Four things that most people believe in but their actions belie.

Four things that most people believe in but their actions belie.

Shaqique Ibne Ibrahim rahmatullahi alayh says: People seem to agree with me when they say that they believe in four things, but their actions belie what they claim to believe:-

1 They say that they are slaves (bondsmen) of Allah Ta’ala, but their actions betray that they regard themselves to be freemen;

2 They say that Allah Ta’ala has taken upon Himself the responsibility to give us our sustenance, but they never rest content until they hoard enough of worldly provisions;

3 They say that akhirah (Hereafter) is preferable to this world, but they are ever engaged in amassing wealth, and are least concerned about akhirah.

4 They say that death is inevitable, but they are absorbed in worldly activities as though they were to live here forever.
(Tanbeehul Ghaafileen)

After the Month of Ramadhan is over

After the Month of Ramadhan is over

Yahya bin Muaadh (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The smart individual is not the one whose greatest goal is other than seeking the pardon of Allah. (The smart individual is not the one who) seeks forgiveness with his tongue, while his heart is firmly attached to sin, and he truly intends to return to sin after the completion of Ramadhan. This individual’s fast is rejected, and acceptance is closed in his face.”

Ka’b (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadhan while inwardly saying: Once the month is over, I will disobey Allah; this person’s fasting is rejected. And whoever fasts the month while inwardly saying: Upon completion of the month, I won’t disobey Allah, this person will enter Jannah without questioning or debate.”

(Lataa’if al Ma’aarif of Ibn Rajab: Chapter: the ending of Ramadhan)

Explanation

“Upon completion of the month, I won’t disobey Allah…” meaning that the person has made a firm resolve after having repented in the month of Ramadhan, that he will not return to his old ways of negligence and sin, but will now after having completed the month take his religion more seriously, striving hard to please Allah(swt) through obedience to the commands of Allah and following the sunnah of His(swt) beloved Prophet(saw).

The medicine of the heart

The medicine of the heart

“The medicine of the heart is in five things: reading the Qur’an and pondering over its meaning, having an empty stomach, praying at night (qiyaam al-layl or tahajjud), beseeching Allah at the time of suhoor, and keeping company with righteous people.”

A saying of Yahya bin Muaadh (May Allah be pleased with him)

Generosity in Ramadhan

Generosity in Ramadhan

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that

“The Messenger of Allah(saw) was the most generous person, and he used to be most generous in Ramadan…”

[Bukhari]

Imam Ash-Shaafi’e (May Allah have mercy upon him), once said,

‘It is beloved to me to see one increasing his acts of generosity during the month of Ramadhan, following the example of Allah’s Messenger, and for one’s own good. There are many who become over-occupied with fasting and Prayers, forgetting the other benefits of the month of Ramadhan [i.e. forgetting about the benefits and rewards for being generous towards others].’
[Lataa'if-ul Maaarif]

Is there not in what you see, a lesson indeed?

“Is there not in what you see, a lesson indeed?”

It is said that Maalik ibn Dinaar (May Allah have mercy upon him) once went to the graveyards and said:

“I approached the graves and called out to it
‘Where is the exalted one and where is the debased?

Where is the caller when he did call out
And where is the powerful when he did boast

Where is the one who was arrogant in his reign
And where is the strong one when he did gain power?’

So he heard a voice say:

All have fleeted, so there is no informer
And all have died and so did the news

The daughters of the rich come and go
So they wipe away the beauty of such a picture

So O questioner of a people who have gone by
Is there not in what you see, a lesson indeed?

taken from http://fajr.wordpress.com

Explanation

“Is there not in what you see, a lesson indeed?” meaning that is it not a lesson for you of those who once walked upon this earth just like yourself, both the master and the slave, the arrogant one and the humble one, the powerful and the weak, the knowledgeable one and the ignorant one, all who have been in this world are no longer resident in it but are rather now the inhabitants of the graves, having taken with them nothing of the provision of this world except their deeds. So is this not a lesson for the people of understanding that they too will soon be returned to the dust of the earth with nothing to take forward from this world except their deeds, both good and bad.

When the heart dies

When the heart dies

Umar Ibn Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) once said to Al Ahnaf bin Qais (May Allah be pleased with him)

“Oh Ahnaf, the more one laughs, the less dignity will he possess. Whoever jokes (excessively) is a person who will be taken lightly. Whoever does something frequently will be known by that thing. Whoever speaks often, errs often. The more often one errs, the less modesty he will possess. Whomever has a low level of modesty will also have a low level of piety, and when one has a low level of piety, then his heart dies.”

[Sifatus-Safwah]

Purification of the heart

Purification of the heart

“The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is at-Tawbah (repentance) and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance [of Allah]. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is at-Taqwa [fear of Allah]. It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry, and its food and drink are knowledge, love [for Allah and His sake], dependence [upon Allah], repentance and servitude.”

[Al-fawaid of Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (May Allah have mercy upon him)]

Oh my eye other people have eyes too

“O my eye other people have eyes too.”

“If you desire to live such that your religion is safe and your portion is full and your honour is sound, guard your tongue and never mention another’s faults, remembering you yourself have faults and others have tongues. Watch your eye, should it ever reveal the faults of others say to it. ‘O my eye other people have eyes too.’

A saying of Shaykh Ahmed Zarruq (May Allah have mercy upon him)