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Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Riyadh as-Saaleheen: Tawwakul, Steadfastness, Pondering and Hastening to Good (Lesson 6)


Certainty and Reliance
اليقين والتوكل
Yaqeen:

وَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا هَذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَصَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلاَّ إِيمَانًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
33:22

Tawakkul is easy in times of ease, but a person’s true Eman is made apparent in hardships - especially when it first strikes 

Ibn al-Uthaymin:

A heart which builds itself on a strong reliance will have the highest grade of Eman...such a heart has built within it Eman in Qadr and nothing is disliked to him from the decree of Allah.

Sharh Riyadh as-Saaleheen


فَانقَلَبُواْ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُواْ رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءهُ فَلاَ تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
3:173-174

Tawakkul:

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا
25:58

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
14*:11
 فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
3:159

وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ
65:3

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
8:2


Tawakkul:
1)      To know Allah will aid you (very dangerous and possibly Shirk/Nifaq)
2)    Whilst taking the necessary measures (even animals don’t leave this one)
-Ibn Rajab in Jami al-Uloom wa al-Hikam


74- Messenger of Allah () said, "I was shown the past nations. I saw a Prophet who had a very small group (less than ten in total) with him, another Prophet who was accompanied by only one or two men and some did not have even one. Suddenly I was shown a huge crowd and I thought that they were my Ummah, but I was told: 'This is Musa (Moses) and his people, but look towards the other side.' I looked and beheld a great assemblage. I was told: 'These are your people and amongst them there are seventy thousand who shall enter Jannah without being taken to account or torment". Then the Prophet () stood up and went into his apartment, and the Companions began to guess who may be those people who would enter Jannah without any accounting or torment. Some said: "Probably, they are the ones who kept company with Messenger of Allah ()". Others said: "Probably, they are the ones who have been born as Muslims and have never associated anyone with Allah in worship". Then Messenger of Allah () came out and asked, "What are you discussing?" So they told him. He then said, "They are those who do not make Ruqyah (blowing over themselves after reciting the Qur'an or some prayers and supplications the Prophet () used to say) nor seek it, nor perceive omens (i.e., they are not pessimistic) but keep trust in their Rubb (Allah)." On this 'Ukashah bin Mihsan stood up and asked: "Pray to Allah to make me one of them." The Prophet () said, "You are one of them." Then another man stood up and asked the same thing. The Prophet () answered, "'Ukashah has surpassed you".
-Entering into Jannah without reckoning and without account
-They took their means but depended on Allah even in their most desperate moment
-Some Ulema used to praise Allah when medicine didn’t work!
75-
‏اللهم لك أسلمت وبك آمنت، وعليك توكلت، وإليك أنبت ، وبك خاصمت‏.‏ اللهم أعوذ بعزتك، لا إله إلا أنت أن تضلني، أنت الحي الذي لا تموت، والجن والإنس يموتون
"O Allah! To You I have submitted, and in You do I believe, and in You I put my trust, to You do I turn, and for You I argued. O Allah, I seek refuge with You through Your Power; there is none worthy of worship except You Alone; that You safeguard me against going astray. You are the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists; the One Who never dies, whereas human beings and jinn will all die".

76- When (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs." So did Messenger of Allah Muhammad () when he was told: "A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them". But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)".
Dua and Dhikr repels bad in the Dunya and sides one with Allah BUT what’s their reward in the hereafter….

77- The Prophet () said, "A group of people (both men and women) whose hearts will be like the hearts of birds, will enter Jannah".

78- Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I went in an expedition along with the Prophet () in the direction of Najd. When Messenger of Allah () returned, I also returned with him. Then the mid-day sleep overtook us in a valley full of prickly shrubs. Messenger of Allah () got down and the people scattered around seeking shade under the trees. Messenger of Allah () hang up his sword on the branch of a tree. We were enjoying a sleep when Messenger of Allah () called us, and lo! There was a desert Arab bedouin near him. He () said, "This man brandished my sword over me while I was asleep. I woke up and saw it in his hand unsheathed. He asked: `Who will protect you from me?' I replied: 'Allah' - thrice". He did not punish him and sat down.

