Knight of the night

You do a sin.
You think,
"What's done is done.
I'll rise in the night to atone".

You sleep through.
It dawns on you,
"Prayer in the night is an honour,
for he who sins not in the day".

Practising Arabic

"Hazrat Maulana Syed Asghar Hussain Sahib (Allah's Mercy be upon him) was a man of extraordinary spiritual qualities, and I was blessed with his loving affection. One day I presented myself to him and he said, 'Today let us talk in Arabic'. This rather amazed me because he had never before expressed such a desire. He then himself stated the reason why he wished to converse in Arabic. He said, 'Neither you nor I are able to speak Arabic fluently and freely, so we will talk less'. He then continued, 'Our case is like that of a traveller whose money is about to finish so he spends every penny very carefully'."

(Source: 'The World Within' by Mufti Muhammad Shafi (Allah's Mercy be upon him))

This quote is about avoiding meaningless talk. But it got me thinking nonetheless: It's been a long time since I spoke in Arabic (beyond "kayfa haaluk" and "alhamdulillah"). Maybe over a year. I really urgently need to find me an Arabic speaking partner.

Snowflakes and Raindrops

When I look to the great Companions of the final Messenger of God Muhammad (upon whom be the Peace and Blessings of God), men and women, (may God be pleased with them all,) I see individual personalities with unique character, built of course upon Islam.

Today, like raindrops, each person is the behaviour of his group, devoid of thought. Missing is the realisation that each one of us, in his individual uniqueness, has the potential to become a beautiful snowflake whilst still remaining true to his Islam.

When sleeping

"When you want to sleep, lay down your bedding facing the Qiblah and sleep on your right hand side as a deceased person is laid in his grave...

and know that sleep is just like death...

and waking up in the morning is like the Resurrection...

be prepared to meet Him by going to sleep on Tahaarah (purity). Have Wudhu when you go to sleep and have your will written under your pillow."

(Mufti Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yusuf quoting Imam Ghazali (rh), 'The Beginning of Guidance' (audio series))

Deeep! I have started doing this (all and more except the will under the pillow) and these past few weeks I have been sleeping and rising with clarity like never before, wallahu akbar wa lillahil-7amd.

Tune in to your heart

"... People who talk all the time, they don't have enough time to reflect on themself and listen to what their own heart is saying.

People who learn to be quiet and reflect and think, those people develop a connection with their heart in which they begin to hear their own state.

When your heart tells you your state then that is the true-est of witnesses because your heart will never lie regarding your state..."

(Shaykh Hussain Abdul Sattar)

Nice quote.

Sometimes, observing the extent we talk,
disavowing a single pause,
I think, perhaps
there is nothing we fear more than silence.
So much in need of comfort
and company, perhaps
there is nothing more suffocating than silence.
So fickle, perhaps
there is nothing that makes us more uncomfortable
and edgy, than silence.

It seems we will do anything;
let our tongue run free,
zone in to a movie,
load up a computer game,
shop, eat, drink, party,
read,
sleep!
Anything
but stop, pause, reflect,
and tune in to our heart.

Target this Ramadhan: Sunnah Prayers

My target this Ramadhan (and beyond insha-Allah) is to become mega unflinchingly consistent in my Sunnah prayers, that is:
(1) 2 Raka'ats before Fajr prayer.
(2) 4 Raka'ats before Dhuhr prayer.
(3) 2 Raka'ats after Dhuhr prayer.
(4) 2 Raka'ats after Maghrib prayer.
(5) 2 Raka'ats after Eisha prayer.

In addition, to adopt the highly recommended 4 Raka'ats before Asr and Eisha prayers, more often than not.

And lots of optional prayers besides, insha-Allah.

Indeed this is dearer to me than the whole world and everything temporary that it contains.

Islam

A life of
glorifying God
in emulation of His final messenger
belittling myself in the process.

Couldn't be simpler...
or have I again got the wrong end
of this elegantly crafted stick?

The mind in prayer

A couple of quotes about the mind in prayer:

(1) "... When the mind is not present in prayer, it does not remain idle and is concentrated to the thoughts of the worldly affairs with which it is immediately concerned. So there must be firm belief that prayer is a stepping stone to the next world which is everlasting..."

