-5- PREMISES -5- MEANS-AND -5- RESULTS

 

Five Premises, Five Means and Five Results of the Islamic Propagation

 

Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee

 

(REFRENCE)

 

Thirty Lessons For Those Who Fast

 

The propagation of Islam was the mission of all the prophets and messengers of Allah. There was never a prophet who was not a preacher and teacher. All of them preached the same message: ‘Worship Allah, you have no other god but Him.’ They all called to their people saying: ‘I do not seek any reward from you for this work.’

 

ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِیلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِی هِیَ أَحۡسَنُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِیلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِینَ

 

[Surah An-Nahl 125]

Allah Almighty says: ‘Call thou [all mankind] unto thy Sustainer’s path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner.’ (16:125)

He ordered His Messenger: ‘Say :

 

قُلۡ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِیلِیۤ أَدۡعُوۤا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِیرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِیۖ وَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَاۤ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِینَ

 

[Surah Yusuf 108]

 

Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah ; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."
(12:108)

Having ordered his servants to employ useful knowledge and good deeds, Allah confirms:

 

وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلࣰا مِّمَّن دَعَاۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحࣰا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِی مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ

 

[Surah Fussilat 33]

‘And who could be better of speech than he who calls [his fellow-men] unto God, and does what is just and right, and says, "Verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves to God?"’ (41:33)

 

There are five premises to the Islamic call, it has five approaches, and its results are also five.

Thirty Lessons For Those Who Fast

FIVE PREMESIS

First :sincerity and truthfulness with Allah, and to seek His favour. Allah says:

 

وَمَاۤ أُمِرُوۤا۟ إِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِینَ لَهُ ٱلدِّینَ حُنَفَاۤءَ وَیُقِیمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَیُؤۡتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَۚ وَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ دِینُ ٱلۡقَیِّمَةِ

 

[Surah Al-Bayyinah 5]

 

‘And withal, they were not enjoined aught but that they should worship God, sincere in their faith to Him alone.’
(98:5)

The holy Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, foretold that the first with whom the fire of hell will be lit are three;

من حديث أبي هريرة الذي أخرجه الإمام مسلم في صحيحه عنه رضي الله تعالى قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال

 أول خلق الله تسعر بهم النار يوم القيامة ثلاثة :عالم ومجاهد وغنى قال عليه السلام : يؤتى بالعالم يوم القيامة فيقال له ماذا عملت فيما علمت ؟ فيقول : يا ربى نشرته فى سبيلك ، فيقال له : كذبت إنما علمت ليقول الناس فلان عالم وقد قيل خذوا به الى النار 

among them a scholar who acquired knowledge so that people would say he is learned. And it was indeed said of him.

Second :to practice what one preaches. Actually it is a scandal and disgrace that a person’s actions contradict his words. Allah derides such people in His Quran:

 

۞ أَتَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبِرِّ وَتَنسَوۡنَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ

 

[Surah Al-Baqarah 44]

 

‘Do you bid other people to be pious, the while you forget your own selves – and yet you recite the divine writ? Will you not, then, use your reason?’
(2:44)

Third : gentleness in presenting the message. Allah advised Moses and Aaron to adopt this measure with Pharaoh, the greatest tyrant of his time:

 

(فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوۡلࣰا لَّیِّنࣰا لَّعَلَّهُۥ یَتَذَكَّرُ أَوۡ یَخۡشَىٰ)

 

[Surah Ta-Ha 44]

‘But speak unto him in a mild manner, so that he might bethink himself or [at least] be filled with apprehension.’ (20:44)

And to Muhammad, He also cautioned:

 

فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةࣲ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِیظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِی ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِینَ

 

[Surah Aal-E-Imran 159]

‘And it was by God’s grace that thou [O Prophet] didst deal gently with thy followers; for if thou hadst been harsh and hard of heart, they would indeed have broken away from thee’ (3:159).

Hence it was on this basis the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, declared: ‘Make matters easy and do not make them difficult. Give glad tidings and do not drive people away.’

Fourth : adopt a gradual approach to propagation. Do as Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, did in his mission by beginning with the most important matters; then follow them up in order of priority. This was clearly demonstrated in the advice he gave to Mu`adh before he sent him to Yemen.

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما: أن رسول الله ﷺ لما بعث معاذاً إلى اليمن قال: إنك تأتي قوماً من أهل الكتاب، فليكن أول ما تدعوهم إليه شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله. -وفي رواية: إلى أن يوحِّدوا الله. فإن هم أطاعوك لذلك فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم خمس صلوات في كل يوم وليلة. فإن هم أطاعوك لذلك فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم صدقة تؤخذ من أغنيائهم فتُرد على فقرائهم. فإن هم أطاعوك لذلك فإياك وكرائم أموالهم. واتق دعوة المظلوم فإنه ليس بينها وبين الله حجاب

متفق عليه

 

"You will come upon a People of the Book (Jews and Christians), the first thing you should invite them to is to bear witness that there is no God save Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they respond positively to this, then inform them that Allah had ordained for them five prayers each day and night.’

Fifth : address every people with what is suited for them and their needs. There is a special approach to the people of the cities and another approach to the villagers. Similarly, there is a special approach to the bedouin.

The intellectual has his position and the ignorant has his position. So too, there is a style for the argumentative and an entirely different one for the submissive.

