The Greatest of Losses

“Know that the greatest of losses is for you to be preoccupied with one who will bring you nothing but a loss in your time with Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – and being cut off from Him; wasting your time with the person, a weakening of your energy, and the dispersing of your resolve. So, if you are tested with this – and you must be tested with this – deal with him according to how Allah would wish, and be patient with him as much as possible. Get closer to Allah and His Pleasure by way of this person, and make your getting together with him something to benefit from, not something to incur a loss from. Be with him as if you are a man who is on a road who was stopped by another man, who then asks you to take him on your journey. Make sure that you are the one who gives him a ride, and that he is not the one giving you the ride. If he refuses, and there is nothing to gain from travelling with him, do not stop for him, bid him farewell, and do not even turn back to look at him, as he is a highway robber, regardless of who he really is.

So, save your heart, be wary of how you spend your days and nights, and do not let the Sun set before you arrive at your destination.”

Ibn al-Qayyim; ‘al-Wabil as-Sayyib‘

Method of Reciting Qur’aan

And what is intended by the Qur’aan is to reflect upon it, to try and comprehend it, to act upon it, to recite it and to memorize it in order to attain its meanings, as one of the salaf said: “The Qur’aan was revealed in order that it be acted upon, so act upon its recitation.” Shu’bah said: “Abu Jamrah told us: “I said to the son of Al-Abbas: “I am a person who recites very quickly and I might recite the Qur’aan once or twice in a night.” Ibn Abbas radiAllaahu ‘anhu said: “Reciting one surah is more pleasing to me than what you do; so if you must recite, do so in a manner by which your ears may hear the recitation and your heart may retain it.” Ibrahim said: “Alqamah recited to ‘Abdullah and he said: “Recite slowly and pleasantly, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you, for it is the beauty of the Qur’aan.”

And ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood radiAllaahu ‘anhu said: “Do not babble like the babbling of poetry when reciting the Qur’aan and do not let the words tumble out the way dry dates fall from the bunch when it is shaken; and stop at its miracles and move the hearts thereby and do not let the object of anyone of you be the end of the surah.” And he said: “If you heard Allah’s Words “Oh you who believe!” , then listen to it, for it is some act of goodness which you are being commanded to do or some evil deed from which you are being turned away.” ‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abi Laila said: “A woman came to me while I was reciting Surah Hud and she said to me: “Oh ‘Abdur-Rahman! Is this the way you recite Surah Hud? By Allaah, I have been reciting it for six months and I have not yet completed the recitation of it.”

• Transcribed from: Provisions for the Hereafter (Abridged) | Mukhtasar Zad Al-Ma’ad | By: Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah | Summarized by: Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab At-Tamimi

Enter: Dhul-Hijjah

Imam Ahmad narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (radhiAllaahu ‘anhumaa) that the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,

“There aren’t any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah Most High, than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). So, increase saying Tahlil (Laailaaha illallaah), and Takbir (Allahuakkbar) and Tahmid (alhumdulillaah) in them.”

The Superiority and Virtues of the First 10 Days of the Month of Dhul-Hijjah and the Deeds Legislated in Those Days

Hajj Contemplations | Part II

8. While in sa’yi, contemplate on Haajar, the mother of Ismaa’eel, when she asked her husband Ibraaheem ‘alayhi salaam: “Did Allah order you to do this (leaving her and her baby Ismaa’eel in Makkah)? He said: “Yes.” Her great response was: “Then He (Allaah) will not neglect us!” Think about this great dependence upon Allaah when you are in the sa’yi walking the same path which Haajar took in search for water and for means of life around the mounts of Safa and Marwah. Think about her endurance, perseverance and trust in Allaah. The sa’yi exemplifies the strong belief that we are in need of One Who Sustains and Provides – Allaah, the Exalted.

Think about Ibraaheem’s invocation on his way homeward to Palestine:

O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka’bah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.

(Ibrahim 14:37)

Hajj Contemplations | Part I

1. This is a journey that was taken by Prophets and Messengers before you. Those who take the path of the Prophets magnify the tawheed of Allah and His House. There are those, however, who come to perform hajj and their hearts are attached to other than Allaah. They invoke the dead and the righteous, whether present or absent. This is the opposite of tawheed, it is shirk no matter what they call it because it is setting up rivals besides Allaah. So, free your intention from any kind of devotion to other than Allaah. Repent and come with a sincere heart submitting to Allaah remembering what Ibraheem and his son Ismaa’eel said when they were raising the foundations of Allah’s House, the ka’bah:

“Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage – Hajj and ‘Umrah, etc.), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.”