(2) "... The medicine of removing various thoughts that come to mind in prayers is to cut the root or to remove the reasons which cause different thoughts. He who loves a thing remembers that thing. For this reason, he who loves things other than God is not free from diverse thoughts in prayer."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-id-Din, The Book of Worship)

Intoxication and Prayer

"God says, 'Don't come near prayer when you are intoxicated until you understand what you say'. Some say that intoxication means a great anxiety. Some say that it means attachment to the world. There are many worshippers who do not drink wine but they do not know what they say in prayer..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-id-Din)

Vintage Ghazzali maa sha Allah;
digging beneath the surface.

Wudhu (ablution) with intent

In performing repetitive ritualistic acts, it is so easy to slip into mechanical mode and to forget the beauty of what we are doing and why we are doing it. A good example of this is Wudhu (ablution). We wash without a care and without a thought, for example, for the many sins flowing out and leaving our bodies.

Here are some quotes to get you thinking and to give your Wudhu a deeper meaning:

"... He shall rinse his mouth thrice with water and say afterwards: 'O God, help me to read Thy book and glorify Thy name'. Then he shall take up water and cleanse his nose thrice and say: 'O God, grant me to enjoy the fragrance of paradise while Thou art pleased to promise it to me'...

... As he washes his face, he should say: 'O God, make my face white and bright with Thy light on the day when Thou will make the faces of Thy friends bright'...

... He should then wash his arms up to the elbows three times. The believers will come on the Day of Resurrection with brightness on their foreheads, wrists and ankles from the effect of ablution...

... When he will finish ablution thus, he should raise his head towards the sky and say: 'I testify that there is no deity but God. He is one and there is no partner for Him. I testify also that Muhammad is the servant and Apostle of God'..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

The toothstick (miswaak)

"... The Prophet said: 'Your mouths are the pathways of Quran. Cleanse them therefore with toothstick'.

The Prophet said: 'Prayer after the use of toothstick is better than prayer without its use by seventy-five times'.

He said: 'Had it not been difficult for my followers, I would have ordered them to use toothstick before every prayer'.

... Hazrat Ibn Abbas said: 'The Prophet has so repeatedly commanded us to use toothstick that we thought soon a revelation would come for its use'.

... Hazrat Ali said: 'Use of toothstick increases memory and removes phlegm'.

The Companions of the Prophet used to keep toothstick in their ears even at the time of journey..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Suhaib Ibn Sinaan (may Allah be pleased with him)

"... 'And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah...'

Ibn Abbaas, Anas, Sa'eed bin Musayyib, Abu Uthmaan An-Nahdi, Ikrimah and several other scholars said that this Aayah was revealed about Suhayb bin Sinaan Ar-Ruumi. When Suhayb became a Muslim in Makkah and intended to migrate (to Al-Madinah), the people (Quraysh) prevented him from migrating with his money. They said that if he forfeits his property, he is free to migrate. He abandoned his money and preferred to migrate, and Allah revealed this Aayah about him. Umar bin Khattaab and several other Companions met Suhayb close to the outskirts of Al-Madinah at Al-Harrah (flat lands with black stones). They said to him, 'The trade has indeed been successful.' He answered them, 'You too, may Allah never allow your trade to fail. What is the matter?' Umar told him that Allah has revealed this Aayah (2:207) about him. It was also reported that Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said, 'The trade has been successful, O Suhayb!'..."

(Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, partial explanation of verse 2:207)

What a great Companion! A name and a story to inspire belief, honour, loyalty, courage, sacrifice, generosity and selflessness.

Governed to the minutest detail and proud

"Hazrat Salman said: 'The Prophet taught us everything even how to cleanse after [answering the] call of nature...'"

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya-Ulum-id-Deen)

Ain't it funny when you have a conversation about a particular topic and later randomly independently stumble upon that very topic in reading, both in the same day? Anyway, the point here is that we are a people governed to the minutest detail... and proud of it. :-)>

Evils of debates

As well as the conditions to test your sincerity against (see previous post), Imam Ghazzali (may Allah have mercy on him) specifies ten evils of debates, as follows:

"(1) Envy... A debater is never free from envy and hatred. Envy is a burning fire. One who falls in it gets punishment in the world...
(2) Pride...
(3) Rancour [i.e. a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will]. A debater is seldom free from the evil of rancour...
(4) Back-biting... A debater ascribes to his opponent foolishness, ignorance and stupidity.
(5) Declaration of self-purity...
(6) Spying and prying into the secrets of [one's] adversary...
(7) Hypocrisy. A debater expresses his friendship for his adversary outwardly but he cherishes hatred for him inwardly...
(8) To turn away from truth. The most hateful thing to a debater is to reject the truth revealed to his adversary and thus he takes to deception and deceit...
(9) ... show and battering [flattering?] the people in an effort to win their favour and to mislead them. Hypocrisy is the greatest disease with which a debater is attacked and it is a major sin.
(10) Deception. Debaters are compelled to deception."

Conditions of Debates

Just found a beautiful characterisation of debates and the debater in Imam Ghazzali's Ihya-Ulum-Id-Deen. Imam Ghazzali specifies eight conditions which provide a good means of identifying when we are debating for the sake of God and when we are debating for other purposes. Here's the fifth and sixth conditions:

"(5)... the debate should be held in private in preference to open meetings in presence of noted people and in grandeur because privacy is more suitable for clear thinking and to examine what is right and what is wrong."

"(6)... the debater should like truth in the same spirit as a lost thing is searched for. He should not mind whether the truth is found by him or by his adversary. When Hazrat Umar was once given sermon, a woman pointed out to him his mistake to which he submitted. At another time, Hazrat Ali was asked a question by a man and he replied. When the man pointed out his mistake, he admitted it."

Purity has got four stages

"(1) ... purification of the external organs from excrements and filths.
(2) ... purification of the body organs from sins and faults.
(3) ... purification of the heart from evil traits and evil vices.
(4) ... purification of the inner self from everything except God. This is the stage of the Prophets and saints."

Outwards in:
Wash the bodily limbs,
Cover with religious acts,
Shine with pure thoughts.

"... The early Muslims concentrated their entire attention and energies on the purification of their hearts and were lenient in their outward cleanliness... They used to say prayer kneeling and prostrating directly on the ground in the mosque and walk barefooted on the roads. They used to use pebbles after calls of nature..."

Are you a believer?

The meaning of 'belief' according to the early Muslim sages:

"... with regard to the answer, 'I am a believer if God wills', [in response to a] question put to one: 'Are you a believer?' The reply should not be 'I am a true believer' or 'I am a believer [in] God'.

These qualifications are correct [and] put forward for four reasons, [the first] two [] do not come from doubt and [the second] two come from doubt.
(1) Care taken for fear of showing oneself pure... A certain wise man was asked, 'What is detestable talk?' He said, 'To praise oneself'.
(2) Courtesy and to entrust all actions to the will of God...
(3) ... There is doubt whether [one] is a perfect believer because God said, 'True believers are those only who believe in God and His Apostle and afterwards do not doubt and who fight with their lives and properties for the cause of God. These are the truthful'...
(4) The fear of [a] bad end, for no one knows what will be his end, good or bad."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya-Ulum-Id-Deen)

Am I a believer? Yes... insha-Allah!

Note that there is difference in meaning between the words Mu'min (roughly: a believer or one who confirms the truth - from the word Eeman) and Muslim (roughly: one who submits, surrenders and avoids unbelief, rebellion and disobedience - from the word Islam).

The good deeds of this age

"... Another sign of the learned man of the next world is that he saves himself from innovations even though the people are unanimous on innovations and novelties. He is rather diligent in studying the conditions of the Companions, their conduct and character and their deeds. They spent their lives in Jihad, meditation, avoidance of major and minor sins, observation of their outer conduct and inner self...

... Hazrat Huzaifa said a [] wonderful saying: 'Your good deeds of this age are the evil deeds of the past age and the evil deeds of this age will be considered as good deeds of the next age...' He said the truth, because most of the good deeds of this age were reprehensible at the time of the Companions. The good deeds of our age is the embellishment of mosques, excess in ablution and bath, huge expenses in the construction of buildings for mosques, spreading of soft and fine rugs in mosques etc..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya-Ulum-Id-Deen)

The best of us is the one of learning,
harnessing passion with knowledge.