 

یُؤۡتِی ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ مَن یَشَاۤءُۚ وَمَن یُؤۡتَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ فَقَدۡ أُوتِیَ خَیۡرࣰا كَثِیرࣰاۗ وَمَا یَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّاۤ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ

 

[Surah Al-Baqarah 269]

‘And whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted wealth abundant.’

 

The five means of propagation

 

First : the individual method; that is, to invite the person individually if the matter pertains to him specifically.

Second : public or mass propagation such as in lectures or exhortations that benefit the generality of people.

 

Third :private lessons to students each in his specialty. This is the task of the scholars who specialize in their disciplines.

Forth :propagation through writing, correspondence and authorship with guidance and benefit for those who are called.

Fifth : propagation using modern means of communication to advance the cause of truth.

The five results

First: to attain the position of inheritors of the prophets, for they were the first callers and beacons of light in the field of propagation.

Second: to obtain prayers for your forgiveness from the creation for having taught the people goodness.

في حديث أبي الدرداء مرفوعًا: وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات ومن في الأرض والحيتان في جوف الماء

وصححه ابن حبان

Even the whale in the ocean will pray for the caller to truth.

Third: to gain great rewards equivalent to that of those invited. The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said:

من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة كان له أجرها وأجر من عمل بها من بعده لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئا، ومن سن في الإسلام سنة سيئة كان عليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها من بعده لا ينقص ذلك من أوزارهم شيئا خرجه مسلم في صححيه

ومثل هذا الحديث ما رواه أبو هريرة  عن النبي ﷺ أنه قال: من دعا إلى هدى كان له من الأجر مثل أجور من تبعه لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئًا، ومن دعا إلى ضلالة كان عليه من الإثم مثل آثام من تبعه لا ينقص ذلك من آثامهم شيئًا

رواه ه مسلم في صحيحه

‘Whoever calls to a good tradition will have the reward as the one who followed it without reducing from their reward.’

Fourth: the development of the caller from being on who is called to one who calls. He influences others and is not influenced by others who call to evil.

Fifth: the caller will become a leader among his people ad they will follow him. Allah almighty describes the righteous and notes that they call upon Him saying:

 

وَٱلَّذِینَ یَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَ ٰ⁠جِنَا وَذُرِّیَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡیُنࣲ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ إِمَامًا

 

[Surah Al-Furqan 74]

‘Cause us to be foremost among those who are conscious of Thee!’ (25:74)

 

 

PATIENCE IN THE QURAAN

 

 

Imam Ahmad Rahimahullah said:

** *

“Allah has mentioned patience in the Qur’an in 90 places.”

Patience in the Qur’an: Six Benefits

** *

1. Instruction: Patience is enjoyed upon the Believers.

 

وَٱصۡبِرۡ وَمَا صَبۡرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا تَكُ فِی ضَیۡقࣲ مِّمَّا یَمۡكُرُونَ

[Surah An-Nahl 127]

 

And endure patiently, your patience is not but from Allah. 

(16:127)

(وَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعۡیُنِنَاۖ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ حِینَ تَقُومُ)

 

[Surah At-Tur 48]

 

So wait patiently for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes. (52:48)

** *

2. That which is opposite to patience is forbidden

 

(فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ)

 

[Surah Al-Qalam 48]

 

So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish - when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow. (68:48)

** *

3. Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity

 

یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصۡبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

 

[Surah Aal-E-Imran 200]

 

O you who believe! Endure and be more patient, and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful. (3:200)

** *

4. The reward of those who exercise patience is doubled

 

أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ یُؤۡتَوۡنَ أَجۡرَهُم مَّرَّتَیۡنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ وَیَدۡرَءُونَ بِٱلۡحَسَنَةِ ٱلسَّیِّئَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ یُنفِقُونَ

 

[Surah Al-Qasas 54]

 

These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient, and repel evil with good, and spend out of what We have provided them. (28:54)

 

قُلۡ یَـٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمۡۚ لِلَّذِینَ أَحۡسَنُوا۟ فِی هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡیَا حَسَنَةࣱۗ وَأَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَ ٰ⁠سِعَةٌۗ إِنَّمَا یُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَیۡرِ حِسَابࣲ

 

[Surah Az-Zumar 10]

Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning. (39:10)

** *

:قال سليمان بن قاسم - رحمه الله تعالى

 

 كل عمل يُعرف ثوابه إلا الصبر ، قال الله عزّ وجلّ: ﴿ إنما يُوفَّى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب ﴾ قال: كالماء المنهمر 

الصبر لابن أبي الدنيا (٢٠) ص٢٩

 

Sulayman ibn Qasim said, “the reward of every deed is known, except for the reward of patience which will be like heavy rain.”

