The questioner says: I work as an accountant in one of the companies and I have a lot of free time during which I read the Qur’aan and listen to the Noble Qur’aan Broadcast. However, when my boss arrives I close the Mushaf. So what is the ruling on this action (of mine)? Benefit us with an answer and may Allaah reward you.
Answer:
If it is the case that you have carried out your work perfectly and fulfil everything your boss requires of you without delay, then it is permissible for you to read the Qur’aan and beneficial books, and listen to the Noble Qur’aan Broadcast in your free time. Rather benefitting from this (free) time in such activities is better than wasting it in that which does not benefit.
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[Source: Fadaa’il Al-A’maal page 5. Author Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]
”And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals to plot therein. But they plot not except against their ownselves, and they perceive (it) not.” [Soorah Al-An’aam: Ayah 123]
[وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا] ”And thus We have set up in every town great ones of its wicked people;” That is those figureheads whose crimes were great and whose transgressions were severe.
[لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَاۖ] ”to plot therein” with deceit; calling to the path of shaytaan; waging war against the Messengers and their followers through speech and action. However, their plots and machinations only backfired on them. That is because they plotted and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.
Likewise Allaah set up great ones amongst the leaders of guidance and the most virtuous of them, who opposed those criminals; refuted their statements and strove against them in the path of Allaah. They followed the paths leading to the path (of Allaah) and Allaah aided them. Allaah gave them an acute discernment and kept them steadfast. So the days of victory and defeat alternated between them and their enemies, until the affair came to its final end—victory and triumph (for the believers) and the good final end is for the Muttaqoon (i.e. the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].
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[Source: Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan of Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah)] Slightly paraphrased and abridged]
The First Type: This type is very little and does not lead the (envier) to harm (others)-either by way of (hatred in) his heart, (speech of the) tongue or (deeds of the) hand; rather the person has some envy in his heart but he only deals with his Muslim brother through what Allaah loves.
The Second Type: The envier desires that the blessing (bestowed on the one he envies) should cease. He hates that Allaah should give blessings to His slaves; rather he (desires) that the envied person should remain in that state (of deprivation)…
The Third Type is Al-Ghibtahl: It is when a person wishes to be like another person without desiring that the blessing possessed by that person should cease. The person who has this type of envy is not blamed; rather this is very similar to praiseworthy competition to excel another in good deeds.
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[Source: Badaa’i al-Fawaa-id’ 2/237’ by Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah); slightly paraphrased and abridged]
O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet…[49:2]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
When it is the case that Allaah forbade (them) from giving precedence to (themselves) over the Messenger, then which type of giving precedence to oneself over the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) can be more severe than giving precedence to one’s intellect over the revelation he was sent with?
Many of the Salaf have stated (that this ayah means): ‘’Do not say anything (about the religion) until the messenger speaks and do not act until he commands you.’’
The most disobedient person amongst the people and the most severe with regards to giving precedence to him (or herself) over the Messenger is that one who gives precedence to his (or her) intellect or the intellect of another person over the revelation the Messenger was sent with. And when it is the case that Allaah has indeed forbidden them from raising their voices above the voice of the Messenger, then how about raising their intellects above the statements of the Messenger and the revelation he came with?
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[Source: Al-Waabil as-Sayyib’ page: 21. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]
Indeed those with a wicked disposition become angry due to severe envy when they see that those who are good to them are in a higher position than them.
It is incumbent on a sensible person to avoid envy in all circumstances, for indeed the most despicable trait of envy is harbouring displeased against Allaah’s decree and wishing to oppose what Allaah (The Exalted) has decided for His slaves. Then the inner self of person is wrapped up in the (desire) to see a Muslim being deprived of a blessing. The soul of the envious person is never at ease nor does his body relax except when he sees his brother being deprived of a blessing.
I have not seen an oppressor who oppresses himself similar to an envious person! He (or she) is always frustrated; permanently sad and upon a distress that never comes to an end.
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[Source: Al-Aqd Al-Fareed’ of Ibn Abdi Rabbihi Al-Andaloosi (rahimahullaah)’ 2/170]
Say: “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak,
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
“From the evil of what He has created;
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away).
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
“And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots,
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.
Envy is the most despicable trait. The first deed of disobedience through which Allaah was disobeyed in the heavens was Iblees’s envy towards Aadam and the (first deed of disobedience through which Allaah was disobeyed) in the earth was Qaabil’s envy toward Haabil. [1]
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[1] [Source: Zaadul Maseer’ by Ibn Jawzi (rahimahullaah)]
We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things? [41:53]
[سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ – We will show them Our Signs in the universe]: The (Islamic) conquest of the furthest regions of the earth. [وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ – and in their ownselves]: The conquest of Makkah.
This is the statement of Al-Hasan, Mujaahid and Sadiy (rahimahullaah)
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[Source: Zaadul Maseer’ by Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah)]
“Our Lord! Make us not a trial for those who have disbelieved, and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [60:5]
Mujaahid (rahimahullaah) said: The meaning of it is: Neither punish us at their hands nor through a punishment from yourself, so they say: ‘’Had these (Muslims) been upon the truth they would not have been afflicted with this (punishment).
Az-Zujaaj (rahimahullaah) said: The meaning of it is: Do not give them victory over us, so they think that they are upon truth and we are put to trial by way of that.