The key to all goodness and the key to all evil
Shaykh ul-Islām ibn Taymiyyah [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:
“Truthfulness is the key to all goodness, just as lying is the key to all evil.”
Al-Istiqāmah, 1/467 | Shaykh ul-Islām ibn Taymiyyah [may Allāh have mercy on him]
Translation: Authentic Quotes
[To read this text translated into Spanish Language click here]
Your Children
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa‘di (رحمه الله ) said:
“The people most deserving of your kindness and most entitled to your good treatment are your children, for they are trusts that Allah has placed with you. He has entrusted you with raising them in a righteous manner—nurturing both their bodies and their hearts.
Everything you do for them in this regard, whether small or great, is part of fulfilling your obligation and is among the best deeds that draw you closer to Allah. So strive in this and seek its reward from Allah.
Just as when you feed them, clothe them, and take care of their physical upbringing you are fulfilling a duty and are rewarded for it—then even more so when you nurture their hearts and their souls with beneficial knowledge, sound understanding, guiding them to noble character, and warning them against its opposites.”
📚 [Bahjat Qulūb al-Abrār wa Qurrat ‘Uyūn al-Akhyār, p.154]
Secret Tears
Muhammad b. Wāsi’ said:
I have lived amongst men who were such that one of them would lie with his wife on the same pillow and his side of the pillow would be soaked with his tears under his cheek without his wife even noticing.
Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Al-Ikhlās wa Al-Nīyah (Sincerity and Intentions) p34.
Muhammad b. Wāsi’ Al-Azadī Al-Basrī was one of the famous and pious Tābi’īn. He reports from Anas b. Mālik – Allah be pleased with him – and others. He died in 123H, Allah have mercy on him.
Taken from: https://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/secret-tears/
Battle of Badr : Shaytan’s false promises to Mushrikeen – Tafseer Ibn Kathir
And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, “No one of mankind can overcome you this day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbor (for each and every help).” But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said “Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily, I see what you see not. Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is severe in punishment.”) [Soorah al-Anfal (8): 48]
(And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, “No one of mankind can overcome you today and verily, I am your neighbor.”)
Shaytan, may Allah curse him, made the idolators’ purpose for marching seem fair to them. He made them think that no other people could defeat them that day. He also ruled out the possibility that their enemies, the tribe of Bani Bakr, would attack Makkah, saying, “I am your neighbor.” Shaytan appeared to them in the shape of Suraqah bin Malik bin Ju`shum, the chief of Bani Mudlij, so that, as Allah described them,
(He﴿ Shaytan ﴾ makes promises to them, and arouses in them false desires; and Shaytan’s promises are nothing but deceptions) (4:120).
Ibn Jurayj said that Ibn `Abbas commented on this Ayah, (8:48)
“On the day of Badr, Shaytan, as well as, his flag holder and soldiers, accompanied the idolators. He whispered to the hearts of the idolators, `None can defeat you today! I am your neighbor.’ When they met the Muslims and Shaytan witnessed the angels coming to their aid, (he ran away), he went away in flight while proclaiming, (Verily, I see what you see not.)”
`Ali bin Abi Talhah said, that Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah,
(“No one of mankind can overcome you today and verily, I am your neighbor’)
“Shaytan, as well as, his devil army and flag holders, came on the day of Badr in the shape of a Suraqah bin Malik bin Ju`shum, man from Bani Mudlij, Shaytan said to idolators, `None will defeat you this day, and I will help you.’ When the two armies stood face to face, the Messenger of Allah took a handful of sand and threw it at the faces of the idolators, causing them to retreat. Jibril, peace be upon him, came towards Shaytan, but when Shaytan, while holding the hand of a Mushrik man, saw him, he withdrew his hand and ran away with his soldiers. That man asked him, `O Suraqah! You claimed that you are our neighbor’ He said, (Verily, I see what you see not. Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is severe in punishment) Shaytan said this when he saw the angels.”
Source : Tafseer Ibn Kathir -Shaytan makes Evil seem fair and deceives the Idolators (darussalam english publication)
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language, click here].
