"... 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.
18 comments:
How would you get to know someone who doesn't do 'frivolous talk'?
Sub7aana-Allah, that is a very tough, puzzling question. However, twelves days into thinking about it, I am thinking: rarely do we learn about others from their words. Words are often nothing more than tools of deception.
It is only when we travel, work or live with a person can we really properly match their words against their true self.
For example, were you to ask any of my family about me, if they were honest, they would tell you about the hideousness of my character. But judging from my Blog, I probably (?) come across as a "cool" guy.
One thing to be wary of though, if you give up "frivolous talk", prepare to lose some "friends". Life is lonely for the non-frivolous types. Personally, I like it that way.
Some bold statements above. Let me know what you're thinking. Feel free to disagree or to call me an idiot, if that's what you're thinking. :)>
Just realised: despite its length, my response does not actually answer your question!
So, in response to your question: through productive activity, i.e. you get to know someone who doesn't do frivolous talk by engaging in productive activity with them.
And/Or, look into their eyes. The eyes are a mirror of the mind and a window to the soul.
Far from thinking you're an idiot; that has never crossed my mind.
I'm going to take some time to think about this first, insha Allah. Eid mubarak :).
I am tempted by curiosity to ask who this is, but I won't go down that path.
Maa sha Allah, three fabulous qualities (amongst others):
- deliberation - thinking before one speaks;
- courtesy - considering the other person enough to notify them that one is thinking and hence not speaking;
- brevity - not being excessive in what one speaks.
May Allah increase you (and me!) in good character, accept our prayers and supplications in this month, fill our Eid with blessing and enjoyment, and may He allow us to see and benefit from another Ramadhan.
Ameen for the dua and jazak Allah khairan for the compliments although if I had dust you would have been the target. My approach is incidental as opposed to consistent.
I think you are correct. Of the religious people I respect the most and would love the company of are those who hold their tongue unless necessary. Unfortunately birds of the same breed, flock together and I am lacking in their qualities. However, just by them being present in our lives whether in the background or in the forefront, the fact that they exist can be inspirational and educational. I think getting to know them is in realising that it will probably never reach the point of pouring your heart out to each other, since both have Allah to do that to. I think the concept of friendship changes when you want to be with people like that. It’s a different type of togetherness. Not as claustrophobic or as needy as other types might be. Allahu a3lam.
I remember reading something religious about those three aspects of getting to know someone; travel, dealing with money and living with them. I personally have found that they can speak volumes about a person. Looking into the eyes is a difficult one. Where did you get the idea about window to the soul? Is that through sunnah or just general commentary? I’ve known liars to look me in the eye and lie, to the point where I have doubted my own knowledge.
Maa sha Allah, very deep post, much to absorb. Jazaak Allahu Khairan.
Hold that dust! My compliments are/were meant as encouragement, not flattery. If I had said it in person, I would have said it looking down, in shyness.
Reading the eyes and reading people, is a skill, I am told (not that I know!), which increases/decreases with faith (eeman). Linked, from what I understand, to the concept of intuition (firasa). As for whether it is (directly) from the Sunnah, let me get back to you on that.
Umm Salamah reported: “Allâh’s Messenger entered upon Abû Salamah [i.e. his corpse], whose eyes were wide open. The Prophet closed the lids and then said, ‘When the rûh [spirit] is taken out, the eyesight follows it [i.e., watches it ascend].’ ”
That's the only link I can find; that the eyesight follows the soul as it leaves the body. I think you might have got the idea from Musashi, he used to use it in the battles.
Dust! Musashi! Oh my God! I feel like I am being sniped.
I don't find anything directly from the Sunnah about the eyes being the window to the soul and so I retract that statement. And, on second thought, I think the body as a whole is determinant of a person's internal state/emotion (happy, sad, humble etc). So, to get to know someone who doesn't do frivolous talk, observe them, as a whole, in their silence.
Having said that, this perception depends so much so on the observer as it does on the observed. One looking at the world up-side down, will see things up-side down, except that which is up-side down. Birds of the same breed, flock together. ;)
Recommended reading:
- 'Station of Firasa', article by Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyah (ra).
- 'Seeing the Face, Seeing the Soul', Chapter 5, Part II, Sections (i) to (ix), Pages 238-261.
Both you can find online if you search "islam firasa". Let me know if you have can't find them. If you do find and read them, let me know what you think.
As ever, Jazaak Allahu Khairan.
Allah subhanaho wa ta3ala tells us in the Qur’an to look at his signs on the earth so that we can understand. I think we can take this further and look at the signs or evidence from people so that we can understand them better so I think that in principle it is fine. Although we need to be wary that we are definitely not getting the full picture since Allah knows what is in our hearts.
Judging on permanent physical charectersitics (scientific physiognomy), I disagree with each of has must have the capability to change the way we are in terms of character otherwise the message and the advice given by the prophet pbuh is useless. So for someone to judge a blue eyed man with particular eyebrows on page 242 as evil because of his physical appearance must be incorrect... after all if he were to improve for the better is his eye colour going to change or is he going to pluck his eyebrows?
However judging on the basis of movements (deductive physiognomy), I think has merit. I’ve seen this happen in front of me and all of us are subconsciously doing it to each other. . Judge Judy uses firasa (or attempted firasa) sometimes, shrewdness; taking into account the non verbal aspects of feedback and using to understand the person in front of you. I like the use of this within a certain context, although I am wary that our character could potentially change in different situations. Unfortunately I have not read much about the medicine of the prophet pbuh (although I do have the book), from what I understand they look at the outward changes or signs in the body to gain an insight into the persons routine, which is similar.
Those are my thoughts so far, but I am conscious that other than the prophet pbuh saying be wary of the firasa of the believer there is no other direct evidence that I have read about his take on the matter. Allahu a3lam.
What do you think about it?
I mean blue eyed man with the protruding forehead... hence no plucking eyebrows but perhaps plastic surgery?
Thanks for the recommended reading. I doubt I would have come across this time of literature otherwise. I apologise for the essay of a response. If you meant snipe as in to shoot you down or to criticise you in any way, then no thats not my intention.
and I could only get up to page 249on the book as the others were not available in the preview.
Indeed, the best of us is the one who makes good his (/her) character and purifies his heart, and there is little in this world (if anything) more beautiful/attractive than good manners. And whose character/heart/manners are purer than he who submits himself to God in humility and he who is most critical of none but himself?
Btw, I only came across that book for the first time the other day when googling "islam firasa". Not the type of book I would otherwise pick up. Too academic for me. Not sure why it doesn't work for you beyond page 249? Try at a different computer/location.
Ok, I've been thinking. I;m not sure if this question is permitted as such but nowadays we fast from food to get us to approach taqwa etc but there was a time when fasting from talk was the method. Alhamdullillah whatever Allah says goes.
Is there any insight/further reading into why the mechanism changed? Also this is not necessarily linked to this post but you also mention in your blog things like minimal food, minimal sleep = maximum productivity... food i understand, but why sleep?
... so I've been trying to do some research about this and it turns out I think I had a misconception. Muslims in the past never had to fast from speech. It was always through food but from what I now understand, sometimes in special conditions they would fast from speech as well. Subhan Allah.
I am not sure but maybe this verse is a good starting point:
"... To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allah; then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ."
(Surah Al-Maa'idah Verse 48)
The additional notes in Abdullah Yusuf Ali's 'The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an' are quite useful. Maybe check out a Tafsir for further reading as well.
Let me know if that helps, or if it does not.
As for sleeping, if we sleep 8 hours a day, that is one third of our lives spent sleeping. Of course, like eating, the amount of sleep one needs largely depends on his biological makeup, but we need to keep the purpose in mind: we sleep and eat to energise for worship. Too much food/sleep and we feel lazy. At the same time, too little food/sleep and we feel tired.
Maybe it is just me, but I find a link between the two: The more I eat, the more I sleep. The less I sleep, the more I need to eat. But anyway, that is a story (/post) for another day. :)>
There is a book somebody recommended: 'The Path to Perfection'. I was browsing the contents and noticed a chapter entitled 'Sleeping Less' (two pages). Maybe that contains answer to your question?
The book is available from Azhar Academy. I can get it (free delivery) and pass it on to you if you want.
Jazak Allah, I don't want to hassle you with posting it. Who is it by?
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