** *

5. Patience and emaan are pre-requisites for leadership in religion

 

(وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ أَىِٕمَّةࣰ یَهۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا۟ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِنَا یُوقِنُونَ)

 

[Surah As-Sajdah 24]

 

And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat. (32:24)

** *

6. Patience is the way to earn the Companionship of Allah

 

وَأَطِیعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفۡشَلُوا۟ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِیحُكُمۡۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوۤا۟ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ

 

[Surah Al-Anfal 46]

 

And be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient. (8:46)

 

-Taken from “Patience and Gratitude”, by Ibn AlQayyim Rahimahullah

 

 

 

THE MANY FACES OF PATIENCE

 

 

Allah the Almighty says:

 

(أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن یُتۡرَكُوۤا۟ أَن یَقُولُوۤا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا یُفۡتَنُونَ)

 

[Surah Al-Ankabut 2]

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say “we believe, and will not be tested”

 

(Surah Al-Ankabut 29:2)

What do you understand from this verse in relation to your everyday lives? Imagine it’s another typical day, you’ve prayed, you’ve stayed up, now it’s time to start the day. You woke the kids up, ranted at them and managed to get them ready. Their breakfasts made, lunches made (Husband’s included!) and finally sent them to school.

You come home and sigh. Your day has just begun, should you do the breakfast dishes first or the vacuuming? Should you go up and tidy the bedrooms or mop the bathroom floor? Should you put a machine load in or should you sort out yesterday’s laundry? Will you have time to put the dinner on, pray, eat or should you do the shopping first?

So many questions, so many endless chores. They may seem trivial, but for many women they are very real scenarios that they have to deal with day in day out. It can become frustrating, it can become annoying, it can become exhausting. But there’s no escaping it. Wouldn’t it be so nice to have an easy comfortable life with no chores to constantly think about? Before you answer that question read the cases below and then ask yourself would you exchange your tiring chores for a life like theirs?

I buried my five year old son today, he cried for a banana the day before he passed away. His favorite fruit was bananas, he loved it as a baby, mashed up with milk. I haven’t been able to find even a rotten banana for over a month because it has nearly been a month since we last ate. The famine has badly affected all our crops and supplies have run dry. My husband went to the next village for food and aid, but by the time he returned my son had died.

 

وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَیۡءࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَ ٰ⁠لِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَ ٰ⁠تِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ

 

[Surah Al-Baqarah 155]

“And certainly We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones)”

 

(Surah Al-Baqara 2:155)

Last month I saw my husband being shot. Straight in the head. I saw him fall and the blood pouring out. All he was trying to do was save our home from being bulldozed down. They suddenly stormed into our house, shouting: “get out”. My husband lunged at one in protest and the Israeli soldiers just shot him point blank. They calmly carried on as if they hadn’t just shattered my world. My daughter went into shock and had to be hospitalized. My son wakes up every night crying for his dad. I can’t even cry. I don’t know how to grieve but the pain and uncertainty is unbearable. Yet I am not the only Palestinian woman who has lost her home and husband within seconds.

“Allah swt said:

 

قال تعالى في الحديث القدسي: ما لعبدي المؤمن عندي جزاء إذا قبضت صفيه من أهل الدنيا ثم احتسبه إلا الجنة. رواه البخاري

قال ابن الجوزي في (كشف المشكل): الصفيُّ المصطفى كالولد والأخ وكل محبوب مؤثر اهـ. وقال ابن حجر في (الفتح الباري): "فاحتسب" أي صبر راضيا بقضاء الله راجيا فضله اهـ

 

“I have no reward other than Paradise for my believing servant who is patient when I take away one of his beloved from among his companions of the world”

(Bukhari)

It all started with yellow eyes and constantly being sick. The weight loss and exhaustion came next “We think its Gallstones causing problems, we can easily remove them” they said. The “gallstones” turned out to be a tumor. “It’s advanced liver cancer, there’s nothing we can do”they said. I have been given only a year left to live. My daughter thinks I will be holding her hand when she starts her first day at school, my son wonders if I will let him join the junior football team next year. My baby wants me to hold her steady when she takes her first steps. I wonder if I will see any of it. My husband wonders how he will cope when I am no longer here.

 

دَخَلْتُ علَى رَسولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ وهو يُوعَكُ وَعْكًا شَدِيدًا، فَمَسِسْتُهُ بيَدِي، فَقُلتُ: يا رَسولَ اللَّهِ، إنَّكَ لَتُوعَكُ وَعْكًا شَدِيدًا! فقالَ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: أجَلْ، إنِّي أُوعَكُ كما يُوعَكُ رَجُلانِ مِنكُم، فَقُلتُ: ذلكَ أنَّ لكَ أجْرَيْنِ؟ فقالَ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: أجَلْ. ثُمَّ قالَ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: ما مِن مُسْلِمٍ يُصِيبُهُ أذًى؛ مَرَضٌ فَما سِواهُ، إلَّا حَطَّ اللَّهُ له سَيِّئاتِهِ، كما تَحُطُّ الشَّجَرَةُ ورَقَها

الراوي : عبدالله بن مسعود | المحدث : البخاري |

المصدر : صحيح البخاري

 

“You will have a double reward for being sick and your sins will be annulled as the leaves of a tree fall down”

 

( Bukhari ,Imam Malik Muwatta )

Today my husband put an iron to my arm when I asked him for some money. My children haven’t drunk milk for three days; I only wanted to buy one carton of milk so I asked him for some money. Yesterday he punched me in the stomach for asking him what time he would come home. The day before he stamped on my son for getting in his way. My children go to bed every night bruised and hungry. I go to bed injured and heartbroken. What can I do? I speak very little English and have no friends or family. He has threatened to kill the children if I say one word. I can only pray and hope that one day things will change and he will love us.