Taken from: https://abdurrahman.org/2011/09/11/battle-of-badr-shaytans-false-promises-to-mushrikeen/
Seek refuge from the misguiding Fitna
Explained by Shaykh Salih Āli Shaykh
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee
Imam Ahmad said, “So I asked Allah to grant me the memorization of the Quran, but I did not ask for it in a state of well-being. So, I did not memorize the Quran except while in prison chained up.
No doubt this is a tremendous statement that shows that the person should be mindful in their supplication and always ask Allah the Exalted, for pardon and wellbeing. When you ask your Lord, ask that it be granted with well-being, for you do not know what may happen to you. Perhaps what you seek may come only through an illness that incapacitates you, or through the loss of your children and family, leaving you alone in your home. Perhaps it may come only through an exile that you neither desire nor choose. Therefore, always ask your Lord that His blessings come with pardon and well-being.
Like this is seeking refuge with Allah from Fitna (trials), meaning the Fitna that causes misguidance. Therefore, when a supplicant prays that Allah the Exalted, protects them from Fitna, scholars have said that it is best to seek refuge from the Fitna that misleads people. One should say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the Fitna that misleads" or "from the Fitna that leads people astray." Or one may say, "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from being led astray in my religion," or something similar. This is because good things can also be a Fitna. Family can be a trial, and wealth can be a trial. These are things that a person inevitably deals with—one must marry, have children, and possess wealth; these are necessities of life. However, these are forms of trials that come from good things, yet they may lead some people astray.
For this reason, a person should seek refuge in Allah the Exalted, from misleading trials.
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language, click here]
Taken from: https://mtws.posthaven.com/seek-refuge-from-the-misguiding-fitna-explained-by-shaykh-salih-ali-shaykh
Earth had thrown his body out
باب عَلاَمَاتِ النُّبُوَّةِ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ (25)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيًّا فَأَسْلَمَ وَقَرَأَ الْبَقَرَةَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ، فَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَعَادَ نَصْرَانِيًّا فَكَانَ يَقُولُ مَا يَدْرِي مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ مَا كَتَبْتُ لَهُ، فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ فَدَفَنُوهُ، فَأَصْبَحَ وَقَدْ لَفَظَتْهُ الأَرْضُ فَقَالُوا هَذَا فِعْلُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، لَمَّا هَرَبَ مِنْهُمْ نَبَشُوا عَنْ صَاحِبِنَا. فَأَلْقُوهُ فَحَفَرُوا لَهُ فَأَعْمَقُوا، فَأَصْبَحَ وَقَدْ لَفَظَتْهُ الأَرْضُ، فَقَالُوا هَذَا فِعْلُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ نَبَشُوا عَنْ صَاحِبِنَا لَمَّا هَرَبَ مِنْهُمْ. فَأَلْقَوْهُ فَحَفَرُوا لَهُ، وَأَعْمَقُوا لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ مَا اسْتَطَاعُوا، فَأَصْبَحَ قَدْ لَفَظَتْهُ الأَرْضُ، فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَأَلْقَوْهُ.
Narrated Anas (RadiAllaahu Anhu):
There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on he returned to Christianity again and he used to say: “Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him.” Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them.” They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them.” They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).
[ Taken from Sahih Bukhari – Volume 4, Book 56, Number 814: Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions]
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language, click here]
The happy one is...
Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (d. 852 H.) said:
”The happy one is the one who sticks to what the Salaf were upon, and avoids what was innovated by the Khalaf.(16)”. (17)
(16) Khalaf: The ones who came after the time of the pious Salaf, the successors..
(17) Fath Al-Bari by Ibn Hajar (13/267)
[To read this text in Spanish Language, click here]
Self-amazement
Bishr Ibn Haarith [رحمه الله] said:
❝Self-amazement is that you consider your deeds to be many and make little the deeds of the people or the deeds of others besides yourself.❞
[Hilyatul Awliyaa, (8/348) | Translated By Abu Mu'aawiyyah Abdullah al-Gambi]
Increasing in goodness &
repelling harm from oneself
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
“If the servant is always grateful and seeking forgiveness, goodness will continually increase for him, and evil will be repelled from him.”