79- 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
I heard Messenger of Allah () saying: "If you all depend on Allah with due reliance, He would certainly give you provision as He gives it to birds who go forth hungry in the morning and return with full belly at dusk".

80- Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
Messenger of Allah () asked me to recite whenever I go to bed:

اللهم أسلمت نفسي إليك، ووجهت وجهي إليك‏:‏ وفوضت أمري إليك ، وألجأت ظهري إليك، رغبة ورهبة إليك، لا ملجأ ولا منجى منك إلا إليك ، آمنت بكتابك الذي أنزلت، ونبيك الذي أرسلت؛

(O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned my face to You, entrusted my affairs to You; and committed my back to You out of desire for You and fear of You; expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believe in the Book You have revealed and in the Prophet You have sent." Messenger of Allah () said that if anyone recited these words and died that night, he would die in the true religion. In case he remains alive till morning, he will obtain good.


81- Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah bepleased with him) said:
When Messenger of Allah () and I were in the cave of Thaur and I saw the feet of the polytheists who were above us at the mouth of the cave (on the eve of the Emigration), I submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of them were to look down below his feet, he would see us". He () said, "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two whose third is Allah".

82- Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
Whenever the Prophet () stepped out of his house, he would say,

بسم الله، توكلت على الله ، اللهم إني أعوذ بك أن أضل أو أضل، أو أذل أو أذل، أو أظلم أو أظلم ، أو أجهل أو يجهل علي

I go forth. (I begin with the Name of Allah, I trust in Allah; O Allah! I seek refuge in You from leaving or being led astray, or against slipping or being caused to slip; or doing injustice or being done injustice; or doing wrong or having wrong done to me)".

83 – When he says the above supplication, the devils say…
'You are guided, defended and protected.' The devil will go far away from him".
Abu Dawud reported it with this addition: "One devil will say to another: 'How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?".

SUMMARY:
-What’s your greatest fear and most quenching aspiration?
-Are you worried about a Dunya that is going to fade are a permanent home?
-Do you think that by fulfilling commandments you won’t be aided or find hardship on your life?
-Is hope in yourself greater than having certainty in your Lord?
-Do you fear that losing the Dunya would be a greater loss than losing and not knowing your Lord?





Steadfastness
الاستقامة

Steadfastness is:
-To know you have been created for a purpose and be constantly conscious of it
-To know you have an enemy who will make you lose this level of consciousness, so he seeks protection in his Lord
-The above is actualised in him through knowledge and actions, this happens consistently and a person doesn’t leave this path

فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلاَ تَطْغَوْا إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
11:112
Benefit: Allah ordered the Prophets in being steadfast
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلائِكَةُ أَلاَّ تَخَافُوا وَلا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ
نُزُلا مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ
41:30-32
In the Dunya they were steadfast so they are recompensed with it at the time of death

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
46: 13-14
Allah will never let the one who wants to be steadfast be led astray, but it starts from you!

85 – Sufyan bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I said, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me something of Islam which I will not ask anyone else about it." He () said, "Say, 'I believe in Allah' and then be steadfast".

Because we are deficient and weak, our Eman will always wear out – so ask and make Dua for steadfastness!!

86 – "Follow the Right Path of Faith strictly, and be steadfast; and keep in mind that none of you can achieve salvation through his (good) actions." Someone asked, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He () said, "Not even me, unless Allah grants me His Mercy and Grace".
SUMMARY
Ways to gain steadfastness:
1-Istislam: submission based on Tawhid
2-Not to give precedence to the Dunya and creation over the Akhirah and Creator
3-Upholding the rights of others
4-Manners and etiquette
5-Optimism and good thought
6-Not to give precedence to the Dunya and creation over the Akhirah and Creator
Pondering on the Greatness of Allah’s Creation
The Transiency of the Dunya
The Position of People on the Akhraih
The Shortcomings of Man

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَعِظُكُم بِوَاحِدَةٍ أَن تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنَى وَفُرَادَى ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ لَّكُم بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ
34:46
Benefit: Pondering over what The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) came with is from the best of all deeds
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىَ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
3:190-191
Benefit: a state of consciousness that only the people of intellect can be guided to grasp. This leads to praising and thanking.