 

وَٱلَّذِینَ یُؤۡذُونَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ بِغَیۡرِ مَا ٱكۡتَسَبُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱحۡتَمَلُوا۟ بُهۡتَـٰنࣰا وَإِثۡمࣰا مُّبِینࣰا

 

[Surah Al-Ahzab 58]

“Those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear on themselves the crime of slander and plain sin” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:58)

 

The men laugh and ask who will save you now? I weep whilst I hear yet another sister is being tortured and brutally raped. It has been the same ever since I was imprisoned in Abu Ghraib, the nemesis that the world has forgotten about. I don’t know what my crime is, but I have been chained by the double standards of the world that criminalise the innocent and protect the criminals. Yesterday I witnessed a new sister banging her head on the wall continuously till she died. She had just suffered a very horrific rape and attack. She could no longer bear this life. The men laugh and we plead; where is the Muslim Ummah of Prophet (saw), who will help us?

“And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of Allah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among men women and children, whose cry is:

 

وَمَا لَكُمۡ لَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِینَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَاۤءِ وَٱلۡوِلۡدَ ٰ⁠نِ ٱلَّذِینَ یَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَاۤ أَخۡرِجۡنَا مِنۡ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡیَةِ ٱلظَّالِمِ أَهۡلُهَا وَٱجۡعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِیࣰّا وَٱجۡعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِیرًا

 

[Surah An-Nisa' 75]

"Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help."

 

(Surah An-Nisa 4: 75)

She was threatened; she was tortured until one day her persecutor got into such a fit of rage that he got out his sharp spear and drove it deep into her pelvis. She died instantly. Summayh bint Khayyat; one of the first to accept Islam and the first to die for it. Abu Jahl personally persecuted her. She and her family were made to lie on the hot desert floor and roast in the sun with metal armor on. Their crime? They testified and refused to give up their belief that “There is no God except Allah and Prophet (saw) was his slave and messenger.

 

إِنَّهُمۡ إِن یَظۡهَرُوا۟ عَلَیۡكُمۡ یَرۡجُمُوكُمۡ أَوۡ یُعِیدُوكُمۡ فِی مِلَّتِهِمۡ وَلَن تُفۡلِحُوۤا۟ إِذًا أَبَدࣰا

[Surah Al-Kahf 20]

“For if they come to know you, they will stone you to death or abuse and harm you or turn you back to their religion…”

(Surah Al-Kahf 18: 20)

 

So would you exchange your life of chores for theirs?

 

Nobody would wish it upon himself or herself. They are terrible situations where the women and families are going through indescribable pain. So where does our relatively easier lives fit in with their hardship? PATIENCE IS THE CONNECTION.

Beautiful patience is needed in every single one of the situations in order to overcome the pain of it. The women’s’ pain is covered in patience that Allah has granted as a coping mechanism. They are extreme situations which require higher levels of patience, yet Allah chose to test their limits because Allah knew their capabilities. Through their immense patience Allah wanted them to attain a higher status in the hereafter as PATIENCE holds its own special place in Jannah.

Allah never burdens a believer beyond what they can bear, yet it isn’t enough to say we believe without being tested on the strength of the statement. We don’t realise that every single day, we are being tested and we are exercising patience. How? By continuously doing the same deed over and over again without complaining. Praying every day-on time. Maintaining good relations with family and friends-every day. Making a conscious effort to be good with our husbands every day. Holding our anger and tongue in check-every day. These actions all require patience.

When we have a comfortable, mildly stressful life we are less thankful and conscious of Allah’s favors. It is easier to call upon Allah when we are in difficult situations as our eemaan levels rises. But in our everyday lives our eeman and consistency in doing good deeds is tested. Did you do your Salah willingly on time? Did you read the Quran every day? Did you feed a needy or sick person every day?

Patience in not disobeying Allah is just as hard. Our consciousness to stay away from haraam is tested. Did you really not answer your mum back when she annoyed you? Did you really refuse to backbite every single time you could? Did you really not look at that non-mahram attractive person more than necessary?

It is much easier to commit a sin, or not pray regularly when we are happy and untroubled. That is why patience in constantly obeying Allah, despite our desires, is the hardest to maintain. The plight of those women must never be forgotten, but we don’t need to have been locked up or lost someone to exercise patience. We need to be grateful that we are not in such situations and express our gratitude by constantly remembering Allah at all times.

 

REMEMBER YOUR PLACE IN JANNAH

 

REMEMBER YOUR PLACE IN JANNAH

 

 

Bismillah

Do you ever think about Jannah and wish that you could see your house?

Do you wish to live in Jannnatul-Firdaus, close to the prophets alayhimus-salam, the Sahabah radiallahu anhum, the Tabi’een, and the Saliheen?

If your answer is yes, then rejoice, because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has already informed us about our houses in Jannah. All it takes to reserve your house in Jannah is to follow three simple guidelines:

 

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

وعن أَبي أُمَامَة الباهِليِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّه ﷺ: أَنا زَعِيمٌ ببَيتٍ في ربَضِ الجنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ المِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُحِقًّا، وَببيتٍ في وَسَطِ الجنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الكَذِبَ وإِن كَانَ مازِحًا، وَببيتٍ في أعلَى الجَنَّةِ لِمَن حَسُنَ خُلُقُهُ حديثٌ صحيحٌ، رواه أَبُو داود بإِسنادٍ صحيحٍ

 

“I guarantee a house in Jannah (Paradise) for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a house in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.” (Abu Dawud)

The three criteria that need to be met in order to guarantee yourself a house in the part of Jannah that you wish are these:

 

1) Give up arguing even if you may be right:

 

This means that if you are having a hard time agreeing with your friend, or your spouse, stop trying to shove your points in their face and just be quiet for the sake of Allah. This way, you get saved from saying something wrong if you are wrong, and if you are right, then your sacrifice helps you meet the first criterion of the hadith.