The best of us is the one free from blame,
following the way of the Companions.

The best of us is the one of good guidance,
firm in faith and silent toward doubt.

Visible Signs of the Learned Man of the Hereafter

"... Another sign of the learned man of the next world is that he becomes humble and adopts silence. The effect of God-fear appears on his body, dress, character, movements, speech and silence. If any man looks at him, it reminds him of God, and his nature and character are proofs of his actions. His eyes are a mirror of his mind. The signs of the learned man of the Hereafter are recognised on his face; tranquility, modesty and freedom from pride and vanity. A certain wise man said, 'God has not given a man a garment better than the garment of God-fear. It is the garment of the Prophets, Siddeeqs (truthful), Pirs and the learned men'..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya-Ulum-Id-Deen)

What do we say of a man
in whom God-fear has become ingrained,
a man who has acquired knowledge
and with it, tranquility and patience,
a man who has humbled himself
and whose knowledge has discouraged ignorance,
a man who rejoices at receiving the Mercy of God
whilst weeping secretly for fear of His punishment?

This man, the one who walks with modesty,
whose soul is in the earth but
whose wisdom is in the Hereafter,
he makes for a great companion;
he helps you when you remember God
and reminds you when you forget,
as the tradition goes.

This man, the one filled with God-fear,
who prepared for death before it came
and wept much in the world,
who remained silent
and did not mix with frivolous talks,
he will laugh most in the Hereafter.
Seek out his companionship.

I do not know

"Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud said: 'He who gives opinion as soon as a question is put to him is mad.'...

Some wise man said: 'There are worshippers in the world. Their meal ends when they are still hungry. They sleep when it overcomes them. Their words end only in necessary talks.' In other words, they do not speak unless asked and they remain silent when sufficient reply is obtained from others...

Someone said that among the jurists, the greater number were men who used to say 'we don't know' than the numbers who used to say 'we know'..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Whoa whoa whoa, slow down there
and do not commit yourself so soon.
For what will you answer on that Day
when asked
"From where did you get this?"

Verily, as the wise man said,
"I do not know" is half of learning,
and this is the shield of the learned man.

Such was the condition of the Companions (RA)
and those who preceded us in excellence,
who when asked,
would wish not except that someone else reply,
freeing them of their burden.

This is knowledge, and with its increase,
is the decrease of excessive talk.
As the wise learned (wo)men of the Hereafter knew.

A lasting fruit - no preservatives required

"By God, know that the earth will consume flesh and fat but not faith."

(Attributed to Hazrat Hasan (RA) in Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-Id-Deen)

For certain, all is lost and nothing remains,
except faith and deed,
and so we smartly stock away
for a rainy relentless day.

Signs of the Learned Man

"... Another sign of the learned man of the next world is that he has got no attraction for various kinds of foods and drinks, luxury in dresses, furniture and houses, but rather he adopts moderate courses in all these things following the other sages and he is best satisfied with the least of everything. The less a man is attracted towards luxuries, the more he will be close to God and the more he will be in association of the learned men of the hereafter and in rank...

... In short, use of ornamentation in permissible things is not unlawful but it creates fondness for these and to give them up at the end becomes difficult..."

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Let us ponder:

The learning of the learned man goes back to whom?
The Companions of the Apostle of God.
The learning of the Companions goes back to whom?
The Apostle of God.

The Apostle of God erected palaces for himself where?
Not in this world.
The Companions erected palaces for themselves where?
Not in this world.

And so we ask:
Who is our master and our teacher?
The likes of Pharaoh and Namrud?
Nay, rather, in the Prophet of God do we find an excellent example, Sallallahu 3alayhi wa sallam.

The Height of Foolishness

"... The learned man who does not act up to his knowledge is like a patient who describes the qualities of a medicine without using it or like a hungry man who describes the taste of a food without eating it..."

