Be not like sheep

"... If a man takes food for helping his learning and action and God-fear, his food and drink are considered as divine service.

For that, he should not spend his time uselessly remaining busy like a lower being which roams from field to field in eating and drinking..."

(Source: Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-id-Din, The Book of Worldly Usages, Rules of Eating and Drinking)

The days, meals and opportunities are many. Life and death (in this world) once. Use wisely.

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.

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.

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.

5.1, The Struggle

In the name of Allah, the Most Glorified and Exalted, who says in the Qur’an, “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinoon (good doers).” (29: 69)

In another place, Allah says, “And worship your Rubb until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).” (15: 99)

Further, Allah says, “And remember the Name of your Rubb and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.” (73: 8)

And Allah says, “And whatever good you send before you for yourselves, you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward.” (73: 20)

AND the pages of the Qur’an are filled with many verses besides these; commanding us to struggle and send forth much good deeds for ourselves.

What is meant by “good deeds”? First and foremost, it is the fulfilment of that which is obligatory; such as the five daily prayers and annual Zakaah. Then we look to voluntary means of attaining the Pleasure of Allah; such as performing Nawaafil prayers, giving Sadaqah, showing kindness, and so forth. It is very important to understand that the voluntary deeds are of no value if the obligatory requirements are not in check.

The desire to attain nearness to Allah without strict observance of the obligatory prayers is meaningless. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Allah the Exalted has said: ‘I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and my slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawaafil till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him.’” (Al-Bukhari)

The Nawaafil mentioned here may be optional prayers or other extra deeds besides what is obligatory; such as fasting outside of Ramadhan. This Hadith means that when a person adds voluntary deeds to the obligatory ones, he starts to become a favourite slave of Allah and on account of it he receives special help from Allah. Then he is protected by Allah to the extent that Allah supervises every organ of his body, and the person is saved from disobedience of Allah. He bears what is liked by Allah, sees what is liked by Allah, and handles what pleases Allah.

Another important point here is that a saint (or favourite of Allah) is not one who has a particular attire and appearance, nor is it someone who has left the Salah and found his own way of remembering and worshipping of Allah, but it is someone who strictly fulfils the obligations imposed by Islam, someone who is fond of voluntary prayers and adheres to the commandments of Allah in every walk of life.

We have in Islam a system of pleasing Allah and drawing near to Him in every aspect of our lives. Whether we capitalise on this great Bounty and Kindness is down to our own choosing. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good).” (Al-Bukhari)

When we speak of loss, it signifies selling something for less than its due price, or to buy something for double or triple its price. Such a transaction is senseless and the person who engages in it is a loser.

It is like spending hours of our free time watching a meaningless film or aimlessly playing a computer game when, instead, in that time we could have memorised Verses of the Qur’an, reflected upon them and had time left over for reciting them in many Rak’aats of optional prayer.

Or, this loss is like the one who has the health and strength to stand in prayer for much of the night, but, instead, he exhausts himself by partying into the late hours of the night.

We need to start looking at our free time and health the way we look at our money. We are traders and our health and free time are our capital. The one who invests his health and time with care gains endless profit in this life and the Hereafter, while he who wastes it and uses it carelessly is a loser.

If anything, we need to give more worth to our time and health than we do to our money. We must avoid wasting our time in useless activities, and not spend our physical strength and energy in the disobedience of Allah. Otherwise, we will have to face the severe consequences of this waste on the Day when we will be brought to account for every blessing that was bestowed upon us.

Because of the profitability of health and free time, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The best of people is one whose life is long and his conduct is good.” (At-Tirmidhi)

A long life is a blessing, provided it is accompanied by Faith and good deeds; otherwise, the longer life one has, the greater will be the number of sins. Such a long life is disastrous, and those who do not realise the blessings of health, free time and a long life will be losers in the marketplace of deeds.