 

Imam Ash-Shafi’i said:

الشافعي عليه رحمة الله فقد قال: ما جادلت أحدا، إلا تمنيت أن يُظهر الله الحق على لسانه دوني

 

“Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him and win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray ‘O lord, help him so that truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, and so that if truth is on my side, he may follow me; and if truth be on his side, I may follow him.”

 

2) Don’t lie even for the sake of fun:

 

Scholars have slightly differed regarding the issue of jokes. Some scholars say that if the narrator tells the listener that what he is about to hear is a joke, then it is okay to joke, so that it doesn’t count as a lie. But it is agreed upon by unanimous consensus that joking becomes haram if it involves lying, backbiting, or using derogatory terms for Muslims. Also, joking about Allah and the religion of Islam is not permissible.

Allah says :

 

وَلَىِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُمۡ لَیَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلۡعَبُۚ قُلۡ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَایَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ

 

[Surah At-Tawbah 65]

And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" (9:65)

 

Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said:

قال شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية – رحمه الله تعالى - : إن الاستهزاء بالله وآياته ورسوله كفر، يكفر به صاحبه بعد إيمانه

مجموع الفتاوى

 

“Making fun of Allah, His Signs and His Messenger is Kufr (disbelief) and the one who does that disbelieves thereby after he had believed.”

 

3) Establish good manners:

 

This is an interesting point. It’s amazing how Allah legislated the criterion for getting into the highest part of paradise to be good manners. Someone who may have not heard this hadith before may have been thinking that to get into Jannatul-Firdaus, they would have to pray Nawafil, do extra fasts and give excessive charity. What if someone was not physically able to offer extra prayers and fasts? What if he didn’t have enough money to give extra Sadaqah? It would be very difficult for him to meet the standards set by Allah. However, out of His Perfect Wisdom and abounding Love for us, Allah has made the criterion for getting into Jannatul-Firdaus something that is simple and accessible to all. Anyone and everyone is capable of acquiring excellent manners if they try hard enough, whether they be male or female; young or old; rich or poor; healthy or sick. The reason being that in order to acquire good manners, you don’t need extensive scholarly knowledge, money, or excessive resources. All you need is yourself, the will to change, and an authentic compilation on the character of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Once acquired, a good character is something that becomes a part of you; something you carry everywhere with you, just like your deeds. Securing the best character is not an easy task, but Allah knows our weaknesses and strengths. All we have to do is emulate the example of our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam while making du’a to Allah to make it easy for us.

 

Allah says in Surah Al-Qalam:

 

(وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ)

 

[Surah Al-Qalam 4]

 

“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (68:4)

 

In this ayah, Allah affirms the noble character of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. If we look to the Sunnah and see how patient, brave, loving, merciful, generous and righteous he was, then we would have a way of incorporating his character into every aspect of our daily lives.

On an end note, this hadith proves the immense amount of love that Allah (SWT) has for us. We often complain about how difficult Islam is, and how hard we have to strive to practice our Deen in the 21st century. However, the reality is that we have not looked into the essence of many of the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

We think of commandments and guidelines as burdens rather than opportunities to earn the pleasure of Allah. By giving us more things to accomplish, Allah (SWT) is not burdening us; He is giving us more chances to be forgiven and enter His paradise. May Allah make us among those who incorporate the guidelines mentioned in this hadith into our lives and enter Jannatul-Firdaus. Ameen.

 

DONT BE SAD (PART 2)

 

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DONT BE SAD

 

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله said the word (الحزن) – (sadness) does not appear in the Qur'aan except in the form of forbidding it

(وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ)

 

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

[SURAH AL IMRAAN  139 ]

Or in the form of negating it

قُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُوا۟ مِنۡهَا جَمِیعࣰاۖ فَإِمَّا یَأۡتِیَنَّكُم مِّنِّی هُدࣰى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَایَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ یَحۡزَنُونَ

[Surah Al-Baqarah 38]

There will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve

[Surah Al-Baqarah 38]

And the reason for this is because there is no benefit for having sadness in the heart. The most beloved thing to shaitan is to make the believing slave sad by taking him off track.

The Prophet (ﷺ) sought refuge in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) from sadness

في الحديث الصحيح: اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الهم والحزن والعجز والكسل والجبن والبخل

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by men.” [Al-Bukhari]

 

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله said: "Sadness weakens the heart and diminishes determination and wanting to go forward. And there is nothing more beloved to the shaitan than the sadness of a believer."

For this reason, be happy, optimistic and think good about Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Have trust in what Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is able to do and depend on Him. You will find happiness and pleasure in all situations.

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله said: "Don’t ruin your happiness with worry, and don’t ruin your mind with pessimism. Don’t ruin your success with deception and don’t ruin the optimism of others by destroying it. Don’t ruin your day by looking back at yesterday.