[Majmū‘ al-Fatāwā (14/262)].
Don't Move Into Her House
As-Saffarini (may God have mercy on him) said
Any man who lives under the financial support of his wife is stripped of goodness, for he has overturned the natural order upon which Allah created people namely, that men are maintainers of women and that men have a degree over them.
But in this case, she has become the maintainer over him, holding the advantage of spending on him and bestowing favour upon him. Accordingly, he returns to her in humiliation, for he is in need of what she possesses; and whoever is in need of something will inevitably be humbled before the one who holds that need. This is a condition befitting a wife, not a man. Yet this man has been deprived of goodness and the qualities of manliness. He has accepted humiliation and lowness, and has grown accustomed to comfort and ease until he has become dependent on them.
Whoever reaches such a state whose condition has declined to this level - there is no good in his life. Ruin be upon him and upon his pleasures.
As-Saffarini, Ghidha' al-Albab fi Sharh Manzümat al-Adab. Vol. 2, p. 394, - Salah
al-Iranee
[To read this text translated into Spanish Language, click here]
Avoiding Marriage to a Woman of Higher
Status, and Avoiding Moving in Her Home
as-Saffārīnī said;
"You should not marry a noblewoman above you in rank, for if you do so, you will continually suffer: from her pride over you, from her disregard for you due to your lower status in her eyes, from the belittling you receive from her, for if she grants you your marital rights, she will see it as giving you something you are not worthy of.
She will consider her acceptance of you a favour for which you ought to be grateful. And if she refuses you something, she will see herself as justified - because of her high status and your lowliness - and will not care about displeasing you."
as-Saffārīnī, Ghidhā’ al-Albāb fī Sharḥ Manẓūmat al-Ādāb. Vol. 2, p. 391
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language, click here]
The Fourteen Enemies
A man said to Abu Hāzim (may Allah have mercy upon him): Indeed you are strict. Abu Hāzim (may Allāh have mercy upon him) replied:
Why shouldn’t I be strict when I’m certainly being observed/watched by 14 enemies. As for four of them: A Shaytān (devil) who puts me to trial, a believer who envies me, a disbeliever (who wants to) kill me and a hypocrite who hates me. As for the (remaining) ten, from them are: The matter of hunger, thirst, heat, cold, nakedness, old age, sickness, poverty, death and the hell-fire. I don’t have the ability (to combat them all) except with a complete weapon. And I do not find a weapon to combat them with better than (the weapon of) at-Taqwā (having fear of Allah).
Source: Hilyatul-Awliyā 3/231
Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
17th of Shawwāl, 1437 (12-28-2015)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC
Original Arabic
قال رجل لأبي حازم إنك متشدد ، فقال أبو حازم – رحمه الله:
” وما لي لا أتشدد وقد ترصدني أربعة عشر عدوا، أما أربعة:
فشيطان يفتنني، ومؤمن يحسدني، وكافر يقتلني، ومنافق يبغضني،
وأما العشرة فمنها:
الجوع، والعطش، والحر، والبرد، والعري، والهرم، والمرض، والفقر، والموت، والنار، ولا أطيقهن إلا بسلاح تام، ولا أجد لهن سلاحا أفضل من التقوى “
📓[3/231] المنتقى النفيس من كتاب (حلية الأولياء ، وطبقات الأصفياء) (3)
Having Knowledge Is One Thing…
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:
«وليس كلّ من وجدَ العلم قَدرَ على التعبير عنه، والإحتجاج له ! فالعلم شيءٌ . وبيانه شيءٌ آخر . والمناظرة عنه، وإقامة دليله شيءٌ ثالث . والجواب عن حجّة مخالفهِ شيءٌ رابعٌ .»
❝Not everyone who finds knowledge is capable of expressing it, and using it as evidence.
Therefore, knowledge is one thing and clarifying it is another matter.
Debating about knowledge and establishing the proof is the third matter.
