💎[The Tree of Faith: Sound Knowledge, Intention, Action, & Character]

Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said in his monumental work Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn (1/201):

«إِنَّ الشَّجَرَةَ لا بُدَّ لَهَا مِنْ عُرُوقٍ، وَسَاقٍ، وَفُرُوعٍ، وَوَرَقٍ، وَثَمَرٍ، فَكَذٰلِكَ شَجَرَةُ الإِيمَانِ وَالإِسْلَامِ،

“A tree must have roots, a trunk, branches, leaves, and fruit. Likewise is the tree of faith (īmān) and Islam.

فَعُرُوقُهَا: الْعِلْمُ، وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ، وَالْيَقِينُ، وَسَاقُهَا: الْإِخْلَاصُ، وَفُرُوعُهَا: الْأَعْمَالُ، وَثَمَرَتُهَا: مَا تُوجِبُهُ الْأَعْمَالُ الصَّالِحَةُ مِنَ الْآثَارِ الْحَمِيدَةِ، وَالصِّفَاتِ الْمَمْدُوحَةِ، وَالْأَخْلَاقِ الزَّكِيَّةِ، وَالسَّمْتِ الصَّالِحِ، وَالْهَدْيِ**، وَالدَّلِّ الْمَرْضِيِّ.

Its roots are knowledge, awareness, and certainty; its trunk is sincerity (ikhlāṣ); its branches are righteous deeds; and its fruits are the beneficial effects that result from those deeds—praiseworthy qualities, virtuous traits, noble character, upright demeanor, noble conduct (hady), and commendable bearing.

فَيُسْتَدَلُّ عَلَى غَرْسِ هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ فِي الْقَلْبِ وَثُبُوتِهَا فِيهِ بِهٰذِهِ الْأُمُورِ.

These are the signs that the tree has been planted in the heart and is firmly rooted therein.

فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعِلْمُ صَحِيحًا، مُطَابِقًا لِمَعْلُومِهِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ كِتَابَهُ بِهِ، وَالِاعْتِقَادُ مُطَابِقًا لِمَا أَخْبَرَ بِهِ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ، وَأَخْبَرَتْ بِهِ عَنْهُ رُسُلُهُ، وَالْإِخْلَاصُ قَائِمًا فِي الْقَلْبِ، وَالْأَعْمَالُ مُوَافِقَةً لِلْأَمْرِ، وَالْهَدْيُ، وَالدَّلُّ، وَالسَّمْتُ مُشَابِهًا لِهٰذِهِ الْأُصُولِ، مُنَاسِبًا لَهَا، عُلِمَ أَنَّ شَجَرَةَ الْإِيمَانِ فِي الْقَلْبِ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ، وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ،

So, if the knowledge is correct and conforms to the truth revealed by Allah, and the belief is in accordance with what Allah has informed about Himself and what His Messengers have conveyed from Him, and sincerity is firmly established in the heart, and the actions are in accordance with the divine command, and the demeanor, conduct, and appearance reflect and harmonize with these foundations—then it is known that the tree of faith in the heart has firm roots and lofty branches reaching the sky.

وَإِذَا كَانَ الْأَمْرُ بِالْعَكْسِ، عُلِمَ أَنَّ الْقَائِمَ بِالْقَلْبِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ الشَّجَرَةُ الْخَبِيثَةُ الَّتِي اجْتُثَّتْ مِنْ فَوْقِ الْأَرْضِ، مَا لَهَا مِنْ قَرَارٍ.»

But if the opposite is the case, then it is evident that what resides in the heart is none other than the wicked tree that has been uprooted from the surface of the earth and has no stability or foundation.”


May Allah endow us with these beautiful characteristics and free us of their opposites in a state of wellbeing.

https://t.me/umarquinn

💎[Islam Spread Because of Wisdom & Good Character]

The nurturing scholar Rabīʿ al-Madkhalī — may Allah preserve him — said:

«إِنَّ التَّحَلِّيَ بِالأَخْلَاقِ الإِسْلَامِيَّةِ العالِيَةِ، مِنَ الصِّدْقِ وَالأَمَانَةِ وَالتَّوَاضُعِ وَالحِكْمَةِ فِي الدَّعْوَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى، لَهُ آثَارٌ بَعِيدَةٌ وَعَمِيقَةٌ فِي انْتِشَارِ الإِسْلَامِ فِي أَوْسَاطِ النَّاسِ.

“Indeed, adorning oneself with lofty Islamic manners — such as truthfulness, trustworthiness, humility, and wisdom in calling to Allah, Blessed and Exalted — has far-reaching and profound effects in spreading Islam among the people.

وَلَا تَظُنَّ أَنَّ الإِسْلَامَ انْتَشَرَ بِالسَّيْفِ فَقَطْ كَمَا يَتَصَوَّرُ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ، وَإِنَّمَا انْتَشَرَ بِهَذِهِ الأَخْلَاقِ الَّتِي كَانَ يَتَحَلَّى بِهَا صَحَابَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، الَّذِينَ رَبَّاهُمْ أَرْقَى تَرْبِيَةٍ عَلَى أَرْقَى وَأَعْلَى الأَخْلَاقِ.. الَّتِي كَانَتْ أَكْبَرَ دَافِعٍ لِلنَّاسِ وَجَاذِبٍ لِلنَّاسِ إِلَى تَقَبُّلِ الإِسْلَامِ».

And do not think that Islam spread solely by the sword (i.e., military expansion), as some people imagine. Rather, it spread through these manners which the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, possessed — those whom he raised with the finest upbringing upon the highest and most noble character. These [manners] were the greatest motivator and attractor for people to embrace Islam.”

📚[Al-Lubāb 11/12]

💎[The Recipe for a Successful Family]

✍️ Dr. Muḥammad ibn Ghālib wrote:

خَلْفَ كُلِّ بَيْتٍ مُسْتَقِرٍّ وَأَبْنَاءٍ صَالِحِينَ
وَبِيئَةٍ صِحِّيَّةٍ،

“Behind every stable household,
all righteous children, and any healthy environment,

زَوْجَانِ صَالِحَانِ بَذَلَا جُهُودَهُمَا وَأَحْسَنَا الْقِيَامَ بِوَاجِبَاتِهِمَا،

are two righteous spouses who exerted their efforts, fulfilled their responsibilities well,

وَقَدَّمَا مَصْلَحَةَ كِيَانِ الْأُسْرَةِ عَلَى حُظُوظِ النَّفْسِ،

prioritized the interest of the family unit over personal desires,

وَقَادَا سَفِينَةَ الْأُسْرَةِ بِحِكْمَةٍ وَتُؤَدَةٍ،

steered the ship of the family with wisdom and calm deliberation,

وَأَكْرَمَا أَنْفُسَهُمَا وَأَفْرَادَ أُسْرَتِهِمَا بِحُسْنِ التَّخْطِيطِ وَالتَّدْبِيرِ،

honored themselves and the members of their household through good planning and management—

اسْتِعَانةً بِاللَّهِ فِي ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ،
وَعَملًا بِالْأَسْبَابِ النَّافِعَةِ.

relying on Allah in all of that,
and acting upon beneficial means.”