"... He who shuns the learning of practice and remains busy in arguments is like a sick man who suffers from many diseases, but when he fears death, he goes to an experienced physician and asks him many questions of the qualities of drugs and complexities of medical profession but he does not ask him about his diseases. This is the height of foolishness."

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Strange, one who dangles on the branches of a tree,
the stem of which cannot carry him.
Strange, one who delves into the complexities of knowledge,
the beginning of which, God and death, has eluded him.

13.2, Weeping out of fear and yearning for Allah

Allah, the Most Glorified and Exalted, says in the Qur’an, “Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur’an)? And you laugh at it and weep not, wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements.” (53:59-61)

From the first part of the article, insha-Allah, we now understand the importance of weeping out of fear and yearning for Allah. In this part I hope to provide two examples from the Prophet (SAWS) himself - examples from which we can draw inspiration insha-Allah.

The first example: Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (SAWS) said to me, “Recite the Qur'an to me.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Shall I recite the Qur'an to you, when it has been revealed to you?”

He (SAWS) replied, “I love to hear it recited by others.”

So I recited to him a portion from Surat-an-Nisaa'. When I reached the Aayah (verse): “How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad (SAWS)) as a witness against these people?” (4:41)

He (SAWS) said, “Enough for now.”

When I looked at him I saw his eyes were shedding tears.

(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith tells us that besides reciting the Noble Qur’an alone, we should also recite it with others and listen to it being recited by others so that we can contemplate further on it.

A second lesson we take from this Hadith is that reciting the Qur’an and listening to the Qur’an being recited should penetrate our hearts, so much so that it causes our eyes to shed tears.

The second example: Abdullah bin ash-shikhkheeri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) when he was performing prayers. He was sobbing and his chest sounded like a boiling kettle.

(Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

This Hadith tells us how the Prophet (SAWS) sometimes wept in prayer out of fear of Allah, and as discussed in the first part, to weep in the course of supplication and at the thought of our appearance before Allah reflects piety.

We ask Allah to unite our hearts, to fill our hearts with the light of the Qur’an, and to beautify our character with understanding of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the final Messenger (SAWS).

13.1, Weeping out of fear and yearning for Allah

I begin in the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Who says in the Qur’an, “And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (Muhammad (SAWS)), you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognised. They say: ‘Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses.

And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the truth? And we wish that our Lord will admit us along with the righteous people.’

So because of what they said, Allah rewarded them Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), they will abide therein forever. Such is the reward of al-muhsinoon (the good-doers).” (5: 83-85)

My aim in writing this article is simple: to give advice after advice, example after example to demonstrate the humility that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and the Companions (RA) had before Allah. I intend to do this here by focusing on just one manifestation of this humility, which was their weeping out of fear and yearning for Allah.

Insha-Allah each of us will come away from this article wanting to take a time-out, lock our self away, sit in private, reflect and weep out of fear of Allah and out of a yearning to meet Allah (SWT) in a good state.

I intend to cover this topic in two parts: In the first part, by selecting just three Sunan (actions and sayings) of the Prophet (SAWS), I hope to establish the high merit of weeping out of fear of Allah. In the second part I hope to provide two inspiring examples of the Prophet (SAWS) himself weeping out of fear of Allah.

The first Hadith: Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) delivered a Khutbah to us the like of which I had never heard from him before. In the course of the Khutbah, he (SAWS) said:
“If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.”
Thereupon those present covered their faces and began to sob.

(al-Bukhari and Muslim)

What do we see here? We see here proof of the fact that the Companions of the Prophet (SAWS) would sometimes weep out of fear of Allah when they heard sermons and preaching. A stark contrast to today; preachers like me that utter words that have not yet reached our hearts and audiences that are present in person, physically, but whose minds are elsewhere.

The second Hadith: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:
“One who weeps out of fear of Allah, will not enter the Hellfire till milk returns back in the udder; and the dust raised on account of fighting in the path of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never exist together.”

(At-Tirmidhi)

A person who has such a fear and awareness of Allah that he weeps on account of it; it is hard to imagine that he can be disobedient to Allah. Rather, his would be a life spent in obedience of Allah and strict abstinence from sins, and we can quite comfortably say that it is impossible for such a person to go to Hell just as it is impossible for milk to return in the udders.