If you think about your situation, you will find that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has given you things without asking, so have trust in Allah ( سبحانه وتعالى) that He doesn’t prevent anything you want except there is goodness for you.

You could be sleeping and the doors of the heavens are being opened with dua’as being made on your behalf, subhan Allah: perhaps from someone poor whom you helped, or someone sad whom you brought joy, or someone passing by and you smiled at him, or someone in distress and you removed it.. so don’t ever underestimate any good deeds."

One of the righteous predecessors said:

" I make dua’a to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) for something I want, and if He gives it to me then I’m happy once and if He doesn’t give it to me then I’m happy ten times because the first was my choice and the second was Allah’s choice."

As Sa’ady (رحمه الله) on him said: "Life is short so don’t shorten it with worries, grief, and sadness."

So be the owner of a heart that breathes happiness and satisfaction.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) make your times happy and 

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) forgive us all.

آمِيْن ثُمَّ آمِيْن

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FIVE BEFOR FIVE

 

Khutbah: Take Advantage of Five Before Five

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam was certainly blessed with jawaami' ul kalim, the most concise and precise speech, for he sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said, "I have been blessed with concise speech." Therefore, when we look at the precious pearls that came out of the Prophet’s mouth, sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam, we find that many of his ahadeeth are in fact treasure chests of wisdom. The words might be small but the meanings behind them are great. The speech might be brief but the benefits and the blessings that can be derived from them are innumerable.

And of the ahadith that are comprehensive in nature, is the hadith of Ibn Abbas Radi Allaahu Anhu reported by Al-Haakim, Imam Ahmad and others, with an authentic chain of narration. In this hadith the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said to a man while he was advising him:

"Take advantage of five matters before five other matters:

your youth before you become old, your health before you fall sick, your wealth before you become poor, your free time before you become busy, and your life before your death."

The first word, Ightanam is used to indicate any good that can be obtained without much effort and thus, these five matters are very easy to acquire. They are easy to grasp and very simple to benefit from. That is because they are treasures that everyone possesses but few people appreciate.

#1: Taking Advantage of Your Youth Before Your Old Age...

Youthfulness is a time when a person is the most energetic, when he lays out the foundations for his future, and when he plans his life. So the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said to take advantage of this period before the time comes when you do not have such enthusiasm or vigour. The zeal and energy that you have been blessed with during this stage will never again be given to you at such levels, after this age. Therefore, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said to seize these moments and benefit from them. A person should exercise this energy for the sake of Allaah by doing good deeds, obtaining halal sustenance, and worshipping Allaah through acts that he might not be able to do later on in life.

Youth here does not mean the western concept of youth, which is that youthfulness finishes when someone is eighteen or nineteen years old. In the Islamic Shari’ah, a man's life has been divided into a number of stages.

Shabbab or shab, youth or a young person, according to the strongest opinion, means before reaching the age of forty. This is because forty is the prime of life, when mental and physical capabilities have reached a peak, and after that they start to go down. This period is followed by old age, during which the person does not have as much power or vibrancy that he had while he was a youth.

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:

"Seven are the people that will be sheltered on the Day of Judgment, the day in which there is no shade except the shade of Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala.”

( وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ فِي عِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ )
رواه البخاري

One of the seven people, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned, was a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah. Remember, the youth is up to forty. So this young person mentioned, whether he is twenty or right before reaching the age of forty, has grown up and has been raised or has raised himself busy in the worship of Allah, Who has no partners.

Likewise, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said in an authentic hadith that Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala is pleased with and amazed at the youth who abstains from engaging in evil. Allaah loves such a youth, who is dedicated to worshipping Him and does not give in to the whisperings of Shaytaan. Allah loves this person and is amazed at him because in general it is the youth, due to their virility and strong desires, who swerve left and right away from the path of the worship of Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala. So this is the first of the five: “your youth before your old age.”

#2: Taking Advantage of Your Health Before You Fall Sick...

The fact that one lives a normal life and is not afflicted with diseases and plagues, represents a person’s health. We must strive to take advantage of this before ailments and afflictions come because mankind, being mankind, will fall ill at some point. Everyone falls sick. If we did not fall sick, we would not be humans, we would be divine.

There will come times when we will experience poor health. During some of those occurrences, the sickness will be more harsh, and for certain people, even more severe. So the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam is reminding us that we do not know for how long we will have full possession of our faculties, of our strength, of our mental powers, and when we will fall sick. Therefore, we must make every effort to gain maximum profit from our well being before that time comes.

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ رواه البخاري

"There are two blessings the majority of mankind have been deceived concerning." Most people do not appreciate these two blessings. “They are (good) health and free time."

Once a person came to Yunus ibn 'Ubayy, one of the scholars of the Salaf, and he complained of extreme poverty as he had not been blessed with much. Yunus ibn ‘Ubayy asked him, "Would you be willing to give away your sight for a certain amount of money?" The man said, "No, of course not." Then he asked him, "Would you be willing to give your hands away?" He said, "No, of course not." He asked, "Your feet?" He said, "Of course not." When he finished, he said "You have hundreds of thousands of millions of blessings, yet you are complaining of poverty?"

We have most of our senses, if not all, working at full capacity. We can see, hear, taste, touch and smell, yet we take them for granted and are ungrateful to He, Who blessed us with them. Allaah says in the Qur’an,

وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلۡتُمُوهُۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحۡصُوهَاۤۗ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَظَلُومࣱ كَفَّارࣱ

[Surah Ibrahim 34]

“And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allaah's favors, never will you be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful.” (14:34)

Look at someone who Allaah has tested with blindness. It is a very severe test, and that is why the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam has said in an authentic hadith:

وعَنْ أَنسٍ  قالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّه ﷺ يقولُ: إنَّ اللَّه  قَالَ:"إِذَا ابْتَلَيْتُ عَبدِي بحبيبتَيْهِ فَصبَرَ عَوَّضْتُهُ مِنْهُمَا الْجنَّةَ يُريدُ عينيْه

رواه البخاريُّ

"There are two things, if Allaah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala takes them away from a person and he is patient, he is guaranteed Jannah. These two things are the two eyes."

In other words, if a person is blind, and we seek Allah's refuge from the physical and the spiritual blindness in this world and in the hereafter, then Allah is testing him. And if he is patient, then Allah will reward him with Jannah.

On the other hand, how about the one who has been blessed, not just with perfect vision, but with good hearing, healthy organs and limbs, vitality, enthusiasm, knowledge and countless other things. Should we not appreciate the blessings from Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala? Do we not realize how precious health is? When we are blessed with these complex functional bodies, which are miracles in themselves, why do we not use them in the worship of Allah and doing beneficial acts?

The least we can do, brothers and sisters, is the faraa'id (obligatory actions) such as Salaah five times a day, fasting in Ramadaan, and going for the Hajj. All of these require that we use our physical bodies. That is the least that we can do, the bare minimum. Of course, the more that one does, the better it is for him.

This is the second of the five matters: “your health before you fall sick.”

#3: Taking Advantage of Your Richness Before Poverty...

One day we might not have anything, and the next we might have much more than we need. On the other hand, one day, a person might have the best of jobs and the largest of salaries, yet, the next day, something happens like a recession or misspending and he/she no longer has that job and loses his/her source of income. So the wise person uses his wealth before he becomes poor. He invests for his future.

As for the investments of this dunya, we all do these. Even the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam would store staple food items like barley and grain even up to a year for his family. So this is obviously something halaal as the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam himself did it, and we should do it too. We should make sure we have enough money for our family, our children and ourselves, so we do not become destitute. There is no doubt that this is a part of our Shari’ah as well.

But while we are doing this, let us not forget that we also need to invest for the Akhirah. Should we not think about investing this money so we can reap its benefits in the Hereafter when we need it far more than we need it in this world? We need to invest for the real future, our real life after our death.

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam once asked his companions,

"Who amongst you loves his inheritors' money more than his own money?"

The meaning of this hadith is that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam is asking for example, does the father love the money of his son or does he love his own money? Of course, the father loves his own money. Likewise, every person will love his own money more than he loves the money of other people.The Sahabah said, "Yaa RasulAllah, all of us love our own money more than we love the money of our inheritors. We all love our own money. We guard it and protect it more than the money of our inheritors.”

Then the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said,

"Verily, the money that you spend in charity is your money, and the money that you leave behind is the money of your inheritors."

Ponder over that hadith for a while and see how true it is. As for the father who loves his own money more than the money of his son, does he not realize that one day his son will take that very money of his and he will have nothing to do with it? All that is left of his money is what he spent during his life for the sake of Allah, if there was any such money. Any of it spent in charity for the sake of Allah, is money that will be yours permanently. The Arabic words for charity include zakah, sadaqah, waqf, and any type of monetary good that you did. Everything besides this will go into the hands of your inheritors.

Remember that feeding your family is an ibaadah if you are doing it for the sake of Allah. The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said that, "A morsel of food, if you put it in your wife's mouth, this will be a reward for you on the Day of Judgment." Now everybody, Muslim or non-Muslim, feeds his family. But will everybody be rewarded for that? No. Because only the one who does it remembering Allah, thinking about Allah, and doing it for the sake of Allah will be rewarded, as it is an act of worship.

Ask yourself if the last time you went shopping, Allah was in your mind? Did you think of doing this for Allah? When you picked up the milk and the bread, was it in your heart that, "Oh Allah, I am buying this food through halaal money, and this is halaal food, because I want to feed my family and this is an obligation that You have put upon me, therefore, I am doing it for your sake." Who amongst us has this in his mind?

When we say, "That is spent for the sake of Allah," we are not just talking about money, zakah, sadaqah, and charity. Of course, giving in charity is the best thing you can do with your money. But do not forget that the majority of income that we spend, and in fact for the mu'min, all of the income that he spends, can be for the sake of Allah as well. This means thinking of Allah, spending for the sake of Allah, and having the intention of pleasing Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala.

This is the third of the five things: “your richness, before poverty.”

#4: Taking Advantage of Your Free Time Before You Become Busy...

This is yet another great treasure that every single one of us possesses. How much free time do we have and what do we waste it on? Think about it. Think about how much free time all of us have been blessed with. We have 86400 precious seconds every day, what do we waste them on? Primarily, in this country at least, television. It is also wasted on gossip and socialization of which there is no benefit whatsoever, neither in this world nor the hereafter.