Responding to the evidences of the one who opposes the proof is a fourth matter.❞
[Jawab Al-Itiradaat Al-Misareeyah Ala Al-Futeeyah Al-Hamaweeyah, (Page: 44) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya].
Text taken from: https://followingthesunnah.com/having-knowledge-is-one-thing/
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language, click here]
Abandoning the Obligatory Prayer
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said:
“There is no disagreement among the Muslims that deliberately abandoning an obligatory prayer is among the gravest of sins and the greatest of major offenses. Its sin is greater than that of killing a soul or taking people’s wealth.
Such a person exposes himself to the punishment, anger, and disgrace of Allah in this world and the Hereafter.”
📚[As-Salah wa Ahkam Tarikiha, p. 31]
[To read this text translated into Spanish Language, click here]
Ibn Hazm (رحمه الله) said:
“There is no affliction more harmful to knowledge and its people than intruders into it — those who are not from its true people. They are ignorant yet think they know, they corrupt yet believe they are righteous.”
[Madaawat al-Nufoos, p. 67].
[To read this text in Spanish Language, click here]
STRENGTH IS NOT IN HARSHNESS
Whoever has a despicable character, little dignity and no mercy then this will appear in his dealings with those who are weak. Rather, treating the weak unjustly is the way of the weak. If they truly had a strong, tough character, then they would not treat those deserving of mercy harshly. That is why whosoever controls himself when interacting (with the weak) then their excellence is evident.
Book: The Structure of the Muslim Family
By Shaykh Muhammad Amān al-Jamī
Translated by Hassan Somali
P. 28, 29
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language click here]
What Prevents A Person From
Following The Messenger
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:
«الذي يمنع الإنسان من اتّباع الرّسول صَلّى الله عَليْهِ وسَلّم؛ شيْئانِ: إمّا الجهل ، وإِمّا فساد القصد.»
❝That which prevents a person from following the Messenger [ﷺ] are two matters: either ignorance or either corrupt intent.❞
[Majmoo Al-Fatawa, (15/93) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath Al-Anbiyya]
[To read this text translated to Spanish Language, click here]
Seize five things
Ibn Abi Haatim (Rahimahullah) said:
“I entered Damascus and came upon the students of hadeeth, and I passed by the circle of Qasim al-Joo’ee. I found a group sitting around him and he was speaking. Their appearance amazed me; and I heard him saying:
“Seize the benefit of five things from the people of your time:
1) When you are present, you are not known;
2) When you are absent, you are not missed;
3) When you are seen, your advice is not sought;
4) When you say something, your saying is not accepted;
5)When you have some knowledge, you are not given anything for it.
I also advise you with five matters:
1) When you are treated unjustly, do not behave unjustly;
2) When you are praised do not become happy;
3) When you are criticised, do not become upset;
4) When you are not believed, do not become angry;
5) If the people act deceitfully towards you, do not act deceitfully towards them.”
Ibn Abi Hatim said: So I took this as my benefit from Damascus”
[Related by Ibn al-Jawzi (Rahimahullah) in Sifatus-Safwaa (2/200]
[To read this text in Spanish Language, click here].
Taken from: https://salaficentre.com/2014/05/29/reminder-seize-the-benefit-of-five-things-from-the-people-of-your-time/
Seeking Knowledge at an Older Age
What would you advise someone who wants to start seeking knowledge at an old age? If he cannot find a scholar to study under, would it benefit him to study without a scholar?
We ask Allah to aid those whom He has honored with an interest in seeking knowledge. However, knowledge within itself is a difficult undertaking that requires great effort. The older a person gets, the larger they become physically, and the weaker their understanding becomes. So someone who is starting to seek knowledge at an old age should choose a trustworthy scholar to study under, because gaining knowledge by way of the scholars saves time. It is better and easier.
It saves time because a scholar is like an encyclopedia of knowledge, especially if he is well-versed in Arabic grammar, Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh and other sciences. So instead of having to read twenty books for instance, he can easily acquire the knowledge within them from a scholar, this is why it saves time.
