💎[The Categories of People in Repentance]

By al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī (d. 795 AH)

People fall into various categories when it comes to repentance:

1️⃣ The first are those who are never granted success in sincere repentance. Instead, they are enabled to commit sins from the beginning of their lives until the end, dying while persisting in disobedience. This is the condition of the wretched.

Even more disgraceful is the one who is granted the ability to perform acts of obedience early in life, but whose end is sealed with evil deeds—so he dies having abandoned righteousness. As mentioned in the authentic narration:

“Indeed, one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise until there remains between him and it only an arm’s length, then what is written overtakes him, and he acts with the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it.”

And in another narration reported by the authors of the Sunan:

“Indeed, a servant may act with the deeds of the people of Paradise for seventy years. But when death approaches, he commits injustice in his will and thereby enters the Fire.”

How difficult it is to descend from vision into blindness—and more difficult still is to fall from guidance into misguidance, or from piety into sin.

2️⃣ The second are those who spend their lives in heedlessness and idleness, then are granted success in a righteous deed near the end, and die upon it.

This resembles the one who acted like the people of Hell until there remained between him and it only an arm’s length—then what is written overtakes him, and he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it.

Indeed, deeds are judged by their conclusions. And in the ḥadīth:

“When Allah wills good for a servant, He ‘sweetens’ him.”
They asked, “And what is his ‘sweetening’?”
He said, “He enables him to perform a righteous deed, and then takes his soul while he is upon it.”

Some among these are awakened before death with enough time to gather provisions of righteous deeds with which to end their lives. Others are awakened at the moment of death itself and are granted the success of sincere repentance upon which they die.

And then there remains a final category—the most noble and exalted of all. This is the one who spends his life in obedience and is then alerted to the nearness of death, prompting him to increase his striving, gather more righteous deeds, and prepare for departure with a sound conclusion and hopeful meeting with his Lord.

Ibn ʿAbbās said: When the verse was revealed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

“When the help of Allah comes and the victory…” [al-Naṣr 110:1]

—Ibn ʿAbbās said: It was a sign that the Prophet’s ﷺ end had drawn near. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ increased his effort and striving for the Hereafter more than ever before.

Adapted from Laṭāʾif al-Maʿārif by Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī.

💎[On the meaning of the Prophet’s ﷺ saying: "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him."]

It is reported in al-Zuhd by Ibn al-Mubārak (no. 972) and Musnad Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh (no. 1591), through the chain:

Al-Aʿmash → Khaythamah → Abū ʿAṭiyyah, who said:

"Masrūq and I entered upon ʿĀʾishah, and we mentioned to her a report from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd.

We said to her: ʿAbd Allāh said:
'Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. And whoever dislikes to meet Allah, Allah dislikes to meet him.'

She replied:
May Allah have mercy on the son of Umm ʿAbd! He mentioned to you the beginning of the ḥadīth, but you didn’t ask him about the rest of it.

We said: So tell us, O Mother of the Believers.

She said:

'When Allah intends good for a servant, He assigns for him—one year before his death—an angel who guides and directs him. This continues until the servant dies in the best state he has ever been in. And people say, "So-and-so died at his best."
And when the time of death comes, and he sees his place in Paradise, his soul longs to depart, and it is in that moment that he loves to meet Allah, and Allah loves to meet him.

But if Allah intends evil for a servant, He assigns to him a devil who misleads and deludes him until he dies in the worst condition he has ever known.
And when his death approaches, and he sees his place in Hellfire, his soul resists leaving, and in that moment he hates to meet Allah—and Allah hates to meet him.'"

💎[Allah is Magnificent to Them, so Creation is Insignificant to Them]

🖊️Al-Ḥasan ibn Abī al-Ḥasan al Basrī wrote to ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz:

«أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا‌‌ لَيْسَتْ بِدَارِ إِقَامَةٍ، وَإِنَّمَا أُهْبِطَ إِلَيْهَا آدَمُ عُقُوبَةً،

"To proceed: O Commander of the Believers, know that this world is not a place of settlement. Indeed, Adam was only cast down into it as a punishment.

فَبِحَسْبِ مَنْ لَا يَدْرِي ثَوَابَ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ ثَوَابٌ، وَبِحَسْبِ مَنْ لَا يَدْرِي عِقَابَ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ عِقَابٌ،

It is enough (of a delusion) for one who does not recognize the reward of Allah that he mistakes this world for a reward. And it is enough (of a misjudgment) for one who does not understand the punishment of Allah that he imagines being denied this world is the punishment.