Remember the hadith of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam that we just quoted about the two blessings (health and free time) most people have been deceived by. In other words, they don't realize their blessings of health and free time. You may have to work eight hours a day, no problem. Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala has allowed this for you. He has obligated it upon you. When you come home, you have four or five hours, so spend them wisely for the sake of Allah.

Spending time wisely does not necessarily mean purely religious deeds. But spending your time wisely and even be something in this world. Learn a trade. Learn something that can benefit you in this world and that can benefit other people as well. Islam is a complete way of life, a complete code. Do not forget that all of the acts a mu'min does can be transformed into acts of worship if, and only if, he does them for the sake of Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala.

Of course that there are religious deeds which are the best deeds to do. Every one of us should recite the Qur'an everyday, even if it is only for five or ten minutes. You should have some relationship with the Qur'an. Every one of us should pray some extra prayers as well, a few sunnahs or the nafls, if not the continual sunnahs that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam used to pray. This is the most important thing for us to do. But at the same time, do not forget that there can be many acts that can be rewarded if you change your niyyah and do them for the sake of Allah.

Do not waste your time. The greatest waster of time is the television. You turn it on, and an hour or two go by, and not only have you not gained anything for the Akhirah, you have not gained anything for this world. You have literally killed your time, and done absolutely nothing with it. And realize that you are lucky if you don't come away from those two hours without any sin. How many are the sins that are in television, with music, and women, and other things? In my opinion, it is better for a mu'min not to even have this instrument in his house because of the evil that comes from it. Like Allah says about alcohol, the evil that comes from it is more than the good that is obtained from it.

When you have some free time, take advantage of it. The greatest thing that we can do in this free time is to worship Allah. And one of the greatest acts of worship is to seek knowledge. Take a book out to read, listen to some cassettes, or listen to some CDs. Do whatever you can do to increase your 'ilm. Attend some classes or even visit one another for the sake of Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala. Visit your Muslim brother with the proper Islamic etiquette and adab. This is an act you can do that will pass your time away, and be worthwhile.

This is the fourth of the five matters: "take advantage of your free time before you become busy."

#5: Taking Advantage of Your Life Before Your Death...

This one phrase summarizes it all: "take advantage of your life before your death." Every one of us has a life. That is why we are here right now. Every one of us without a doubt will die. Allah says:

“You are going to die and they too are going to die.”

And it is as Allah said, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam passed away and so did the people that opposed him and believed in him. They all have passed away. And the turn came for those after them, and then those after them, until it is our turn.

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam therefore reminded us, "Take advantage of your life before your death." This is the greatest of foresight. Hence the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam concluded the hadith with this phrase.

How are we going to use this life before death comes? As for the kafir, he will totally waste it because he will make this life his goal. He will live only to appease and satisfy every desire of his. Then on the Day of Judgment, he will beg Allah to send him back to this life. Allah describes this in the Quran:

وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰۤ إِذِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ رَبَّنَاۤ أَبۡصَرۡنَا وَسَمِعۡنَا فَٱرۡجِعۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَـٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ

[Surah As-Sajdah 12]

“And if you only could see when the Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) shall hang their heads before their Lord (saying): "Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back (to the world), we will do righteous good deeds. Verily! We now believe with certainty." (32:12)

All of a sudden, when his Lord comes to him he remembers Allah. Whereas throughout all of the years that he lived, Allah was nowhere near him; Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala was the furthest thing from his mind. On the Day of Judgment when he is resurrected, he will say:

حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا جَاۤءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرۡجِعُونِ ۝ لَعَلِّیۤ أَعۡمَلُ صَـٰلِحࣰا فِیمَا تَرَكۡتُۚ كَلَّاۤۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَاۤىِٕلُهَاۖ وَمِن وَرَاۤىِٕهِم بَرۡزَخٌ إِلَىٰ یَوۡمِ یُبۡعَثُونَ

[Surah Al-Mu'minun 99 - 100]

[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the day of resurrection]

Allah obviously will say, "Kalla” – no. You have only been allowed one life and you will not be able to go back and change that life. For every good you do you will be rewarded, and for every evil you do you will be punished.

They will claim to believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment but Allah will not allow this to happen because everyone has only one life in the dunya. That is what Allah has given and this is why we must make the best of our time in this world, so that we are compensated accordingly in the Hereafter.

These are the five things that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam told the man to do. He advised him:

"Take advantage of five matters before five others: your youth, before your old age; and your health before you fall sick; and your wealth before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life before your death."

This hadith deals with responsibility, wisdom, foresight, long-term planning, and good strategy. Every one of us has been blessed with these five blessings. There is no one amongst us who has not been blessed with these five things. So how do we utilize them? What do we utilize them for? Why do we utilize them?

The wise person is the one who strives to achieve the pleasure of Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala and then expects the best from Allah. The wise one is one who tries to arrive at the goal and then has tawakkul in Allah. Tawakkul does not mean to sit back and say, "Oh, this will happen to me." Rather, you must strive for it. The fool is the one who follows his desires and then presumes that Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala will reward him.

We ask that Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala makes us amongst those who can seize these five things, who can take advantage of them before the five will come. These five matters will inevitably be taken away from us, and substituted by the others that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned.

Wa aakhiru da'waana 'anil hamdulillahi Rab al 'Alameen,

wa subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdika wa ash hadu'an laa ilaaha illa ant nastaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk.