"... 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.
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Thursday, 20 March 2008
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).
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)
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)
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
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.
(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.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
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.
(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.
Thursday, 6 March 2008
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.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
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.
(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.
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