Weeping from the Fear of Allaah

And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.

(Qurâan 65:2-3)

In his eloquent writing style, Al Awaayishah brings to the forefront that which the believer should truly be occupied with and that which will soften their hearts, hearts which in most cases have become hard as they are occupied with this dunya life. It is a source of purification for the believer, elucidating the virtue of weeping from the fear of Allah and the path towards such an action. The wise statements and narrations are expanse and its powerful content strikes the heart, making one more adamant in striving for the Hereafter. This wonderful compilation of Quraanic ayat, hadeeth and statements of our pious predecessors is such that it truly allows the reader to reflect and reevaluate their current situation, such that they may seek to emulate the great examples of the past, those who had truly gained Allah’s Pleasure.

Oft-times we are far-removed from the teachings of Islaam, for while we may read the Quraan and learn from the Sunnah, many do not reflect upon its discernible reality. Al Awaayishah’s persistence o­n topics such as death and the Day of Judgement dispel such a disposition and as its certainty is brought to the forefront, the seed of fear is implanted into the heart of the believer as the tears ultimately begin to flow.

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Every Soul Shall Taste Death

The Righteous will die,
and the wicked will die …
The warriors who fight jihaad will die,
and those who sit at home will die …
Those who busy themselves with correct belief will die,
and those who treat the people as their slaves will die …
The brave who reject injustice will die,
and the cowards who seek to cling onto this life at any price will die …
The people of great concern and lofty goals will die,
and the wretched people who live only for cheap enjoyment will die …
 

Every soul shall taste of death … 

 

From the book ‘DEATH’ by Shaykh ‘Ali Hasan al-Halabi

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Look in the Mirror

For surely, the one who looks in the mirror and is able to see the truth, the truth unadulterated, has been blessed. Walhamdulillah.

Iyaas Ibn Mu’aawiyah (d.122H) – rahimahullaah – said: “There is no one who does not know his own faults, except that he is stupid.”

Of course, we have our faults, but the reality is many of us, we do not see them. Rather, we busy ourselves with the faults of others. Perhaps this preoccupation with the mistakes of others is to mask our own faults, mistakes, and transgressions; putting the spotlight on their shortcomings and forgetting our own. Be it criticism, be it nameemah [gossip], be it backbiting, the poisons of the tongue are rampant.

One of the Salaf said, “One of you might see his own faults but he still loves himself. He then hates his Muslim brother on suspicion. So where is the logic?” Perhaps our chief problem lies in the fact that we don’t see these faults. In this respect, one who recognizes their faults has truly been blessed, for bi’idhnillah now they may remedy them. But what of the one who is blind to his faults, who looks in the mirror and sees perfection, who doesn’t turn back to Allah in tawbah for he sees nothing wrong with himself ? And is this not the scarier of the two? SubhaanAllah. And it is true, that we may dismiss such a notion of ever becoming the latter – that is, one who is heedless, such that he sees no fault within himself – but is it not a possibility I ask, if we do not frequent this mirror, if we go about our daily business without truly looking at our reflection and assessing our character? And we pray never to be amongst such people.

Let us heed the words of ‘Eesa ibn Maryaam (alayhi salaam), who said:

“Do not look at the people’s faults as if you are lords, but look at your own faults as if you are slaves, because people are of two types: afflicted and pardoned. So have mercy on the afflicted and thank Allaah for pardoning you and protecting you from it.”

May our trips to this mirror become frequent, through contemplation, reflection and self-assessment.

A reminder for myself, and then my fellow Muslimeen.

Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

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The Inevitable

Alhamdulillaah was salaatu was salaamu alaa nabiyyinaa wa habeebinaa Muhammad

According to Abdallaah bin Bakr bin Habeeb al-Sahmee: We were told by a man in the mosque of al-Junaabidh that `Umar bin `Abd al-`Azeez delivered a sermon to the people in Khunaasirah in which he said: O people, you were not created in vain, nor will you be left to yourselves [See 75:36]. Rather, you will return to a place in which Allaah will descend in order to judge among you and distinguish between you. Destitute and lost are those who forsake the all- encompassing mercy of Allaah, and they will be excluded from Paradise, the borders of which are as wide as the heavens and the earth. Don’t you know that protection, tomorrow, will be limited to those who feared Allaah [today], and to those who sold something ephemeral for something permanent, something small for something great, and fear for protection? Don’t you realize that you are the descendants of those who have perished, that those who remain will take their place after you, and that this will continue until you are all returned to Allaah? Every day you dispatch to Allaah, at all times of the day, someone who has died, his term having come to an end. You bury him in a crack in the earth and then leave him without a pillow or a bed. He has parted from his loved ones, severed his connections with the living, and taken up residence in the earth, whereupon he comes face to face with the accounting. He is mortgaged to his deeds: He needs his accomplishments, but not the material things he left on earth.

Therefore, fear Allaah before death descends and it’s appointed times expire. I swear by Allaah that I say those words to you knowing that I myself have committed more sins than any of you; I therefore ask Allaah for forgiveness and I repent. Whenever we learn that one of you needs something, I try to satisfy his need to the extent that I am able. Whenever I can provide satisfaction to one of you out of my possessions, I seek to treat him as my equal and my relative, so that my life and his life are of equal value. I swear by Allaah that had I wanted something else, namely, affluence, then it would have been easy for me to utter the word, aware as I am of the means for obtaining this. But Allaah has issued in an eloquent Book and a just example (sunnah) by means of which He guides us to obedience and proscribes disobedience. He lifted up the edge of his robe and began to cry and sob, causing the people around him to break into tears. Then he stepped down. That was the last sermon he gave before he died, may Allaah have mercy on him.

