah) [attributed to Tafsir Al-Qurtubi] 

waAllahu a'alem.

Allahumma taqab-bal salaatana wab-'adna 'an al-Fahsha-e wal-munkar wa-kath-thirna fil-'amal as-saalih.  O Allah accept our prayers, distance us from al-fahsha and al-munkar, and increase us in good deeds.  Ameen.

From: Forty Hadeeth on the Islamic Personality by Shaikh Ali Hasan al-Halabi hafitha-hul-Lah (noted as being a student of Al-Albaani rahimahul-Lah), accessible via: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/apps_40personality.cfm?HadeethID=40

 

From Abdullah ibn Mas'ood (radiyallaahu 'anhumaa) who said: How will you be when you are covered by a trial in which the young grow up and the old become infirm. If anything of it is abandoned it is said: The Sunnah has been abandoned. It was said: When will that occur, O Aboo Abdur Rahman? He said: When your scholars pass away, and those ignorant amongst you become many; when those who recite amongst you are many, but those who have understanding of the religion are few; when your leaders are many, but those who are trustworthy are few; when this world is sought with actions of the Hereafter; and when knowledge is sought for other than the Religion.

Reported by ad-Daarimee (1/64), al-Laalikaa'ee (no.123), al-Haakim(4/514) and others, with saheeh chain of narration NOTES So the means of escape is to follow the example provided for us! Indeed obeying and following Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa'sallam) is the greatest escape from the trials which envelop us. So for Allaah, for Allaah, O servants of Allaah, learn, and act, and fear Allaah and obey Him that you may be shown mercy.

 
And I remind myself before I intend this reminder to be for anyone else.

Verily! Safa and Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allah. So it is not a sin on him who perform Hajj or 'Umrah (pilgrimage) of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) to perform the going between them (Safa and Marwah). And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allah is All-Recogniser, All-Knower.

(Quran 2:158)

Muhammad ibn Waasi' rahmat Allah 'alayh used to say:

"If sins had an odor then nobody would be able to sit with me"


From: The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status by Imaam ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee rahmat Allah 'alayh courtesy of http://www.fatwa-online.com/wordsofwisdom/sins/0010505_5.htm 

The Heart and its Enslavement (Uboodiyyah)

The Heart's Captivation and Imprisonment by Sin

Author: Ibn al-Qayyim

Source: Al-Jawab al-Kafi (trans. Abu Iyaad) (link to original source with identification ID at the bottom)

He (rahimahullaah) said:

And among its effects is that the disobedient (sinner) is constantly in the shackles of his Shaytaan and the prison of his shahwa (desires) and the chains/fetters of his hawaa (whims). So he is a captive, one who is imprisoned and who is tied up.

There is no captive in a worse state than the one who is captivated by his worst enemy and there is no prison which is tighter than the prison of hawa and there is no bond/fetter more strong than the bond of desire.

How, then, will a heart which is captivated, imprisoned and fettered travel unto Allaah and the Home of the Hereafter. How will a person take a single step forward when the heart is bound and harmful things approach it from every direction. The harmful things approach it to the extent that it is tied up [i.e. imprisoned by its desires and whims..].

The example of the heart is like the example of a bird. Every time is ascends it becomes distant from the harmful things and every time it descends the harmful things hurt it. In a hadeeth there occurs that Shaytaan is like a wolf to people. Just as when a sheep has no protector and is in between many wolves, they are quick in causing damage and injury; likewise the servant who does not have guardianship from Allaah, then his wolf [i.e. his desires, whims etc.] is to him a predatory animal.

[Thus] there is no escape for the servant from having protection from Allaah. Taqwaa is a safeguarding for him and a strong shield between himself and the punishment of this world and the Hereafter.

Every time the sheep is close to its shepherd it is more safe from the wolf and every time it becomes distant from its shepherd it is closer to destruction. So its sanctuary is when it is close to its shepherd because the wolf takes the lonely one from the flock and this is the one which is the furthest one of the flock from the shepherd. The basis of all of this is is that every time the heart is distant from Allaah the harmful things are quick in approaching it and every time it is close to Allaah the harmful things become distant from it.

Remoteness from Allaah has levels/degrees, some of which are more severe than others. Heedlesness distances the servant from Allaah and some acts of disobedience are greater than some acts of heedlesness. Some innovations are greater than some acts of disobedience and some things from Hypocrisy and Shirk are greater than all of what has preceded. 

From: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/ (Article ID : TZK020006) 

My guess is that everyone has been afraid of the dark at some point in their lives--even if for only an instant--but Allahu a'alem. Tonight, as I walked through a dark and deserted hallway, I suddenly thought about what my fate will be when I am burried in a pitch-black hole in the earth.  At that time there will be no lightswitch at the end of the hallway and no family (or friends) to provide reassurance.  In that hole I will be alone--with the exception of any beings (angels and/or bugs etc.) in any form (friendly or terrifying), with any smell (pleseant or suffocating), and performing any acts that Allah has decreed--we know the angels will question us, and that, in and of itself, is extremely frightening, but also imagine what a scorpion or a centipede or a spider might do--it gives me chills just thinking about it, waAllahul musta'aan. 

In that dark hole fear will deminish only by His permission and His mercy. In that hole there will be no protection but that which He provides.  In that dark hole escape will only be to the fate that He decrees.  In that dark hole I will regret my wrongdoing and wish I had perfected that which I fall short in.  In that dark hole I will wish I strove harder to please Him.

...imagine that hole!


******************************************************************************

Allahumma a'outhu biki min 'athaab al-qabr, wa min 'athaabi jahannam, wa min fitnatul mahya wal mamaati, wa min fitnatul maseeh ad-dajjal.  Allahumma in-nee a'outhu biki min al-ma-thami wal-maghram.

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the torment of the fire, from the trials of living and dying, and the trial of al-maseeh al-dajjal.  O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and debt.

Allahumma ighfir-lee ma qad-damtu wa ma akh-khartu, wa maa asrartu wa ma a-'alantu wa maa asraftu, wa ma anta a-'alamu behe min-nee.  Antal-muqad-demu wa antal-mu-akh-khiru Laa Elaaha il-la Ant.

O Allah, forgive me for those sins which have come to pass as well as those which shall come to pass, and those I have committed in secret as well as those I have made public, and where I have exceeded all bounds as well as those things about which you are more knowledgeable.  You are Al-Muqaddim and Al-Mu-akh-khir.  NONE has the right to be worship EXCEPT You!

 

For English Transcripts of khutbahs from the two sacred mosques, see:

http://alharamainsermons.org/eng/modules.php?name=Web_Links


There is also a link from http://www.alminbar.net/, but it does not appear to be working at the moment (qad-dar Allah wa ma shaa-a fa'al). Perhaps it will begin working again soon.

 It is reported from Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd that he said:

If you can be unknown, do so; it doesn’t matter if you are not known and it doesn’t matter if you are not praised. It doesn’t matter if you are blameworthy according to people if you are praiseworthy with Allâh the Mighty and Majestic.

Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr p100.

as quoted in sayingsofthesalaf.blogspot.com: http://sayingsofthesalaf.blogspot.com/2008/03/reputation.html

 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاء إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

O humankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise.


Surat-Fatir (Surah 35), ayah 15

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اِمْرَأَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ  وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ

In the Name of Allah, The All-Merciful, the Mercy-giving.

And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the people who are wrong-doers. And Mary, the daughter of 'Imran who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (the sleeve of her shirt or her garment) through Our Spirit [i.e. Gabriel], and she testified to the truth of the Words of her Lord [i.e. believed in the Words of Allah: "Be!" and he was; that is Jesus ­ son of Mary; as a Messenger of Allah], and (also believed in) His Scriptures, and she was of the Qanitin (i.e. obedient to Allah).

Surat-Tahrim (Surah 66), ayahs 11-12

( Story of Asiyah bitn Muzahim (may Allah be pleased with her) from Tafsir Ibn Kathir )

during the days of Hajj, Allah's Messenger (sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to ask,

«مَنْ رَجُلٌ يُؤْوِينِي حَتْى أُبَلِّغَ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي؟ فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا قَدْ مَنَعُونِي أَنْ أُبَلِّغَ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي»

(Who will support me in conveying the Message of my Lord Verily, the Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the Message of my Lord.) Allah the Exalted and Most Honored raised Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj to support the Prophet. They were the residents of Al-Madinah who gave the pledge to him and supported him, vowing to protect him from mankind and the Jinns if he migrated to them. When he migrated to them with his Companions, they fulfilled their vow to Allah. This is the reason why Allah and His Messenger called them, Al-Ansar, the Supporters. The name became synonymous with them. May Allah be pleased with them and please them, as well.

 From Tafsir Ibn Kathir for Suratus-Saff (Surah 61), ayah 14:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُونوا أَنصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآَمَنَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ

O you who believe! Be you helpers (in the Cause) of Allah as said Jesus, son of Mary, to the disciples : "Who are my helpers (in the Cause) of Allah?" The disciples said: "We are Allah's helpers" (i.e. we will strive in His Cause!). Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved. So We gave power to those who believed against their enemies, and they became the uppermost.

Ibraaheem al-Harbee said, ‘I heard Ahmad (Ahmad Ibn Hanbal) say, ‘If you love that Allaah should keep you upon that which you love, then remain upon that which He loves, and the good is in the one who sees no good in himself.” 

Referenced to al-Aadaabush-Sharee’ah (2/31) by Ibn Muflih.

Note: If any reader knows anything about Ibraaheem al-Harbee or Ibn Muflih, please post it in a comment.  I don't know anything about either of them, but I would like to learn.  Jazaakum Allahu khayran.

Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said: “You are in a time whose scholars are many, and its speakers are few.  After you will come a time whose scholars are few, and whose speakers are many.”  [Related by at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer (no. 8066), and by al-Bukhaaree in al-Adabul-Mufrad (no. 789), and by al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar in Fathul-Baaree (10/1510) who declared it authentic.]

Imaam al-Hasan al-Basree (d.110H) – rahimahullaah – said, when he came across a group of people disputing: “These ones have become tired of worship, speaking has become easy for them, and their piety has diminished, and that is why they talk.” [Related by Ahmad in az-Zuhd (p. 272) and by Aboo Nu’aym in al-Hilyatul-Awliyaa (2/156) ]

Iyaas Ibn Mu’aawiyah (d.122H) – rahimahullaah – said: “There is no one who does not know his own faults, except that he is stupid.”  It was said to him, ‘Then what is your shortcoming?’  He said, “Too much talk.”  [Related by Aboo Nu’aym al-Asbahaanee in al-Hilyatul-Awliyaa (3/124)]

’Awn Ibn ’Abdullaah (d.120H) – rahimahullaah – said: “Three are from eemaan (faith): modesty, chastity, and withholding the tongue – not the heart, nor the actions – since these are things that bring profit in the Hereafter, and loss in this life.  And whatever is gained in the Hereafter is greater than whatever is lost in this life.” [Related by ’Abdur-Razzaaq in his Musannaf (11/142), and the chain of narrators in authentic.]

From: Pearls of Wisdom from the Salafus-Saalih 
Accessible via: http://www.troid.org/ibaadah/advice-from-the-salaf/pearls-of-wisdom-from-the-salafus-saalih.html

 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood radiyaAllahu 'anhu said

 "The Jamaa'ah is whatever (agrees) with the Truth.  Even if you are alone." 

Reported by Ibn Asaakir in Taareekh-Dimashq with a saheeh isnaad.

Saheeh Al-Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 56 [Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions], Number 809: Narrated Khabbab bin Al-Arat: 

We complained to Allah's Apostle (sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) (of the persecution inflicted on us by the infidels) while he was sitting in the shade of the Ka'ba, leaning over his Burd (i.e. covering sheet). We said to him, "Would you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?" He (sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him give up his religion. His body would be combed with iron combs that would remove his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him abandon his religion. By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty.



A similar hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud (hadith number 2307) was classified as Saheeh by Al-Albaani: see http://arabic.islamicweb.com/Books/albani.asp?id=13256 (Note: this is in Arabic)

Allahmma ij'alna min-as-Saabereen wa min-al-latheena yastaqeemoon.  Ameen.  
O Allah, make us of the patient and of those who are steadfast.  Ameen.