Ibn al-Jawzee on His Love of Reading About the Deen
May 5, 2018 § Leave a comment
Ibn al-Jawzee, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “And I will tell you about myself.
I can’t get enough of reading books, when I come across one I haven’t seen before it is as though I have come across a treasure.
And I have looked at the catalogue of books donated to the institution of higher education [Madrassah an-Nizamiyyah], and it contained around six thousand volumes, and at the index of the books of Abu Hanifah, and al-Humaidi and the books of our Shaikh Abdul-Wahhaab ibn Naasir, and those of Muhammad ibn al-Khashhaab, and they were most numerous, and every other book I could get my hands on—and if I said: I have read twenty thousand volumes, it would actually be more than that. And I am still studying.”
Saidul-Khaatir, pp. 706-707.
“You there!”
May 4, 2018 § Leave a comment
Ibn al-Jawzee, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “You there! Sort your religion out like you sorted your dunyaa out—if your garment got caught on a nail you’d take a few steps back to free yourself from it. Here is the nail of continuous sin stuck to your heart, if you took two steps back in regret you’d free yourself from it.
[But] how farfetched! A child given to heedlessness, every time he’s moved he falls asleep.”
Al-Mudhish p. 223.
‘Relying on Oneself.’
May 4, 2018 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq ibn Abdul-Muhsin al-Badr, may Allaah protect him, said, “A common mistake is the call to, ‘rely on oneself,’ reliance [thiqqah] is to depend on/trust in something [tawakkul], in fact it is the very essence of tawakkul and its core—and it is only Allaah on whom one depends.
In the du’aa there occurs, “O Allaah! Your Mercy is what I hope for. Do not abandon me to myself for an instant [lit. ‘… for the blinking of an eye …’], but put all my affairs in good order for me. There is no god worthy of worship but You.”
In his collection of religious verdicts and writings, Shaikh Muhammad ibn Ibraheem, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in answer to someone who asked about a person saying, ‘You must rely on yourself,’ ‘You must not and it is not permissible, in the hadith there occurs, ‘… do not abandon me to myself for an instant [lit. ‘… for the blinking of an eye.’].’”
Why Were Bani Israa’eel Ordered to Sacrifice a Cow Instead of Another Animal?
April 29, 2018 § Leave a comment
Al-Maawardi said, “Why did Allaah order Bani Israa’eel to slaughter a cow instead of another animal?
He ordered them to slaughter a cow instead of another animal because it was from the same category [of animal] as the calf they worshipped—so that they would hold to be contemptible what they had formally held in veneration, and so that from their compliance it be known that what they harboured in themselves concerning worshipping it had ceased.”
An-Nukat wal-Uyoon, 1/137.
Unrivalled Hope Followed by Utter Despair
April 27, 2018 § Leave a comment
“Sayyaaraa ash-Shaami said, ‘They will come out of their graves, all of them terror-stricken. Then a caller will announce, ‘My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve!’ [Zukhruf 43:68]—and so all of creation will ardently hope on account of it, then it will be followed by, ‘Those who believed in Our verses and were Muslims!’ [Zukhruf 43:69]—and so the entire creation will lose all hope, apart from the Muslims.’”
Mowsoo’ah Ibn Abid-Dunyaa, vol. 1, p. 567.
The Dunyaa from the Time it Started to Its End
April 22, 2018 § Leave a comment
“Al-Hasan said, ‘The example of the entire dunya, from the time it started to its end, is but that of a man who took a nap and who then had a dream in which he saw something he liked—and then he woke up.’”
Mowsoo’ah Ibn Abid-Dunyaa, vol. 1, p. 548.
“Cheerfully, with Formidable Desire and Intense Happiness …”
April 22, 2018 § Leave a comment
“Abdullah Ibn Abbaas said, ‘It is detested that a man stands to pray lazily, he should rather stand for it cheerfully, with formidable desire, intense happiness, for he is confiding privately in Allaah, and Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, is in front of Him and forgiving him and answering him when he supplicates,’ and he recited this verse, ‘And when they [i.e., the hypocrites] stand to pray they do so lazily.’’” [4:142]
At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, no. 1904.