• For variant versions of this sermon, see Ibn `Abd al-Hakam, Seerah 43-45, 132-33; Ibn Katheer, Bidaayah, IX, 199; This translation was taken from The History of al-Tabaree, Vol XXIV, by D.S.Powers || Source: http://www.troid.org

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The Tree of Faith

See you not how Allâh sets forth a parable? – A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high). Giving its fruit at all times, by the Leave of its Lord and Allâh sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. (Ibrahim 14:24-25)

Allah has likened the statement of faith, which is the best of statements, with a tree that is the best of trees bearing these noble characteristics. Its roots are firm, it is always growing and maturing and it bears fruit all the time, directing its numerous benefits and delectable fruits to its owner and others.

This tree varies greatly in the hearts of the believers, changing in accordance to the variation of the qualities that Allah has described it with. Therefore it is upon the servant to hasten towards acquiring knowledge about it, its descriptions, that which leads to its existence and potency, its roots and its branches. It is upon him to expend his efforts in actualizing this tree in terms of knowledge and action for indeed his portion of goodness and success, happiness in this life and the Hereafter, is dependant upon the extent to which this tree (is implanted in the heart).

• Taken From: The Tree of Faith | Author: Allamah Abdur-Rahman al-Sa’di (d1376)

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The Importance of Tawheed

So verily the knowledge of tawheed [the oneness of Allaah] is the noblest of sciences, and the greatest in rank, and most obligatory to be studied because it is the knowledge of Allaah the Exalted, and His Names, and His Attributes, and His Rights upon His slaves.

Shaykh Muhammad Saalih Ibnul ‘Uthaymeen

So this [tawheed] is the most fundamental principle, and the greatest understanding. It is the first thing that the writers should write about, and it is what the callers to guidance, and what the supporters of the truth should focus on. It is the most important science that they should grab onto with their molar teeth, and it should be spread amongst all societies, until they know its reality, and until they distance themselves from whatever opposes it.

Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdullaah Ibn Baaz

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Kitaab At-Tawheed

by: Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul Wahaab

My highest recommendation goes to the book entitled Kitab at-Tawheed written by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul Wahaab. MashaaAllah it is an excellent and comprehensive book. It illuminates to the reader the light of tawheed [the Oneness of Allah]; tawheed, the very foundation of this deen, the single most important concept and the purpose behind our creation. Surely the sheer importance of tawheed and its being studied is a matter of great importance, Shaykh Muhammad Saalih Ibnul ‘Uthaymeen stated:“So verily the knowledge of tawheed [the oneness of Allaah] is the noblest of sciences, and the greatest in rank, and most obligatory to be studied because it is the knowledge of Allaah the Exalted, and His Names, and His Attributes, and His Rights upon His slaves.”

Kitaab At-Tawheed gears the reader to truly make his acts of worship in accordance with the Quraan and Sunnah, and make them for Allah alone, as is stated in Surah Al An’am, “Say: Verily, my Prayers, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of all that exists.” [Quraan 6: 162]

While the book centers around the Oneness of Allah ta’ala, it also provides for a critical study on shirk, a practice which gives the rights of Allah to other than Allah. Indeed, a thorough examination of tawheed can only be done by also examining its opposite – shirk. It has been stated that, the beauty of a thing becomes apparent by its opposite. In this sense, when we ourselves become aware of shirk, its adverse effects, such that it is the only unforgivable sin and that Allah ta’ala has forbidden paradise from the one who engages in it we may truly appreciate tawheed, as its beauty becomes apparent to us.

The style of the book itself is very unique and unlike the conventional Islaamic books we may come across. Perhaps you will seldom see a book whose very foundation is so heavily upon the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. For subhaanAllah, the format is such that each chapter begins with either the Qur’aan or a hadeeth – or both – and the author continues to write important information we can derive from it in a jot note format – subhaanAllah as if he himself wishes to stay in the shadows, while the Qur’aan and Sunnah may shine with their radiance, penetrating the heart of the believer. Many a time we hear of the ‘ulaamaa of the past, who have stated, do not follow me, but instead follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah. This book, I feel, is the very personification of such a noble ideal, for surely the Quraan and Sunnah in this book are more in number than the words of the author himself – subhaanAllah.

May you derive much benefit from this book, with a thorough comprehension, and may you direct your ‘ibadah to Allah alone, The Mighty, The Majestic. [Aameen]

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The Journey Begins

I traverse on this path seeking enlightenment, comfort, security and happiness – that which comes with ‘ilm – yet ultimately I seek the Pleasure of Allah ta’ala and the eternal abode of bliss, that is, Jannah. 

Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (radi’Allaahu’anhu) said: “Knowledge is a comforting friend in times of loneliness, it is the best companion during travels, and it is the inner friend who speaks to you in your privacy. Knowledge is the discerning proof of what is right and what is wrong, and it is the positive force that will help you surmount the trials of comfort, as well as those of hardships. Knowledge is your most powerful sword against your enemy, and finally, it is your most dignifying raiment in the company of your close companions.”  

May it be a fruitful initiative and may Allah ta’ala accept it of me. 

رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

 O Allah increase me in knowledge!

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