لَيْسَتْ صَرْعَتُهَا كَالصَّرْعَةِ، تُهِينُ مَنْ أَكْرَمَهَا، وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ أَذَلَّهَا، وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ أَعَزَّهَا، وَتُفْقِرُ مَنْ جَمَعَهَا، وَلَهَا فِي كُلِّ حِينٍ قَتِيلٌ،

Its blow of defeat is unlike any other: it degrades those who honor it, and elevates those who scorn it. It disgraces the one who seeks status through it, and impoverishes the one who amasses it. With every moment, it claims a new victim.

فَالزُّهْدُ فِيهَا تَرْكُهَا، وَالْغِنَى فِيهَا فَقْرُهَا،

Renunciation of it is to let it go. True wealth lies in perceiving it as poverty.

هِيَ وَاللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَالسُّمِّ يَأْكُلُهَا مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُهَا لِتَشْفِيَهُ، وَهِيَ حَتْفُهُ،

By Allah, O Commander of the Believers, this world is like a deadly poison—consumed by the one who does not know its nature, hoping it will cure him, when in fact it brings his ruin.

فَكُنْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَالْمُدَاوِي جُرْحَهُ، يَحْتَمِي قَلِيلًا مَخَافَةَ مَا يَكْرَهُ طَوِيلًا، وَيَصِيرُ عَلَى شِدَّةِ الدَّوَاءِ مَخَافَةَ الْبَلَاءِ،

So be like a man tending his wound: he restrains himself briefly, fearing long-term harm; he endures bitter medicine to ward off greater affliction.

فَأَهْلُ الْبَصَائِرِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَشْيُهُمْ بِالتَّوَاضِعِ، وَمَلْبَسُهُمْ بِالِاقْتِصَادِ، وَمَنْطِقُهُمْ بِالصَّوَابِ، وَمَطْعَمُهُمُ الطَّيِّبُ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ،

The people of insight, O Commander of the Believers— walk with humility, dress with moderation, speak with clarity and truth, and eat from what is wholesome and pure.

وَقَدْ نَفَذَتْ أَبْصَارُهُمْ فِي الْآجِلِ كَمَا نَفَذَتْ فِي الْعَاجِلِ، فَخَوْفُهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ كَخَوْفِهِمْ فِي الْبَحْرِ، وَدُعَاؤُهُمْ فِي السَّرَّاءِ كَدُعَائِهِمْ فِي الضَّرَّاءِ،

Their gaze penetrates the world to come just as it sees the world before them. Their fear on land is like their fear at sea. Their supplications in ease are like their supplications in hardship.

وَلَوْلَا الْأَجَلُ الَّذِي كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَمْ تَقِرَّ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ فِي أَبْدَانِهِمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا خَوْفًا مِنَ الْعِقَابِ، وَشَوْقًا إِلَى الثَّوَابِ، ‌

Were it not for the fixed term written for them, their souls would scarcely remain in their bodies, out of fear of punishment and longing for reward.

عَظُمَ ‌الْخَالِقُ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ، وَصَغُرَ الْمَخْلُوقُ عِنْدَهُمْ،

The Creator is immense in their estimation, and all creation has diminished before them.

فَارْضَ مِنْهَا بِالْكَفَافِ، وَلْيَكْفِكَ مَا بَلَّغَكَ الْمَحَلَّ»

So be content with sufficiency from this world. Let what brings you to your destination suffice you."

📚Source: Abū Bakr ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd ibn Sufyān al-Baghdādī al-Umawī al-Qurashī, known as Ibn Abī al-Dunyā (d. 281 AH), al-Zuhd, ed. Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Qādir Aḥmad ʿAṭā (Damascus: Dār Ibn Kathīr, 1st ed., 1420 AH / 1999 CE), p. 136, no. 282.

💎[Fitnah is Painful & Exhausting; The Wise & Eloquent Counsel of ʿAlī in Times of Tribulation—Especially Pertinent in an Age of Social Media]


🖊️Bukhari reports in Al Adab Al Mufrad in the chapter on Al ‘Ayyāb (The One Who Searches for & Spreads Problems & Faults)

‘Alī Ibn Abi Tālib - رضي الله عنه- said:

«لَا تَكُونُوا عُجُلًا مَذَايِيعَ بُذَرًا، فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ بَلَاءً مُبَرِّحًا مُـمَلِّحًا، وَأُمُورًا مُتَمَاحِلَةً رُدُحًا»

“Do not be hasty, or people who spread everything they hear, or those who can’t keep a secret. For difficult and painful trials lie ahead of you—hardships that will harm and confuse, and long-lasting problems that will be heavy and exhausting.”

1️⃣ Uncommon phrases:

There are many uncommon words in this impactful and powerful advice:

“Do not be ʿujulan—those who are hasty and rush into matters without deliberation;
nor madhāyīʿa—those who constantly broadcast and spread everything they hear;
nor budharan—those who scatter secrets like one scatters seeds, unable to restrain their tongues.