(Baqarah 2:128)

Begin with Yourself

A man went to Ibn ‘Abbas radiAllaahu ‘anhu and said, “O Ibn ‘Abbas, I want to enjoin people to do good and forbid them from doing evil.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “And have you reached that level?” He said, “I hope that that is so.” He said, “If you do not fear to be exposed by three verses of Allah’s Book, then do so.” The man asked, “And what are they?” He mentioned this verse:

Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves.” (Baqarah 2:44)

And then asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse?” He said, “No.” Ibn ‘Abbas then mentioned the second verse:

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do. (As-Saff 61:2-3)

After that he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse?” He said, “No.” He then mentioned the third verse regarding Shu’aib alayhi salaam:

“I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.” (Hud 11:88)

And then he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse? He said, “No.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Then begin with yourself.”

• Transcribed from: Gems and Jewels | Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid | DarusSalam

The Dislike of the Salaf in Giving Fatawa (Religious Verdicts)

Al-Baraa’ said, “I met a hundred and twenty of the Ansaar from the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and when one of them was asked about a matter there was not a single man amongst them except that he wished that his brother would suffice him (by answering).” (1) In a narration there occurs the addition, “…so this one would refer it to another, and he would refer it to someone else until it would eventually return to the first one.” From Ibn Mas`ood, radiyallaahu `anhu, who said, “The one who gives a religious verdict to the people about everything that he is asked is indeed insane.” (2)

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Azeez was asked about a question and replied, “I am not one who is bold about giving religious verdicts.” He also wrote to one of his governors, “By Allaah I am not one who craves after giving religious verdicts, as long as I can find a way to avoid it.”

Ibn Yameenah said, “This affair is not for those who love that the people should have need of them, rather this affair is only for those who love that someone can be found to take their place.” It is also reported from him that he said, “The most knowledgeable of people concerning religious verdicts is the one who is most often silent, and the most ignorant of people about them is the one who speaks the most with regard to them.” (3)

Sufyaan ath-Thawree said, “We reached the scholars and they used to hate answering questions and giving religious verdicts until they could find no way out except to give a verdict, but if they were relieved of having to do so then that was more beloved to them.”

Balancing Fear & Hope

It is befitting for the believer that his fear and his hope (in Allaah) be one (i.e. equal). Since whichever of the two is allowed to overwhelm; then its companion is destroyed, Imaam Ahmad has given textual proof concerning this.

This is because whosever’s fear overwhelms (the other) then he falls into a form of despair, and whosever’s hope overwhelms (the other) then he falls into a form of feeling immunity from the plan of Allaah.

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah

• Ikhtiyaaraat al-Fiqhiyyah min Fataawaa Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah page: 85 | Translated by: Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq | Source: Fatwaislam.com

For the Students of Knowledge

The following are quotes by Shaikh Hammaad concerning the students of knowledge as well as advice for them:

• Knowledge without effort/endeavour does not come.

• It is binding upon the student of knowledge that he studies upon the people of specification in every field.

• It is obligatory upon the student of knowledge that he knows the biographies of the Salaf, as well as follows them, for this time of ours has been put to trial due to the lack of studying the biographies of the Salaf.

• Indeed the people today seek knowledge to acquire earnings; yet those that seek knowledge in truth are such few.

• The student of knowledge that does not carry a pen with him at all times does not benefit.

• I have noticed that most of the students of knowledge today do not seek consultation. (Meaning; they do not consult the Scholars in that which benefits them)

• Indeed the people of knowledge do not waste their time in that which does not benefit.

• How vast is that which has been written (authored), yet how little is that which has been read?

• Learn O youth before you become aged; for indeed at that time you will not be able to learn.

• He would advise the students of knowledge much with his saying:

I advise you with fearing Allaah The Most High in secret and in open, and aspiring upon knowledge, for indeed knowledge is a means of nobility for its companion, The Lord The Might and Majestic said:

Indeed those that truly fear Allaah from His servants are the Scholars. (Soorah Al-Faatir: 28)

• Shaykh Hammaad al-Ansaaree Majmoo’ fee tarjumah Hamaad Al-Ansaaree | Volume 2 | Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq | Retrieved from: fatwaislam.com

Gratitude: One of the Greatest Blessings

As regards one whose deeds are great and many, he must busy himself with showing gratitude for them, for the accord to show gratitude is one of the greatest blessings Allah bestows upon His servant. It is obligatory upon him to meet these deeds with gratitude and realize his deficiency in displaying due gratitude.

Wahd ibn al-Ward, when asked about the reward of a particular deed said, “Ask not about its reward, but ask about the gratitude due upon one who was guided to it.”1

Abu Sulayman would say, “How can an intelligent person be amazed with his deeds? Deeds are one of Allah’s blessings, as such it is upon him to show gratitude and to show humility. It is only the Qadariyyah who are amazed at their deeds!”2  ie. those who do not believe that the actions of the servant are created by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent.