On the authority of ‘Aeysha that the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] said:
❝There is no other day in which Allaah frees more slaves from the fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. Indeed, He comes close to them then boasts about them to the Angels and then He says: 'What do these people want?'❞
[Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah of Shaykh Al-Albaani, (No. 2551) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
❝There is no other day in which Allaah frees more slaves from the fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. Indeed, He comes close to them then boasts about them to the Angels and then He says: 'What do these people want?'❞
[Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah of Shaykh Al-Albaani, (No. 2551) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
A Worldly Matter Vs A Matter Of The Hereafter
Abu Bakr Bin Al-Arabi said that Tartooshi said to him:
«إِذَا عَرَضَ لَكَ أمرُ دُنْيَا وَأَمرُ آخِرَة، فَبَادِرْ بِأَمرِ الآخِرَة، يَحْصُلْ لَكَ أَمرُ الدُّنْيَا وَالأُخْرَى.»
❝If a worldly matter and a matter of the Hereafter is presented to you, then hasten with the matter of the Hereafter. Like this you will acquire both the worldly matter and of the Hereafter.❞
[Seera Alaam An-Nubala, (19/491) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
Abu Bakr Bin Al-Arabi said that Tartooshi said to him:
«إِذَا عَرَضَ لَكَ أمرُ دُنْيَا وَأَمرُ آخِرَة، فَبَادِرْ بِأَمرِ الآخِرَة، يَحْصُلْ لَكَ أَمرُ الدُّنْيَا وَالأُخْرَى.»
❝If a worldly matter and a matter of the Hereafter is presented to you, then hasten with the matter of the Hereafter. Like this you will acquire both the worldly matter and of the Hereafter.❞
[Seera Alaam An-Nubala, (19/491) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
From The Signs Of The Softness Of The Heart Of The Believer
Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
«من دلائل رقة قلب المؤمن، أن يتوجع لعثرة أخيه المؤمن إذا عثر، حتى كأنه هو الذي عثر بها، ولا يشمت به.»
❝From the signs of the softness of the heart of the believer is that when his Muslim brother falls and stumbles, the believer feels pain due to this, so much so that it is as if he himself fell and stumbled, and he should not rejoice at his tragedy.❞
[Mudarij As-Salikeen, (1/436) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
«من دلائل رقة قلب المؤمن، أن يتوجع لعثرة أخيه المؤمن إذا عثر، حتى كأنه هو الذي عثر بها، ولا يشمت به.»
❝From the signs of the softness of the heart of the believer is that when his Muslim brother falls and stumbles, the believer feels pain due to this, so much so that it is as if he himself fell and stumbled, and he should not rejoice at his tragedy.❞
[Mudarij As-Salikeen, (1/436) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
Highest Level Of Dhikr
Ibraheem Bin Adham [D.162 A.H.] said:
«أعلى الدرجات: أن يكون ذكر الله عندك أحلى من العسل، وأشهى من الماء العذب الصافي عند العطشان في اليوم الصائف.»
❝The highest levels are when the Dhikr of Allaah to you is sweeter than honey, and is more desirable than fresh pure water to a thirsty person on a summers day.❞
[Majmoo Rasail Ibn Rajab, (3/317) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
Ibraheem Bin Adham [D.162 A.H.] said:
«أعلى الدرجات: أن يكون ذكر الله عندك أحلى من العسل، وأشهى من الماء العذب الصافي عند العطشان في اليوم الصائف.»
❝The highest levels are when the Dhikr of Allaah to you is sweeter than honey, and is more desirable than fresh pure water to a thirsty person on a summers day.❞
[Majmoo Rasail Ibn Rajab, (3/317) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
Being Famous And Well-Known During Your Lifetime And After Death
Imam Ibn Rajab said:
❝Look at how much Imam Ahmad strove to not be remembered, but Allaah refused except that Allaah made him famous and that being an Imam was connected to his name upon the lips of the creation whether they wanted to or not.
There was in his era, people who would be paid wealth to call out a person's name in the markets so that he would become famous and well known, but he would not be remembered or even mentioned.❞
[Majmoo Ar-Rasail, (4/433) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Imam Ibn Rajab said:
❝Look at how much Imam Ahmad strove to not be remembered, but Allaah refused except that Allaah made him famous and that being an Imam was connected to his name upon the lips of the creation whether they wanted to or not.