For indeed, there lies ahead of you a balāʾ (tribulation) that is mubarriḥ—excruciating and severe—and mumalliḥ—piercing and bitter, leaving lasting scars. And also affairs that are mutamāḥilah—drawn out, entangled, and difficult to resolve— and ruḍḥ—weighty, overwhelming, and prolonged.”


2️⃣A Prohibition of Three Blameworthy Traits That Fan the Flames of Fitnah

1. ʿAjalah – Hastiness:
Do not be hasty in judgment or in transmitting speech. Haste in times of tribulation leads to regret and clouds one’s insight.

2. Ifshāʾ – Broadcasting faults:
Do not be madhāyīʿ, i.e., excessively talkative, spreading news—especially of people’s flaws or matters said in private gatherings.

3. Ishāʿat al-asrār – Disclosing secrets:
Do not be budharan—those who scatter what they’ve been entrusted with. Gatherings are to be held in trust, and betraying that trust is a betrayal of religious duty.

3️⃣ A Vivid Description of Fitnah’s Effects

فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ بَلَاءً مُبَرِّحًا مُـمَلِّحًا، وَأُمُورًا مُتَمَاحِلَةً رُدُحًا»

For indeed, there lies ahead of you a tribulation that is mubarriḥ—excruciating and severe—and mumalliḥ—piercing and bitter, leaving lasting scars. And also affairs that are mutamāḥilah—drawn out, entangled, and difficult to resolve— and ruḍḥ—weighty, overwhelming, and prolonged.”

Meaning: You will be afflicted with a tribulation that is intensely painful, wounding hearts and testing resolve.

4️⃣ Brief Essential Lessons to Be Drawn:

• Remain steadfast in times of fitnah.

• Speak only with knowledge, manners, and justice.

• Guard your tongue, protect the sanctity of gatherings, and beware of becoming a tool for opportunists or propagandists.

• Ask Allah for firmness and safety—for only he whom Allah guides will be saved.

💎 [[The Careful Speech of the Scholars Vs. The Careless Speech of the Unlearned]]

Before speaking about or accepting/spreading speech on matters of religion, especially those of a sensitive nature, pause and consider its ramifications and remind yourself of your limitations and people’s levels.

Based on what scholastic qualifications and aptitude are these words based? Err on the side of caution. You’d rather be safe than sorry. Have mercy on yourself and others.

We see careless and regrettable speech on social media platforms far too frequently. Sensitive issues aren’t the domain of the court of public opinion. Suffice with the speech of your scholars: That is the way of people of Sunnah & Salafiyyah.

🖊️Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah [d. 728 AH]—رحمه الله—said:

«وَلْيَحْذَرِ ٱلْعَبْدُ مَسَالِكَ أَهْلِ ٱلظُّلْمِ وَٱلْجَهْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يَسْلُكُونَ مَسَالِكَ ٱلْعُلَمَاءِ، يَسْمَعُ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمْ جَعْجَعَةً وَلَا تَرَىٰ لَهُ طَحْنًا، فَتَرَىٰ أَحَدَهُمْ أَنَّهُ فِي أَعْلَى ٱلدَّرَجَاتِ وَفِي أَعْلَىٰ دَرَجَاتِ ٱلْعِلْمِ، وَهُوَ إِنَّمَا يَعْلَمُ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ ٱلْحَيَاةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا، وَلَمْ يَحُمْ حَوْلَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ٱلْمَوْرُوثِ عَنْ سَيِّدِ وَلَدِ آدَمَ صَلَّى ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

“Let the servant beware of the paths taken by the unjust and the ignorant—those who imagine themselves to be following in the footsteps of the scholars. You may hear from one of them a great deal of noise and clamor, yet find no real substance or depth [in what they say]. One of them believes himself to have reached the highest ranks of knowledge, while in truth, he only possesses a superficial understanding of worldly life. He has not even approached the knowledge inherited from the Leader of the children of Ādam, ﷺ.