أَفَلا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
وَإِلَى السَّمَاء كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
وَإِلَى الأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
88: 17-21
Benefit: Reflecting on the Qadr al-Kawn leads to one submitting in the Qadr ash-Shar’ 
This comes as conclusion to what Allah, the Most High, mentions what the Dunya was created for
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ دَمَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ أَمْثَالُهَا
47:10
Benefit: reflecting on the transiency of the Dunya cannot be gifted to all because most don’t want it!




Hastening to do Good Deeds
المبادرة إلى الخيرات

فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ
(2:148)

۞ وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
(3:133)

THOUGHT: Hasten to do good so that you can enter Jannah. But how big is the Jannah?

87-“Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. A man would be a believer in the morning and turn to disbelief in the evening, or he would be a believer in the evening and turn disbeliever in the morning, and would sell his Faith for worldly goods."

Fitnah: We are living an uncertain world

Ibn Battaal said: 
One should hasten to do good, for things change, death could come at any time, and delaying is not good. 
Fath al-Baari, 3/299. 
88-'Uqbah bin Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
Once I performed the 'Asr prayer in Al-Madinah behind the Prophet (). He () got up quickly after finishing the prayer with Taslim, and stepping over the people, went to one of the rooms of his wives. The people were startled at his haste, and when he came out and saw their astonishment at his urgency he said, "I recalled that there was left with me some gold which was meant for charity; I did not like to keep it any longer, so I gave orders that it should be distributed".

Wealth: Hasten to use it for good and use it in its proper manner

For some people, they worship the Dunya. Meaning, they submit to it, show subservience to it and it has become their sole objective in life. They are angered and in despair if they don’t get it and are pleased when they get it. For this reason, the Prophet has called some people as worshippers of it.
-Ibn al-Uthaymin
89-A man, said to the Prophet () during the battle of Uhud: "Tell me where I shall be if I am killed". When he () replied that he would be in Jannah, the man threw away some dates which he had in his hand and fought until he was killed.

90-There came a man to the Prophet () and said, "O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the most rewardable?" He () said, "That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and stingy and fear poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would be saying: 'This is for so-and-so, and this for so-and-so.' Lo! It has already come into (the possession of) so-and- so".

91-Messenger of Allah () took up a sword on the day of the battle of Uhud and said, "Who will take this sword from me?" Everyone stretched forth his hand saying: "I will take it; I will take it". He (the Prophet ()) said, "Who will take it with its full responsibility (i.e. in self-defence)?" The Companions hesitated. Abu Dujanah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "I shall take it.”

Delay: Delaying never brings about any good

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

The faster one is to do good deeds, the faster he will be on the Sirat 
-Ijtima Juyoosh



92-We went to Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) and complained to him of suffering at the hands of Al-Hajjaj. He replied: "Show endurance, for no time will come but will be followed by one worse (than the present one) till you meet your Rubb. I heard this from your Prophet ()".

93-Messenger of Allah () said, "Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions." Then (giving a warning) he said, "Are you waiting for such poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion; or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or disease as will disable you, or such senility as will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected absent, or the Hour, and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter".

94-On the day of the battle of Khaibar, Messenger of Allah () said, "I shall hand over this banner to one who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah will give us victory through him." 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "I had never longed for leadership but that day I expected that I might be called for. However, Messenger of Allah () called 'Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) and handed the banner to him and said, "Go forth and do not turn around till Allah bestows victory upon you". (On hearing this) 'Ali proceeded a little and then halted and without turning around inquired in a loud voice: "O Messenger of Allah, for what shall I fight them?" He () replied, "Go on fighting till they affirm that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they admit that, their lives and their properties will be secured, subject to their obligations according to Islam, and they will be answerable to Allah".

Subr: You WILL be hastened towards the tests of the end of times just like you are hastened towards your grave. No generation was no spared from being warned against the end of times.

BUT there’s a glad tidings!....

What the texts suggest is that there are no set actions which will give you an elevated status in Jannah. There is no person that can combine all actions. However, those who hasten to do good in all possible forms and acts of worship, then they will be elevated. Otherwise, a person will only be entered from one door of Jannah IF he has mastered it. And Allah Knows Best.

-Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari


And Allah Knows best

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