There was in his era, people who would be paid wealth to call out a person's name in the markets so that he would become famous and well known, but he would not be remembered or even mentioned.❞
[Majmoo Ar-Rasail, (4/433) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
The First Of Matters Revealed In The Qur’ān
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalani [D. 852 A.H.] [رحمه الله] said:
❝The first of what was revealed from the Qur’ān was the call to Tawheed and glad tidings for the believers and the one who is obedient is granted Paradise, and the Disbeliever and sinner goes to the Hellfire when the souls were tranquil with this the rulings of the religion were revealed.❞
[Fath Al-Bari, (9/40) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalani [D. 852 A.H.] [رحمه الله] said:
❝The first of what was revealed from the Qur’ān was the call to Tawheed and glad tidings for the believers and the one who is obedient is granted Paradise, and the Disbeliever and sinner goes to the Hellfire when the souls were tranquil with this the rulings of the religion were revealed.❞
[Fath Al-Bari, (9/40) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
When A Crisis Becomes Difficult
Shaykh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen [رحمه الله] said:
❝When a crisis becomes hard for a believer then his Eemaan in Allaah increases because he believes that victory comes with patience, relief after trials and ease after hardship.❞
[Sharh Riyadh As-Saliheen, (1/542) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Shaykh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen [رحمه الله] said:
❝When a crisis becomes hard for a believer then his Eemaan in Allaah increases because he believes that victory comes with patience, relief after trials and ease after hardship.❞
[Sharh Riyadh As-Saliheen, (1/542) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Abdullaah Bin Mas’ood [رضي الله عنه] who said:
❝Whoever from amongst you wants to follow, then he should follow the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] since their hearts were the most righteous in this Ummah, the deepest in knowledge, the most natural, the most correct in guidance and were in the best condition. The Companions were people whom Allaah chose to be with His Prophet and to establish His religion. So know their excellence and follow them in their footsteps, for indeed they were on the correct guidance.❞
[Ighatha Allafan, (1/159) | Ibn AbdulBarr In ‘Jamia Bayaan Al-Ilm Wa Fadleehi’, (2/97) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
❝Whoever from amongst you wants to follow, then he should follow the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] since their hearts were the most righteous in this Ummah, the deepest in knowledge, the most natural, the most correct in guidance and were in the best condition. The Companions were people whom Allaah chose to be with His Prophet and to establish His religion. So know their excellence and follow them in their footsteps, for indeed they were on the correct guidance.❞
[Ighatha Allafan, (1/159) | Ibn AbdulBarr In ‘Jamia Bayaan Al-Ilm Wa Fadleehi’, (2/97) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
A Warning For Husbands Not To Get Angry With Their Wives
From Azhar Bin Sa’eed who said: I heard Abu Umamah say:
«إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَأْتِي إِلَى فِرَاشِ الرَّجُلِ بَعْدَ مَا يَفْرِشُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَيُهَيِّئُونَهُ فَيُلْقِي عَلَيْهِ الْعُودَ ، أَوِ الْحَجَرَ ، أَوِ الشَّيْءَ ، لِيُغْضِبَهُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ ، فَإِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَلِكَ فَلا يَغْضَبْ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ ، فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ.»
❝Indeed the Shaytaan comes to a man’s bed after his wife spreads it down and prepares it, then the Shaytaan throws a twig or a stone or something on the bed, to cause the husband to become angry with his wife. So if one of you finds himself in this state then he should not get angry with his wife, indeed that is from the action of the Shaytaan.❞
[Collected By Bukhari In Adab Al Mufrad | Sh. Al-Albaani: 'Hasan Isnaad', (No. 1191) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
From Azhar Bin Sa’eed who said: I heard Abu Umamah say:
«إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَأْتِي إِلَى فِرَاشِ الرَّجُلِ بَعْدَ مَا يَفْرِشُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَيُهَيِّئُونَهُ فَيُلْقِي عَلَيْهِ الْعُودَ ، أَوِ الْحَجَرَ ، أَوِ الشَّيْءَ ، لِيُغْضِبَهُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ ، فَإِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَلِكَ فَلا يَغْضَبْ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ ، فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ.»
