If You Want Your Prayer To Benefit You
It is reported that Bakr b. ʿAbdillāh Al-Muzanī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
If you want your ṣalāh to benefit you, say (to yourself): perhaps I will never pray another (my life will end before the next prayer).
[Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Qaṣr Al-ʾAmal article 104.]
It is reported that Bakr b. ʿAbdillāh Al-Muzanī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
If you want your ṣalāh to benefit you, say (to yourself): perhaps I will never pray another (my life will end before the next prayer).
[Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Qaṣr Al-ʾAmal article 104.]
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Imam Shafi’i said: “If you find a Sunnah of the Prophet, follow it and don’t care about anyone else.”
Source: Dhim al-Kalam #393
Source: Dhim al-Kalam #393
Imām Adh-Dhahabi رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ stated:
“It is compulsory upon every Muslim to seek nearness to Allah, the Most High, by way of every means he is able to muster. He must exert himself in fulfilling the commands and the acts of obedience to Allah.
And after the affair of fulfilling the commands and keeping away from the forbidden matters, the most beneficial means and most successful path of nearness to Allah for a person is to maintain good health and treat his illnesses.
That is because good health is something that one seeks in the legislated supplications and acts of worship.”
[At-Tibb an-Nabawiyy, p.18]
“It is compulsory upon every Muslim to seek nearness to Allah, the Most High, by way of every means he is able to muster. He must exert himself in fulfilling the commands and the acts of obedience to Allah.
And after the affair of fulfilling the commands and keeping away from the forbidden matters, the most beneficial means and most successful path of nearness to Allah for a person is to maintain good health and treat his illnesses.
That is because good health is something that one seeks in the legislated supplications and acts of worship.”
[At-Tibb an-Nabawiyy, p.18]
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The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
"Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "
[Sahih al-Bukhari 7405]
"Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "
[Sahih al-Bukhari 7405]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ said:
Many people, when they see evil or when the Muslim ummah goes through a lot of trouble, panic, lose hope and start complaining as people who are beset by calamities do.
But this is forbidden; rather what is enjoined is to be patient, to put one’s trust in Allah, to be steadfast in adhering to the religion of Islam and to believe that Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good, and that the best end is for those who fear Him; whatever befalls him is because of his sins, so he should be patient, for the promise of Allah is true; he should seek forgiveness for his sins and glorify and praise his Lord morning and evening.
[Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 18/295]
Many people, when they see evil or when the Muslim ummah goes through a lot of trouble, panic, lose hope and start complaining as people who are beset by calamities do.
But this is forbidden; rather what is enjoined is to be patient, to put one’s trust in Allah, to be steadfast in adhering to the religion of Islam and to believe that Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good, and that the best end is for those who fear Him; whatever befalls him is because of his sins, so he should be patient, for the promise of Allah is true; he should seek forgiveness for his sins and glorify and praise his Lord morning and evening.
[Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 18/295]
The love of this world has settled in the hearts, and sins have become trivial for it. Let us learn a lesson from the passing of a traveler who found nothing with him except for his deeds.
So, be good to yourselves by repenting and doing righteous deeds before the time ends. The duration of our stay here is short, and our ultimate destination is to Allah.
O Allah, forgive us and accept our repentance
Shaykh Salih Al Usaymi حفظه الله
So, be good to yourselves by repenting and doing righteous deeds before the time ends. The duration of our stay here is short, and our ultimate destination is to Allah.
O Allah, forgive us and accept our repentance
Shaykh Salih Al Usaymi حفظه الله
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:
"Seek out your heart in three places: when listening to the Qur'aan, in the gatherings of [Allaah's] remembrance, and when [alone] in privacy. And if you do not find it in these places, then ask Allaah to grant you a heart - for verily, you do not have one."
[Fawaaidul-Fawaaid, p.479]
"Seek out your heart in three places: when listening to the Qur'aan, in the gatherings of [Allaah's] remembrance, and when [alone] in privacy. And if you do not find it in these places, then ask Allaah to grant you a heart - for verily, you do not have one."
[Fawaaidul-Fawaaid, p.479]
Al-Hārith b. Qays – Allah have mercy on him – said:
When intending to do something good, do not delay it until tomorrow. When involved in something to do with the hereafter, keep yourself involved as long as you can. When involved in some worldly matter, put your mind to it (so as to get it done). And if you are praying and Shaytān whispers, ‘You are showing off,’ then make your prayer even longer.
[Ibn Al-Mubārak in Al-Zuhd wa Al-Rqā’iq Vol.1 p126]
Al-Hārith b. Qays was a student of the Companions ‘Alī and Ibn Mas’ūd – Allah be pleased with them. He was a scholar and devout worshipper.
The last bit of advice about prayer serves to repel one of Shaytān’s plots, which is to turn people away from worshipping Allah by making them feel they are showing off if they try to perfect their worship.
When intending to do something good, do not delay it until tomorrow. When involved in something to do with the hereafter, keep yourself involved as long as you can. When involved in some worldly matter, put your mind to it (so as to get it done). And if you are praying and Shaytān whispers, ‘You are showing off,’ then make your prayer even longer.
[Ibn Al-Mubārak in Al-Zuhd wa Al-Rqā’iq Vol.1 p126]
Al-Hārith b. Qays was a student of the Companions ‘Alī and Ibn Mas’ūd – Allah be pleased with them. He was a scholar and devout worshipper.
The last bit of advice about prayer serves to repel one of Shaytān’s plots, which is to turn people away from worshipping Allah by making them feel they are showing off if they try to perfect their worship.
Six Etiquettes of Learning
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:
“There are six stages to knowledge:-
Firstly: Asking questions in a good manner.
Secondly: Remaining quiet and listening attentively.
Thirdly: Understanding well.
Fourthly: Memorising.
Fifthly: Teaching.
Sixthly - and it is its fruit: Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits.”
[Miftâh Dârus-Sa’âdah (p.283).]
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:
“There are six stages to knowledge:-
Firstly: Asking questions in a good manner.
Secondly: Remaining quiet and listening attentively.
Thirdly: Understanding well.
Fourthly: Memorising.
Fifthly: Teaching.
Sixthly - and it is its fruit: Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits.”
[Miftâh Dârus-Sa’âdah (p.283).]
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Abu Razin رضي الله عنه said,
“Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Allah laughs for the despair of His servant, as He will soon relieve him.’
I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ does the Lord laugh?’
The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Yes.’
I said, ‘We will never be deprived of goodness by a Lord who laughs!’”
[Ibn Majah 181]
“Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Allah laughs for the despair of His servant, as He will soon relieve him.’
I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ does the Lord laugh?’
The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Yes.’
I said, ‘We will never be deprived of goodness by a Lord who laughs!’”
[Ibn Majah 181]
A man advised his son, saying: Oh my son, you must be mindful of Allaah.
If you’re able to be better today than you were yesterday and to be better tomorrow than you are today, then do so.
”
Awn ibn Abdullah, al-Zuhd wal-Raqa’iq #832
If you’re able to be better today than you were yesterday and to be better tomorrow than you are today, then do so.
”
Awn ibn Abdullah, al-Zuhd wal-Raqa’iq #832
The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu-‘Alaihi Wa Sallam said: “And be pleased with what share (of provision) Allāh has given you and you will be the most rich of people.”
[مختصر صحيح الجامع الصغير ١٠٠ ، حسنه الألباني]
[مختصر صحيح الجامع الصغير ١٠٠ ، حسنه الألباني]
Categories of the Believers
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Rahmān Nāṣir al-Saʿdī said:
The believers are of three categories:
1- Those who race towards the good: They are those who establish the obligated and recommended things and abstain from the impermissible and disliked things.
2- Those who ration: They are those who confine themselves to carrying out only the obligated matters and leaving off the impermissible matters.
3- Those who oppress themselves: They are those who mix between the righteous actions and the evil actions.
Source: Taʿlīm ʾUsūl al-Īmān pg. 26.
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Rahmān Nāṣir al-Saʿdī said:
The believers are of three categories:
1- Those who race towards the good: They are those who establish the obligated and recommended things and abstain from the impermissible and disliked things.
2- Those who ration: They are those who confine themselves to carrying out only the obligated matters and leaving off the impermissible matters.
3- Those who oppress themselves: They are those who mix between the righteous actions and the evil actions.
Source: Taʿlīm ʾUsūl al-Īmān pg. 26.
Maslamah ibn ‘Abdul Mālik said:
"الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَةُِ خَيْرٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ وَالْيَدَيْنِ والرجلَيْنِ"
“A righteous woman is better for a believer than [his own] two eyes, two hands and two legs!”
[Ahsan Al-Mahāsin: 368]
"الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَةُِ خَيْرٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ وَالْيَدَيْنِ والرجلَيْنِ"
“A righteous woman is better for a believer than [his own] two eyes, two hands and two legs!”
[Ahsan Al-Mahāsin: 368]
Allaah revealed to Isa:
O Isa, I’ve granted you the love of the poor and mercy toward them.
You love them, and they love you and accept you as their spiritual guide and leader, and you accept them as companions and followers.
These are two traits of character.
Know that whoever meets me on Judgment Day with these two character traits has met me with the purest of deeds and the ones most beloved by me.
Source: Kitab az-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad #327
O Isa, I’ve granted you the love of the poor and mercy toward them.
You love them, and they love you and accept you as their spiritual guide and leader, and you accept them as companions and followers.
These are two traits of character.
Know that whoever meets me on Judgment Day with these two character traits has met me with the purest of deeds and the ones most beloved by me.
Source: Kitab az-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad #327
Al-Awzā’ī رحمه الله said:
"Know that this knowledge is religion, so be careful what you do [with this knowledge], and from whom you take, and whom you follow and who you trust in your religion! For all the people of innovation are people of falsehood, liars and sinners!”
[Tārīkh Dimishq: 6/361]
"Know that this knowledge is religion, so be careful what you do [with this knowledge], and from whom you take, and whom you follow and who you trust in your religion! For all the people of innovation are people of falsehood, liars and sinners!”
[Tārīkh Dimishq: 6/361]
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