On Not Being Scared that You Could Enter the Fire
April 21, 2018 § Leave a comment
Imaam adh-Dhahabi, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Anyone who isn’t afraid that he might be in the Fire is deceived and has deemed himself secure from Allaah’s Plan.” [cf. Quran 7:99]
Siyaru A’laamin-Nubalaa. vol. 6, p. 291.
Uthaimeen On Persistence in Du’aa
April 20, 2018 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him said, “One of the most important conditions of du’aa is sincerity to Allaah عزوجل, such that in his du’aa a person feels his destitution before his Lord, and knows that Allaah تعالى will answer his du’aa, He said, “When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them) …” [2:186] … and a person needs to be insistent in his du’aa and repeat it, even if a response to it is initially delayed, or delayed a second time, let him repeat it, for Allaah تعالى might not answer a servant [of His] the first time so that he increases in his supplication to his Lord and so that he feels the need for Him even more, and it is also a test for him—will he continue asking Allaah or will he become weary and stop? So be persistent in supplicating to your Lord, brother Muslim, for He loves those who are persistent in their du’aas …”
Sa’eed ibn Jubair
April 18, 2018 § Leave a comment
Hilaal ibn Yusaaf said that Sa’eed ibn Jubair entered the Ka’bah [at night] and read the whole Quraan in one rak’ah.
Mowsoo’ah Ibn Abid-Dunyaa, vol. 1, p. 115.
When They Threw Prophet Yusuf Into the Well
April 16, 2018 § Leave a comment
“… Ayyub ibn Suwaid narrated from Ibn Shawdhab who said, ‘When Yusuf عليه السلام was thrown into the well, he said:
حَسْبِيَ اللهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْل
‘Allaah is sufficient for me! And He is the Best Disposer of Affairs.’
—and the water had been putrid but became pure, salty but then became sweet.’”
Mawsoo’ah Ibn Abid-Dunyaa, vol. 2. p. 220.
Searchable Lane’s Lexicon Text File
April 16, 2018 § 1 Comment
Here is an excellent website with over forty dictionaries you can search. One of the best parts about it is the fact that Lane’s Lexicon is actually searchable as a regular text file, not as a generic PDF image file, so you can actually type in an English or Arabic word and it will take you straight to it.
Try it here.
Uthaimeen on Always Thinking About the Evil Eye
April 13, 2018 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen said, “The Evil Eye is true and something established, and if there was something that would’ve outdone qadar it would’ve been the Evil Eye. What is there that can repel its evil?
A number of things: firstly, that a person uses the legislated supplications which are recited in the morning and evening. Secondly: That he doesn’t pay it attention and that it shouldn’t be on his mind, because perhaps if he does pay it attention and it is on his mind, that thought might overcome him until he is afflicted by it or starts thinking that he is afflicted by it when he isn’t. A person must be strong, reliant upon Allaah عز وجل, entrusting his affairs to Him.”
At-Ta’leeq ala Saheeh Muslim, vol. 1, pp. 654-655.
“Say, ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah.’ So he replied …”
April 5, 2018 § Leave a comment
Ibn Asaakir reported from Abdur-Rahmaan al-Muhaaribi that he said, “A man was on his deathbed and so it was said to him, ‘Say, ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah.’ So he replied, ‘I can’t, I used to accompany people who would order me to abuse Abu Bakr and Umar.’”
Al-Buhoor Az-Zaakhirah fi Uloomil-Aakihrah, vol. 1, p. 78.
Al-Hasan’s Patience and Humility Upon Being Abused
April 4, 2018 § Leave a comment
Awf said, “A man verbally abused al-Hasan excessively so al-Hasan said to him, ‘You’ve left things out. And what Allaah knows [about my shortcomings] is even more.’”
Al-Mujaalasah wa Jawaahirul-Ilm, vol. 8, p. 34.
When Sworn at or Verbally Abused
April 3, 2018 § Leave a comment
A man came and abused al-Ahnaf ibn Qais but he remained silent. Then he reviled him again persistently but al-Ahnaf still stayed quiet. So the man then said, “O what regret! Nothing stops him from answering me back except how worthless I am in his eyes.”
Al-Mujaalasah wa Jawaahirul-Ilm, vol. 8, p. 28.
Uthaimeen on The Heart
April 2, 2018 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “When you are afflicted with a physical illness, you knock on every doctor’s door for a cure and are patient with any pain that you must endure due to an operation [if needed] and [you are also patient] with the bitter taste of the medicine [you take]—so why don’t you do the same concerning your heart’s illness which was caused by sinning?”
Aqidatu Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, p. 42.
Uthaimeen On Repentance
April 1, 2018 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Turning back to Allaah is by feeling remorseful at what one has done, and wishing one hadn’t done the sin, and by resolving not to go back to it in the future—it is not a condition that a person doesn’t do that sin again, the condition is that he resolves not to go back to it—then if it does so happen that his soul entices him and he does it again, his initial repentance for that earlier sin is sound, but he must repent afresh from the following sin which he has just committed.”
On Being Deceived
March 28, 2018 § Leave a comment
Haatim al-Asamm said, “Don’t be deceived by a virtuous place, for there is no place more virtuous than Paradise and yet Aadam faced what he faced there.
And don’t be deceived by an abundance of worship because Iblees met what he met with after lengthy worship.
And don’t be deceived by a wealth of knowledge because Bul’aam Ibn Ba’ura faced what he faced even though he knew Allaah’s Greatest Name [al-Ism al-A’dham].
And don’t be deceived by meeting the righteous or seeing them for there was no one more righteous than the Prophet ﷺ yet his enemies or the hypocrites didn’t benefit from meeting him.”
Madaarijus-Saalikeen, vol. 1, p. 510.
Don’t Be Dazzled
March 26, 2018 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “When you do something [good] don’t be amazed at it and say, ‘Now I’m safe from the Fire and deserve Paradise,’ because Allaah said, ‘… those expect the Mercy of Allaah …’ [2:218] so they do these important actions yet despite that their hearts are full of hope, i.e., they rely on the strength of their hope in Allaah, not on their deeds. That is why Allaah, the Most High, said, ‘And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord,’ [23:60] i.e., fearful that it will not be accepted from them.”
Ahkaam minal-Qur’aanil-Kareem, vol. 2, p. 124.
Abu Mu’aawiyah al-Aswad
May 28, 2017 § Leave a comment
Imaam adh-Dhahabi said, “Abu Mu’aawiyah al-Aswad: one of the great Awliyaa of Allaah, he accompanied Sufyaan ath-Thawree, Ibrahim Ibn Adham and others, and it was said that he went blind but that when he wanted to recite the Quraan he would then, with Allaah’s permission, be able to see the mushaf.”
Siyaar A’lam an-Nubalaa, vol. 9, p. 78.
While You’re Asleep …
April 28, 2017 § Leave a comment
Khalaf ibn Hishaam, one of the reciters of the ten dialects, said, “I went to Sulaim ibn Isa to recite to him. One day when reciting I reached Surah Ghaafir and when I got to the Most High’s Statement:
“Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], “Our Lord! You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge! So forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire!” [Ghaafir 40:7]
He started crying severely, and then said to me, ‘O Khalaf! Don’t you see how great the right of a believer is? You will see him sleeping on his bed and the Angels are seeking forgiveness for him.’”
Wafayaatul-A’yaan, 2/142.
Sulaim Ibn Itr
April 26, 2017 § Leave a comment
Ibn Kathir said, “And one of the most extraordinary things is what Abu Ubaid related from Sa’eed Ibn Ufair from Bakr Ibn Mudar, [which was that] Sulaim ibn Itr At-Tujini would finish reciting the entire Quraan three times in one night and would also have marital relations with his wife three times in the same night.
When he passed away, his wife said, ‘May Allaah have mercy on you. You used to please your Lord and satisfy your family.’ She was asked, ‘How so?’ She replied:
‘He would stand to pray in the night and then finish the entire Quraan, then he would have marital relations with his wife and then perform ghusl. Then he would go back and recite until he finished the entire Quraan, then he would have marital relations with his wife and then perform ghusl. Then [again] he would go back and recite until he finished the entire Quraan, and then have marital relations with his wife, then perform ghusl and leave for the morning prayer.’
I [Ibn Kathir] say: Sulaim ibn Itr was a most distinct taabi’i, trustworthy and noble. He was a Qadi in Egypt during the reign of Mu’awiyah … Abu Haatim said that he narrated from [the Companion] Abud-Dardaa … and Ka’b Ibn Alqamah said, “Sulaim ibn Itr was one of the best of the Taabi’een.’”
Tafseer Ibn Kathir, vol. 1, p. 81.
False Hope and Wishful Thinking | 1
April 25, 2017 § Leave a comment
The scholar, the worshipper, the Zaahid, Shumait ibn Ajlaan said, “I heard my father saying:
‘Verily the believer says to himself: ‘It’s only [a matter of] three days.
Yesterday and what it contained has passed.
Tomorrow is [false] hope which you might not reach. If indeed you are from tomorrow’s people then [rest assured] tomorrow will come along with its provision.
Before tomorrow [even arrives there] is a day and night [i.e., the current day] in which many souls will perish—maybe you [too] will be one of those who do.
Each day’s worry is enough [to handle].
But you went and burdened your weak heart with years and ages worth of worry, the worry of prices increasing and falling, the worry of winter before winter even came, and that of summer before it did.
What, then, have you left for your weak heart in terms of its hereafter?
Every day your appointed term decreases yet you are not worried.
Every day you fully collect all your sustenance yet you are not worried.
You have been given what suffices you but yet seek what will cause you to transgress.
Not with a little are you content, and nor with plenty are you satisfied.
And how can a scholar not perceive his own ignorance when he has failed to give thanks for what he [already] has and is deceived into asking for yet more?
Or how can he whose desires do not cut off from the dunyaa and whose craving for it does not end work for the Hereafter?
How totally and utterly strange that someone believes in the Home of [Eternal] Life yet strives [instead] for the Abode of Deception!’’”
Qisarul-Amal, pp. 56-58.
“Forty-Five Years Have Passed Now and …”
September 21, 2016 § Leave a comment
The Muhaddith, the Allaamah Hammaad al-Ansaari, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “In reality, I haven’t met a man who, in numerous fields, possesses such abundant knowledge as Dr. [Taqiyud-Deen] al-Hilaali—forty-five years have passed now and I’ve not seen anyone like him.”
Sabeelur-Rashaad fi Hadyi Khairil-Ibaad, vol. 1, p. 6.
Ibn Baaz Called Him, “My Shaikh in Tawheed.”
September 20, 2016 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz said about Shaikh Taqiyud-Deen al-Hilaali, may Allaah have mercy on them both, “My Shaikh in tawheed.”
Sabeelur-Rashaad fi Hadyi Khairil-Ibaad, vol. 1, p. 27.
Happiness
September 18, 2016 § Leave a comment
The Shaikh of Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “A person’s happiness lies in doing what he has been ordered, refraining from what he has been forbidden and submitting to what has been decreed.”
Al-Fataawa, vol. 8, p. 453.
“A Person is in Need of Knowledge Right up Until He Dies.”
September 17, 2016 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “A person is in need of knowledge right up until he dies.”
Majmoo al-Fataawa, vol. 6, p. 71.
Uthaimeen On Worry and Regret
March 26, 2016 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “A person shouldn’t open himself up to worry and regret, because that will upset him and spoil his life and maybe even his religion, that is why the Prophet ﷺ said about a person who has had something he dislikes happen to him even after carrying out all available means, ‘Don’t say, ‘If …,’ for (saying), ‘If …,’ opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.’”
Sharh Buloogh al-Maraam, vol. 11, p. 69.
Memorising the Quraan will Be Difficult Unless …
March 18, 2016 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Muhammad Atiyyah Saalim said, “And I heard the Shaikh [i.e., Shaikh Muhammad al-Ameen al-Mukhtaar ash-Shinqiti, author of the tafseer, ‘Adwaaul-Bayaan’], may Allaah have mercy on us and him, make the following statement, ‘The Quraan will not become firmly established in one’s chest, nor will memorising it become easy, and neither understanding it, except by standing in prayer with it in the depth of the night,’ and he, may Allaah have mercy on him, would not leave his set portion of recitation during the night whether in summer or winter.’”
Tatimmah Adwaa’ul-Bayaan fi Eedaah al-Quraan bil-Quraan, p. 613.