❝Indeed the Shaytaan comes to a man’s bed after his wife spreads it down and prepares it, then the Shaytaan throws a twig or a stone or something on the bed, to cause the husband to become angry with his wife. So if one of you finds himself in this state then he should not get angry with his wife, indeed that is from the action of the Shaytaan.❞
[Collected By Bukhari In Adab Al Mufrad | Sh. Al-Albaani: 'Hasan Isnaad', (No. 1191) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
The Salaf As-Salih Did Not Celebrate The Mawlid Of The Prophet
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said regarding the Mawlid of the Prophet [ﷺ]:
❝The Salaf As-Salih did not do this even though they could have done it and there was no prevention in doing so. If the Mawlid was good or seen as beneficial the Salaf [رضي الله عنهم] would have had more of a right to it than us because they were the greatest in love for the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] and in respect for him, compared to us, and were more concerned for goodness.
Indeed loving him completely and respecting him is by following him [ﷺ], obeying him and following his commands, reviving his Sunnah outwardly and inwardly and conveying what he was sent with, striving upon that with the heart, hand and tongue, as this was the way of the foremost to embrace Islaam from the Muhajireen, the Ansar and those who followed them in goodness.❞
[Iqtida’ As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem, (2/619) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said regarding the Mawlid of the Prophet [ﷺ]:
❝The Salaf As-Salih did not do this even though they could have done it and there was no prevention in doing so. If the Mawlid was good or seen as beneficial the Salaf [رضي الله عنهم] would have had more of a right to it than us because they were the greatest in love for the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] and in respect for him, compared to us, and were more concerned for goodness.
Indeed loving him completely and respecting him is by following him [ﷺ], obeying him and following his commands, reviving his Sunnah outwardly and inwardly and conveying what he was sent with, striving upon that with the heart, hand and tongue, as this was the way of the foremost to embrace Islaam from the Muhajireen, the Ansar and those who followed them in goodness.❞
[Iqtida’ As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem, (2/619) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
As-Sakhawi [رحمه الله] said:
❝Celebrating the noble Mawlid has not been conveyed from anyone of the Salaf As-Salih from the first three excellent generations, rather it was invented after them.❞
[Subal Al-Huda Wa Rashad Fee Seerat Khair Al-Abaad By Muhammad Bin Yusuf Salih, (Page: 439) | Rasil Fee Hukm Al-Ihteefal Bil-Mawlid An-Nabawi, (2/444) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
❝Celebrating the noble Mawlid has not been conveyed from anyone of the Salaf As-Salih from the first three excellent generations, rather it was invented after them.❞
[Subal Al-Huda Wa Rashad Fee Seerat Khair Al-Abaad By Muhammad Bin Yusuf Salih, (Page: 439) | Rasil Fee Hukm Al-Ihteefal Bil-Mawlid An-Nabawi, (2/444) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Good Manners, Leaving Off Argumentation & Lying
From Abu Umamah who said the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] said:
«أنا زعيمٌ ببيتٍ في ربَضِ الجنَّةِ لمن ترك المِراءَ وإن كان مُحقًّا وببيتٍ في وسطِ الجنَّةِ لمن ترك الكذِبَ وإن كان مازحًا وببيتٍ في أعلَى الجنَّةِ لمن حسُن خلقُه.»
❝I am a guarantor of a house on the outskirts of Paradise for the one who leaves off debating even though he was correct, and a house in the centre of Paradise who leaves off lying even if he was joking, and a house in the highest Paradise for the one who makes his manners good.❞
[Collected By Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi | Al-Albaani Graded It Hasan In Saheeh Targheeb Wa Tarheeb, (No. 2648 | No. 139) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
From Abu Umamah who said the Messenger of Allaah [ﷺ] said:
«أنا زعيمٌ ببيتٍ في ربَضِ الجنَّةِ لمن ترك المِراءَ وإن كان مُحقًّا وببيتٍ في وسطِ الجنَّةِ لمن ترك الكذِبَ وإن كان مازحًا وببيتٍ في أعلَى الجنَّةِ لمن حسُن خلقُه.»