Similarly, one who fights for the sake of Allah, and Allah (SWT) knows best who fights in His path, is perfectly safe from Hell because the dust that falls on him whilst he is out in the path of Allah cannot mix with the smoke of Hell.

Indeed, such is the excellence of fearing Allah that it keeps us away from disobeying Him (SWT), and such is the excellence of shedding a tear out of fear of Allah that it is a drop beloved to Allah.

Not only does weeping out of fear of Allah make the Hellfire forbidden for us, but this category of people are one of the seven whom Allah will provide His Shade on the Day (of Resurrection) when there will be no shade other than this shade.

“… a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become tearful.”

(al-Bukhari and Muslim)

A healthy soul is a healthy mind

"... The inward purity is of greatest importance. The Prophet therefore said: 'Angels do not enter a house wherein there are dogs.' The human mind is a house, the abode of angels, the place of their movements. The blameworthy evils like anger, lust, rancour, envy, pride, conceit and the like are dogs. When dogs reside in a heart, where is the place for the angels? God takes the secrets of knowledge to the hearts through the angels. They do not take it except to the pure souls. Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud said: 'Knowledge is not acquired through much learning. It is a light cast in the heart.' A certain sage said: 'Knowledge is God-fear, as God said: The learned among the people fear God most.'"

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Indeed, to know God, that is the aim;
to obey his commandments,
to purify my heart and soul,
to fill my actions with virtues,
the stepping stone.

Beneficial Knowledge

"Imam Shafi'ee said: 'The knowledge of one who does not make himself perfect will come of no use to him'."

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Indeed I seek refuge from knowledge that does not benefit,
and I seek assistance in
steering clear from the debates of ignorance,
tossing away the magazines of idleness and
turning off the sitcoms of pointlessness.

O Allah, bestow upon me understanding of Your Deen
and guide me to its correct interpretations.

Food Glorious Food

"The Imam (ash-Shaafi'ee) said: I used not to take food with satisfaction for the last 16 years as a full stomach makes the body heavy, makes the hard heart, increases sleep and renders a man lazy for worship."

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

A simple formula: Minimal food, maximal productivity.

Quality over Quantity

"Hasan Qarbasi reported: I spent many nights with the great Imam (ash-Shafi'ee). He used to spend one-third of the night in prayer and yet I have not seen him reciting more than fifty to one hundred verses. At the end of each verse, he would beseech God's mercy upon himself and upon all Muslims."

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

Surely, as demonstrated here, a verse read and reflected upon is better than a multitude of verses recited with an absent mind and an absent heart!?

And the sacrifice of sleep and the care, as demonstrated here, for those beyond himself can only but be aspired to. May Allah have mercy upon myself and upon all Muslims and may He guide us all. Aameen.

When the world comes knocking at your door...

"Rabia-b-Asem said: Caliph Yezid sent me once to Abu Hanifa and he wanted to appoint him as cashier of the state treasury. On his refusal to accept the post, he was given twenty stripes.
...
It is narrated that he (Imam Abu Hanifa) was once offered the post of chief justice of the state, but he said: 'I am not fit for this post.' When he was asked about the reason, he said: 'If I have told the truth, it is good for the post: and if I have told a lie, I am unfit for that post as I am a liar.'"

(Source: Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ulum-id-Deen)

A great Imam, a great ascetic, a God-fearing man,
good in character, good in conduct, good in deed;
seeking the pleasure of the One Most High,
eternal and absolute, as He is;
fleeing from the prizes of this world,
temporary and unfulfilling, as they are;
preferring a king's punishment
to that of the kingdom's Possessor.
May Allah have Mercy on him and us all.