وَقَدْ تَعَدَّىٰ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَاضِ وَٱلْأَمْوَالِ بِٱلْقِيلِ وَٱلْقَالِ، فَأَحَدُهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لَمْ يَسْلُكْ فِي كَلَامِهِ مَسْلَكَ أَصَاغِرِ ٱلْعُلَمَاءِ، بَلْ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا هُوَ مِنْ جِنْسِ كَلَامِ ٱلْعَامَّةِ ٱلضُّلَّالِ وَٱلْقُصَّاصِ ٱلْجُهَّالِ، لَيْسَ مِنْ كَلَامِ أَحَدِهِمْ تَصْوِيرٌ لِلصَّوَابِ وَلَا تَحْرِيرٌ لِلْجَوَابِ كَأَهْلِ ٱلْعِلْمِ أُولِي ٱلْأَلْبَابِ، وَلَا عِنْدَهُ خَوْضُ ٱلْعُلَمَاءِ فِي ٱلِٱسْتِدْلَالِ وَٱلِٱجْتِهَادِ، وَلَا يُحْسِنُ ٱلتَّقْلِيدَ ٱلَّذِي يَعْرِفُهُ مُتَوَسِّطُ ٱلْفُقَهَاءِ لِعَدَمِ مَعْرِفَتِهِ بِأَقْوَالِ ٱلْأَئِمَّةِ وَمَآخِذِهِمْ.

Such a person often violates people's honor and property through idle talk and slander. He speaks with injustice and deviates from the method and discipline of even the junior scholars. Instead, his speech resembles that of misguided commoners and ignorant storytellers. His words present neither a sound depiction of the truth nor a clear, reasoned answer, unlike the speech of true scholars and people of understanding. He does not engage in the rigorous methods of scholarly reasoning or ijtihād, nor is he proficient even in the proper practice of taqlīd (legal imitation) known to average-level jurists. This is due to his ignorance of the sayings of the imāms and the foundations of their legal reasoning.

وَٱلْكَلَامُ فِي ٱلْأَحْكَامِ ٱلشَّرْعِيَّةِ لَا يقْبَلُ مِنَ ٱلْبَاطِلِ وَٱلتَّدْلِيسِ مَا يَتَّفِقُ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلُ ٱلضَّلَالِ وَٱلْبِدَعِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عُلُومَهُمْ مِنْ أَنْوَارِ ٱلنُّبُوَّةِ، وَإِنَّمَا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِحَسَبِ آرَائِهِمْ وَأَهْوَائِهِمْ، فَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِٱلْكَذِبِ وَٱلتَّحْرِيفِ، فَيُدْخِلُونَ فِي دِينِ ٱلْإِسْلَامِ مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ، وَإِنْ كَانُوا لِضَلَالِهِمْ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مِنْهُ، وَهَيْهَاتَ، هَيْهَاتَ، فَإِنَّ هٰذَا ٱلدِّينَ مَحْفُوظٌ بِحِفْظِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُ».

Legal discourse cannot be built upon falsehoods and deception of the kind agreed upon by the people of misguidance and innovation—those who did not derive their knowledge from the light of Prophethood. Instead, they speak based on their own opinions and desires. They lie and distort, inserting into the religion of Islam that which does not belong to it. Yet in their misguidance, they believe it to be from the religion. Far from it—far indeed—for this religion is protected by the preservation of Allah.”

📚 Ibn Taymiyyah, Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥalīm. al-Radd ʿalā al-Bakrī. Vol. 1, p. 170.

💎[[Take it Easy, Keep it Simple, & Stay Away from Controversy]]

Imām al-Dhahabī (d. 748 AH -رحمه الله-) said:

«فَيَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَسْتَعِيذَ مِنَ ٱلْفِتَنِ، وَلَا يَشْغَبَ بِذِكْرِ غَرِيبِ ٱلْمَذَاهِبِ، لَا فِي ٱلْأُصُولِ وَلَا فِي ٱلْفُرُوعِ، فَمَا رَأَيْتُ ٱلْحَرَكَةَ فِي ذَٰلِكَ تُحَصِّلُ خَيْرًا، بَلْ تُثِيرُ شَرًّا وَعَدَاوَةً وَمَقْتًا لِلصُّلَحَاءِ وَٱلْعُبَّادِ مِنَ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ، فَتَمَسَّكْ بِٱلسُّنَّةِ، وَأَلْزِمِ ٱلصَّمْتَ، ‌وَلَا ‌تَخُضْ ‌فِيمَا ‌لَا ‌يَعْنِيكَ، وَمَا أَشْكَلَ عَلَيْكَ فَرُدَّهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَقِفْ، وَقُلْ: ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ.»

“It is proper for the Muslim to seek refuge from tribulations and not cause disturbance by mentioning strange or obscure views, whether in foundational matters or subsidiary rulings. I have never seen agitation in such things produce any good; rather, it stirs up evil, enmity, and resentment among the righteous and devout from both sides. So hold fast to the Sunnah, cling to silence, do not delve into what does not concern you. And whatever is unclear to you, refer it back to Allah and His Messenger, pause, and say: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’”

📚 al-Dhahabī, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad. Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ. Edited by Ḥusayn Asad et al., supervised by Shuʿayb al-Arnaʾūṭ. 3rd ed. Beirut: Muʾassasat al-Risālah, 1405 AH / 1985 CE, 20:142.

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