It is also safer. A person may rely on a book whose author's method contradicts the method of the righteous predecessors, whether in deriving evidence or issuing rulings.
Therefore we advise anyone who wants to seek knowledge at old age to study under a reliable scholar, for this will save him time. You should not despair and say: 'I am too old now', because if do so you would deny yourself knowledge.
It was narrated that a man once entered a Masjid after Dhuhr and sat down, so someone commanded him to get up and perform two Rak'ahs, so he got up and prayed. On another occasion, he entered the Masjid after 'Asr and started to pray two Rak'ahs, a man told him: 'Do not pray now, this is a time when prayers are prohibited.' He then said to himself that he must seek knowledge. He started seeking knowledge until he became an Imam. It was ignorance that drove him to seek knowledge.
Al-Imam Ibn 'Uthaymeen
The Book of Knowledge: p.162
[To read this text translated into Spanish language click here].
طلب العلم على كبر السن
lالإمام ابن عثيمين
كتاب العلم : ص 162
وسئل حفظه الله تعالى: بماذا تنصح من بدأ في طلب العلم على كبر سنه؟ وإن لم يتيسر له شيخ يأخذ منه ويلازمه فهل ينفعه طلب العلم بلا شيخ؟
فأجاب فضيلته بقوله: نسأل الله تعالى أن يعين من أكرمه الله بالاتجاه إلى طلب العلم، ولكن العلم في ذاته صعب يحتاج إلى جهد كبير؛ لأننا نعلم أنه كلما تقدمت السن من الإنسان زاد حجمه وقل فهمه، فهذا الرجل الذي بدأ الآن في طلب العلم ينبغي له أن يختار عالمًا يثق بعلمه ليطلب العلم عليه؛ لأن طلب العلم عن طريق المشايخ أوفر وأقرب وأيسر.
هو أوفر؛ لأن الشيخ عبارة عن موسوعة علمية، لا سيما الذي عنده علم نافع في النحو والتفسير والحديث والفقه وغيره فبدلا من أن يحتاج إلى قراءة عشرين كتابًا يتيسر تحصيله من الشيخ، وهو لذلك يكون أقصر زمنًا.
وهو أقرب للسلامة كذلك؛ لأنه ربما يعتمد على كتاب ويكون نهج مؤلفه مخالفًا لنهج السلف سواء في الاستدلال أو في الأحكام فننصح هذا الرجل الذي يريد طلب العلم على الكبر أن يلزم شيخًا موثوقًا، ويأخذ منه؛ لأن ذلك أوفر له، ولا ييأس، ولا يقول بلغت من الكبر عتيًّا؛ لأنه بذلك يَحرم نفسه من العلم.
وقد ذُكر أن بعض أهل العلم دخل المسجد يومًا بعد صلاة الظهر فجلس، فقال له أحد الناس: قم فصل ركعتين، فقام فصلى ركعتين، وذات يوم دخل المسجد بعد صلاة العصر فكبر ليصلي ركعتين فقال له الرجل: لا تصلِّ فهذا وقت نهي، فقال: لا بد أن أطلب العلم، وبدأ في طلب العلم حتى صار إمامًا، فكان هذا الجهل سببًا لعلمه، وإذا علم الله منك حسن النية ومنَّ عليك بالتوفيق فقد تجمع من العلم الشيء الكثير.
Taken from: https://subulassalaam.com/articles/article.cfm?article_id=311
FOR HIM IS THE FIRE!
The sign of knowledge that does not benefit is pride, arrogance, and conceit. Such a person seeks high position and ranking in this world and competes for it. He debates with the scholars with the aim of defeating them, and argues with the foolish with the aim of directing their attention towards him. It is reported from the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, that whoever seeks knowledge for this purpose, "for him is the Fire, the Fire!" *
* Ibn Mājah #254 and ibn Hibbān #290 on the authority of Jābir.
Book: The Excellence of Knowledge
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbalī
Daar us-Sunnah Publishers
P. 60
[To read this text in Spanish Language, click here]