Tips for a better delivery

Some advice for a better sermon, insha-Allah:

(1) Words from the heart reach the hearts. Speak words that hold true for yourself and your own internal state.
(2) Project your voice and speak into the microphone. Get your stomach into it!
(3) Maintain eye contact with your audience; all of them, at the front, at the back, to the right, to the left. Don't look at one particular person for too long.
(4) Don’t hide behind your papers; keep your papers low so that they do not act as a barrier between you and your audience.
(5) Use visual aid whenever possible (hands, facial expressions etc).
(6) Don't speak in a monotone voice; fast to slow, slow to fast, high to low, low to high, keep the audience attentive and on their toes.
(7) Don’t fidget and keep your hands out of your pockets.
(8) Say “we and I” and do not say “you!”. Remember: You are advising yourself first and foremost. Do not forget this.
(9) Relax; speak slowly and clearly. Take deep breaths and pause between points. Allow the audience to absorb your arguments.
(10) Don't prepare too much that you have to rush to get through it all in the short time allocated.
(10) Repeat important points. Three times is a good number.
(11) Check your intention and seek assistance from Allah: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest (grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness). And ease my task for me; and loose the knot from my tongue. That they understand my speech." (Dua of Prophet Moses (upon whom be peace) from the Qur'an; Surah 20, Verses 25-28)

Differences of Opinion

"Differences regarding the science of juridicial laws (ahkaam) is a mercy, whereas difference regarding the science of divine oneness (tawheed) and Islam is a deviance and innovation. Mistakes committed in the science of juridicial laws (ahkaam) are forgiven - in fact the scholar is rewarded - as opposed to mistakes in the kalaam (theology), for such mistakes are unbelief and fabrication, and the one committing them is sinful.

... One of the seven renowned scholars of Madina, Qaasim ibn Muhammad said, 'Differences among the Companions of Muhammad (SAWS) are a mercy for the servants of Allah Most High'... The caliph 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Azeez (may Allah have mercy on him) said, 'It would not have made me happy had the Companions of Muhammad (SAWS) not differed; for had they not differed, there would not have been any concessions'..."

(Source: Imam Abu Hanifa's Al-Fiqh al-Akbar Explained)

If you don't like your life...

"If you don't like your life you can change it!"

(Source: 'Art on the Underground' poster by Mark Titchner)

Not sure what exactly was intended by the artist, but if the intended message is as interpreted by my simple self (i.e. the path I choose in life is for none but me to choose), I like it. And indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of all that exists.

Man was created weak

"Ibn Abi Haatim recorded that Taawus said that, '... and man was created weak', 'Concerning women'.

Wakee' said, 'Man's mind leaves when women are involved'."

(Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, explanation of Verse 28, Surah 4 (An-Nisaa'))

Man, as high and mighty as you see yourself,
I have no doubt in my heart of hearts,
you cannot but concede this weakness as truth,
and I, in all my weakness,
am most certainly no exception.

I laughed, I cried, I had a good day?

Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivered a Khutbah (sermon) to us the like of which I have never heard from him before. He (ﷺ) said, "If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much." Thereupon those present covered their faces and began sobbing.

(Hadith found in Bukhari and Muslim)

Really, how can I sit in fun and enjoyment
for the sake of fun and enjoyment,
when the time is so short, the duties so many,
the two abodes await
and my direction is for me to choose today.

Love for the sake of Allah

(Article written for the March 2008 issue [no. 18] of The Noor magazine)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Who says in the Qur’an, “And keep yourself (O Muhammad (SAW)) patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affair (i.e. deeds) has been lost.” (Al-Qur'an, 18:28)

I want to use this opportunity in writing this article to discuss a topic that is very important for us all but for the youth among us in particular, which includes me.

At a time when we are searching for who it is we want to be, deciding the circles of companionship that are best for that person we want to be, and ultimately shaping our hearts for the foreseeable future, we face a choice that is pretty much twofold: on the one hand, there is companionship and love for the sake of desires, and on the other hand, there is companionship and love for the sake of Allah. It is the latter, love for the sake of Allah, which I wish to focus on here.

I intend to cover this topic in two parts: In the first part, by selecting just three sayings of the Prophet (SAW), I hope to establish the reasons and importance of loving one another for the sake of Allah. In the second part, I hope to provide a brief advice on how we can develop this love between us and make it grow.

Why should we love one another for the sake of Allah?

The first Hadith: Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: A man set out to visit a brother of his (in Faith) in another town and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the angel asked him, “Where do you intend to go?”

He said, “I intend to visit my brother in this town.”

The angel asked, “Have you done any favour to him?”

The man said, “No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.”

Thereupon the angel said, “I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love your brother (for Allah’s sake).” (Muslim)

This Hadith makes clear the great merit of visiting one another for Allah’s sake. Subhaana-Allah! This is amazing and requires some attentive thought; simply by visiting one another and strengthening the ties of brotherhood for Allah’s sake, we will be rewarded. Not only rewarded but, because of our loving one another for Allah’s sake, Allah the Most Glorified and Exalted will love us in a manner that suits His Majesty.

Another lesson to take from this Hadith is that the bond of brotherhood in Islam is more preferred and stronger than any other bond. Therefore, we must see and put the bond of brotherhood for the sake of Allah before any other bond, whether it is the bond of kinship, the bond of nationality or the bond of any worldly interest.

The second Hadith: Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What do you think of a man who loves some people but does not go any nearer to them in position (i.e. either he cannot attain their lofty position of righteousness or that he has not met with them in this life)?”

He (SAW) replied, “A man will be with those whom he loves.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith demonstrates the high merit of loving those who fear Allah and follow His commandments. Subhaana-Allah, such are the Mercy and Blessings of Allah that as a result of simply loving people of piety, Allah will elevate our status and include us among those whom we love.

Conversely, this Hadith serves as a severe warning for those who fondly associate with and love a people who disobey the commandments of Allah. Indeed, such an association and love is extremely dangerous, since this can become a reason for us to meet the same bad end that is inevitable for those who disobey the commandments of Allah.

The third Hadith: Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: On the Day of Resurrection, Allah, the Exalted, will say, “Where are those who had mutual love for the sake of My Glory? Today I shall shelter them in My Shade when there is no shade except Mine.” (Muslim)

This Hadith mentions a very special type of people: those who have mutual love for the sake of Allah. For these people Allah, the Almighty, will provide a special protection, which will be to shelter them in the Shade of His Throne on the Day when there will be no shade other than His Shade.

How can we make this love between us grow?

From the previous section, insha-Allah, we now understand the importance of loving one another for the sake of Allah and not loving a people for short-lived, temporary worldly interests. The question now is: how do we develop this love between us and make it grow?

It is as the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “When a man loves his brother (for Allah’s sake) let him tell him that he loves him.” (At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)

This Hadith advises us to disclose our affection to those whom we love for the sake of Allah. The wisdom behind informing someone that we love them for the sake of Allah is to make them aware of our affection towards them, so that this will turn into mutual affection and will promote mutual co-operation and interaction in a manner that pleases Allah.

Lastly, I end with an incident and advice of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW):

A man was with the Prophet (SAW) when another man passed by and the former said, “O Messenger of Allah! I love this man (for Allah’s sake).”

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) asked, “Have you informed him?”

He said, “No.”

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) then said, “Tell him (that you love him).”

So he went up to the man and said to him, “I love you for the sake of Allah.”

The other man replied, “May Allah, for Whose sake you love me, love you.” (Abu Dawud)

We ask Allah to join our hearts together so that we love one another for His sake, we ask Allah for the humility to deal with one another on terms of mercy and we ask Him for the strength to rise above any false macho pride within us.

Recommended Reading: Riyadh-us-Saliheen, a compilation of Ahadith by Imam An-Nawawi (may the Mercy of Allah be upon on him)

The mark of them is on their faces

"Some said, 'The righteous good deed brings light to the heart, brightness to the face, ampleness in provisions, and love in people's hearts.' ... Therefore, since the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, had sincere intentions and righteous good deeds, all those who looked at them liked their appearance and conduct."

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, explanation of Verse 29 of Surah al-Fath)

Fear and Hope

Umar bin al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
"If it is announced in the assembly [on the Day of Judgement] that only one person is to enter Paradise, I would hope that [that person] is me, and if it is announced that only one person will enter Hellfire, I would fear that that is me."

(Source: Imam Abu Hanifa's Al-Fiqh al-Akbar Explained)

Rightly so.
And why would I not be so fearful,
when my shortcomings are so numerous
and my submission so lacking?
And why would I not be so hopeful,
when I turn to my Lord in repentance
and He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful?