Critical Examination of Oneself!
Repentance
http://www.salaficentre.com/2016/08/salaah-tawbah-prayer-repentance/
Being Forgetful or Oblivious of One’s Previous Sins When Calamity Occurs- By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah] said: A thought came to my mind regarding the calamities, hardships and great afflictions that takes place in the world; so I said: Glorified is Allaah and free is He from all imperfections! Indeed, Allaah is The Most Generous of all those who show generosity, and generosity necessitates forbearance and forgiveness. So, how do we look at those punishments? I contemplated and saw that the presence of many people is as if they do not exist- neither do they study the evidences about the Oneness of Allaah nor do they abide by the commandments and prohibitions of [Allaah]; rather they carry on in their habits like cattle. And unless the Islamic legislation agrees with what they want, otherwise they cling to selfish interests. And after obtaining the Deenaar [money], they do not care whether it was [earned] through lawful or unlawful [means]. They pray when it is easy for them, otherwise they abandon the prayer. Amongst them are those who openly commit great sins, whilst being aware of its prohibition. And it may be that there is a scholar with robust understanding, but his sins are grave indeed. So, I came to know that even when the punishments are great, they are lesser [in severity] than their crimes. And when punishments occur to wipe away sins, those [responsible for such sins] say: ‘’Which sin is this for?’’ And they forget what has proceeded [i.e. their previous sins]. An old man becomes so insignificant to the extent that the hearts become sympathetic, whilst he is unaware of the fact that this is due to not giving importance to the commandments of Allaah in his youth.
[Source: Saydul Khaatir: page: 18-19. Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
A Great Reward For Those Who Pardon Others
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ
The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.
وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ
But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character)
[وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ – (The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal] – meaning: There is a big difference between this (i.e. a good deed) and this (i.e. an evil deed).
[ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ – (Repel (the evil) with one which is better]-meaning: The one who does wrong to you, repel (his evil) by treating him in a good manner.
[فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ – (then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend]–meaning: If you (return) good treatment to the one who treat you badly, this good deed (or treatment) will lead to reconciliation and love. He will show you affection and become as if he is a close friend to you, and shows you pity and kindness. Then Allah says:
[وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا- But none is granted it except those who are patient]-meaning: No one accepts this advice and acts in accordance with it, except for the one who exercises patience in that, because it is hard on the souls (i.e. difficult for people to act upon it).
[وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ – and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion] – meaning: The one who has an ample share of happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Ali bin Abee Talhah said that Ibn Abbas said in his explanation of this Ayah: “Allaah command the believers to exercise patience when they are angry, to be forbearing when encountered with ignorance and to forgive when treated badly; for if they do that, Allaah will protect them from shaytaan and make their enemies humble (in their presence) until they become like close friends.
[Abridged…see Tafseer Ibn Katheer’ Vol 6 Surah Fussilat 41:34-35. Publishers Daarul Aathaar 1430AH (2009)]
Be Humble In The Earth!
Humility
The Basis of Abiding Virtue at all Times and in Every Place
The Basis of Abiding Virtue at all Times and in Every Place
Gradual Decadence of The Heart Due To Sins Until It Becomes An Ally of Shaytaan- By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: When sins become numerous, it has a severe effect on the heart of the [sinner], and thus the sinner deviates [from right conduct], just as some of the Salaf stated regarding the statement of Allaah [The Most High]: [كَلَّاۖ بَلۡۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِم مَّا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ – Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn]- Meaning: Sins in addition to other sins. Al-Hasan [rahimahullaah] said: It is sins in addition to other sins until the heart becomes blinded. And the basis of this is that the heart becomes decayed due disobedience, and when this disobedience increases, the decadence becomes more severe until the heart is covered in sins and evil deeds; then it becomes more severe until the heart is severely afflicted- locked and sealed [in sins and disobedience]. When this happens to the heart after it was in a state of guidance and clear-sightedness, it deteriorates severely and thus its noble state alternates to the lowest level of [misbehaviour, disobedience etc.]. Then its enemy [i.e. shaytaan] becomes its close ally and leads it wherever he wants.
[Source: Al-Jawaabul Kaafi’ page 139. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]
Repentance:
https://www.salaficentre.com/2016/08/salaah-tawbah-prayer-repentance/
A Short Faa’idah Regarding Sawm and Rectification of The Heart- By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
Righteousness of the heart and its steadfastness upon the path leading to Allaah’s [good pleasure etc] depends on its complete devotion to Allaah [The Most High]. The heart will not be put in order except by turning completely to Allaah [in obedience, submission etc]; but excess food and drink, excess intermingling with the people and excess speech and sleep are among [those things] that increase the heart in decay, distracts it in every way and severs it from its path of [obedience] to Allaah [The Most High] – either weakening or hindering it, or stopping it [from this goal]. Therefore, Allaah’s Mercy necessitates that fasting is legislated for the [believing] servants in order to [divert them] from excess food and drink, and rid the heart of the intrusions of desires, which hinders it from its path [of obedience] to Allaah. Allaah legislated [fasting] in accordance with what is of benefit for the servant, so that the servant is benefited in his worldly life and afterlife – neither hindering him from what will bring about well-being for him in this life nor in the afterlife.
Source: Zaadul Ma’aad’ with annotations by Imaam Abdul Bin Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz & Checking of the Ahaadeeth by Imaam Albaani (rahimahumallaah). Page 39. Vol 2. Publisher: Daarul Aathaar’ 1st ed. ISBN Number: 2005/9441. Abridged and paraphrased].
“There Is No Good Except In Nine….” | Rabee bin Khuthaym (Rahimahullah)
Rabee Bin Khuthaym [rahimahullaah] used to say:
There is no good in speech except in nine[affairs]: Tahleel [i.e. uttering Laa-ilaaha ilal-laah]; Takbeer [i.e. uttering Allaahu Akbar]; Tasbeeh [i.e. uttering Subhaanallaah]; Tahmeed [i.e. uttering Al-Hamdulil-laah]; Enquiring about good; Seeking refuge from evil; Enjoining good; Forbidding evil and Recitation of the Qur’aan’’.
[Source: ‘Kitaab As-Samt’ by Ibn Abee Dunyaa (rahimahullaah) page:246]
The Severity Of Not Nurturing Your Children Upon Piety! | Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen (Rahimahullah)
Imaam Muhammad bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [May Allah have mercy on him] said:
“Whoever does not fulfill the obligations which Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] has obligated on him with regards to nurturing his children [upon piety etc], then it might occur later on that they will not fulfill the obligations which Allaah has obligated on them to fulfill towards him [i.e. the father] when he reaches old age and [when] he dies. “
Sifat Us-Salaah page 27
The Salah, Speech and Contentment!
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
A man came to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and said: ‘’Admonish me and be brief’’; so the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said to him:
إِذَا قُمْتَ فِي صَلَاتِكَ فَصَلِّ صَلَاةَ مُوَدِّعٍ
‘’When you stand for your prayer, then pray a farewell prayer (i.e. as if it is your last Salah before death).”
وَلَا تَكَلَّمْ بِكَلَامٍ تَعْتَذِرُ مِنْهُ غَدًا
‘’Do not speak with a statement for which you may have to apologize tomorrow.”
وَأَجْمِعِ اليَأسَ مِمَّا فِي يَدَيِ النَّاسِ
‘’And forgo what is in the hands of the people (i.e. do not be desperate for the worldly possessions of the people).”
Reported by:
[Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) Number: 23498)]
[Imaam Ibn Maajah (rahimahulllaah) Number: 4171]
[Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Saheehah. Number:401]