❝I am a guarantor of a house on the outskirts of Paradise for the one who leaves off debating even though he was correct, and a house in the centre of Paradise who leaves off lying even if he was joking, and a house in the highest Paradise for the one who makes his manners good.❞
[Collected By Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi | Al-Albaani Graded It Hasan In Saheeh Targheeb Wa Tarheeb, (No. 2648 | No. 139) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Modern Day Culture
Shaykh Muhammad Nasir Uddeen Al-Albaani [رحمه الله] said:
❝No one should be deceived by modern day culture, since indeed it does not guide a lost misguided person, and does not increase the believer in guidance except with what Allaah wills, since Guidance and Noor [light] is in that which the Messenger [ﷺ] came with.❞
[Tahdeer As-Sajid Min Itikhath Al-Qaboor Masjid, (Page: 161) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Shaykh Muhammad Nasir Uddeen Al-Albaani [رحمه الله] said:
❝No one should be deceived by modern day culture, since indeed it does not guide a lost misguided person, and does not increase the believer in guidance except with what Allaah wills, since Guidance and Noor [light] is in that which the Messenger [ﷺ] came with.❞
[Tahdeer As-Sajid Min Itikhath Al-Qaboor Masjid, (Page: 161) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Who Is A Muhadith?
Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddeen Al-Albaani [رحمه الله] said:
❝Whoever attaches himself to this noble knowledge of authenticating or declaring a narration to be weak in his old age will not master it, neither will the one who is too new to it but rather those who are good at it are those who specialise in this knowledge, who have spent their lives in it and have grown old in it so much so that the authentic prophetic Hadeeth flow in their veins, and becomes a part of them which cannot be separated from their lives.
As for the person who is not like this, then there is no doubt that he will fall into the evil of rejecting authentic Ahadeeth for weak Ahadeeth, or the opposite, as is the situation of the Ahl-ul-Ahwa Wal Bida' [the people of desires and innovations]. We ask Allaah for security.❞
[From The Introduction To Silsilah Saheehah, (2/7) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddeen Al-Albaani [رحمه الله] said:
❝Whoever attaches himself to this noble knowledge of authenticating or declaring a narration to be weak in his old age will not master it, neither will the one who is too new to it but rather those who are good at it are those who specialise in this knowledge, who have spent their lives in it and have grown old in it so much so that the authentic prophetic Hadeeth flow in their veins, and becomes a part of them which cannot be separated from their lives.
As for the person who is not like this, then there is no doubt that he will fall into the evil of rejecting authentic Ahadeeth for weak Ahadeeth, or the opposite, as is the situation of the Ahl-ul-Ahwa Wal Bida' [the people of desires and innovations]. We ask Allaah for security.❞
[From The Introduction To Silsilah Saheehah, (2/7) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Doing What The Prophet Did
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:
❝Following the Prophet is doing that what he did and in the way that he did it. Therefore, if he did an action as a way of worship then he legislated for us to do that action as worship.
When he intended to specify a particular place or time with worship then we also specify that place with worship.❞
[Majmoo Al-Fatawa, (1/280) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:
❝Following the Prophet is doing that what he did and in the way that he did it. Therefore, if he did an action as a way of worship then he legislated for us to do that action as worship.
When he intended to specify a particular place or time with worship then we also specify that place with worship.❞
[Majmoo Al-Fatawa, (1/280) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Accepting The Truth And Not Opposing The Sharia
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:
❝Whoever becomes accustomed, to opposing the Sharia, with opinions, then Eeman does not become stable in his heart.❞
[Darra At-Ta’arrad, (1/187) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
-
Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝Whoever is presented with the truth, but rejects it and does not accept it, then he is punished by his heart becoming evil and corrupt, and his intellect and his opinion.❞
[Miftah Dar As-Sa’ada, (1/160) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
-
Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝Just as a person humbles himself for Allaah then Allaah raises him, and likewise whoever is proud and arrogant against being obedient to the truth, then Allaah humiliates him and lowers him, and makes him small and worthless.
Whoever is proud and arrogant of obedience to the truth, even if it came from a young person, or from a person who hated him, or was an enemy to him, then he has been proud and arrogant over Allaah.
Indeed Allaah is the truth, His speech is true, His religion is true, the truth is His Attribute, and the truth is from Him and for Him. Therefore, if the slave of Allaah rejects it, and is proud and arrogant from accepting it, then he has rejected Allaah and has been proud and arrogant against Him.❞
[Madarij As-Salikeen, (2/317) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:
❝Whoever becomes accustomed, to opposing the Sharia, with opinions, then Eeman does not become stable in his heart.❞
[Darra At-Ta’arrad, (1/187) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
-
Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝Whoever is presented with the truth, but rejects it and does not accept it, then he is punished by his heart becoming evil and corrupt, and his intellect and his opinion.❞
[Miftah Dar As-Sa’ada, (1/160) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
-
Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝Just as a person humbles himself for Allaah then Allaah raises him, and likewise whoever is proud and arrogant against being obedient to the truth, then Allaah humiliates him and lowers him, and makes him small and worthless.
Whoever is proud and arrogant of obedience to the truth, even if it came from a young person, or from a person who hated him, or was an enemy to him, then he has been proud and arrogant over Allaah.
Indeed Allaah is the truth, His speech is true, His religion is true, the truth is His Attribute, and the truth is from Him and for Him. Therefore, if the slave of Allaah rejects it, and is proud and arrogant from accepting it, then he has rejected Allaah and has been proud and arrogant against Him.❞
[Madarij As-Salikeen, (2/317) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Glad Tidings For The People Of Sunnah
The Great Scholar of The Qur’ān Ibn Katheer [رحمه الله] said regarding the saying of Allaah [تعالى]:
﴿يوم ندعو كل أناس بإمامهم﴾
❝«[And remember] the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their [respective] Imam» [Qur’ān, (17:71)]
Some of the Salaf said: 'This is the greatest honour for the People of Hadeeth because their Imam is the Prophet.'❞
[Tafseer Ibn Katheer, (2//78) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
The Great Scholar of The Qur’ān Ibn Katheer [رحمه الله] said regarding the saying of Allaah [تعالى]:
﴿يوم ندعو كل أناس بإمامهم﴾
❝«[And remember] the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their [respective] Imam» [Qur’ān, (17:71)]
Some of the Salaf said: 'This is the greatest honour for the People of Hadeeth because their Imam is the Prophet.'❞
[Tafseer Ibn Katheer, (2//78) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
The Effect Of Patience
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝Most illnesses of the body and the heart occur due to being impatient. Therefore, nothing preserves the health of hearts, bodies and souls the like of patience.
Patience is the major separator and the great antidote.
Even if patience had no other virtue than Allaah being with those who possess it, that would suffice—for indeed, Allah is with the patient.❞
[Zaad Al-Maad, (4/305-306) Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝Most illnesses of the body and the heart occur due to being impatient. Therefore, nothing preserves the health of hearts, bodies and souls the like of patience.
Patience is the major separator and the great antidote.
Even if patience had no other virtue than Allaah being with those who possess it, that would suffice—for indeed, Allah is with the patient.❞
[Zaad Al-Maad, (4/305-306) Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Being In Compliance With The Book And The Sunnah
Al-Hafidh Abu Shamah Al-Maqdisi [رحمه الله] [D. 665 A.H.] said:
❝What is obligatory on a scholar, in that which he has to return to, regarding religious matters and what he is asked about from the Sharia’: is that he returns to that which is indicated to in the Book of Allaah which has been revealed and that which is authentic from His Prophet who was sent, and that what his Companions were upon and those after them in the first generation so what is in agreement with that, is allowed and is commanded with, and whatever opposes the Book, the Sunnah and the Companions then he prohibits that and refutes it.❞
[Al-Baith Ala Inkaar Al-Bida Wal Hawadith, (Page: 9-10) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]
Al-Hafidh Abu Shamah Al-Maqdisi [رحمه الله] [D. 665 A.H.] said:
❝What is obligatory on a scholar, in that which he has to return to, regarding religious matters and what he is asked about from the Sharia’: is that he returns to that which is indicated to in the Book of Allaah which has been revealed and that which is authentic from His Prophet who was sent, and that what his Companions were upon and those after them in the first generation so what is in agreement with that, is allowed and is commanded with, and whatever opposes the Book, the Sunnah and the Companions then he prohibits that and refutes it.❞
[Al-Baith Ala Inkaar Al-Bida Wal Hawadith, (Page: 9-10) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya]