‘O People, Prepare for Departure!’

Habib al-’Abid reports: Once, when I arrived in al-Basrah, I was surprised to see that the markets were closed, and the streets empty.
I called out, “O people of Basrah, is this some kind of holiday of yours that I am unaware of?”
Someone answered, “No, but al-Hasan al-Basri is in the main gathering place (of [...]

Got Your Eyes On the Prize?

The sea of pleasures may drown its owner and the swimmer fears to open his eyes under the water.

Allah promised you the pleasures of the Hereafter, so do not be in a hurry and seek them in this worldly life as if you are cutting plants before their harvest time, while they are much better [...]

“What is it Between Me & Sa’id bin Jubair!”

When Sa’id bin Jubair (radiyaAllahu ‘anhu) entered into the court of the ruthless governor, Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf Ath-Thaqafi, the latter asked the former, “What is your name?”
“Sa’id bin Jubair.”
“Rather, you are ‘the miserable one, son of the broken one,” said Al-Hajjaj, immediately showing hostility towards Sa’id. This was the way he treated all of his [...]

O Evil Shaykh!

Abu Bakr as-Saidalaani reported that he heard Salim bin Mansur bin ‘Ammar say,
“Upon seeing my father in a dream, I asked him, ‘What did your lord do with you?’
He answered : ‘Indeed, my lord drew me near and close and he said to me: ‘O evil shaykh (old man), do you know why I forgave [...]

Adorn Yourselves for the Greater Display

 

`Umar bin al-Khattab (radiAllahu `anhu) said,
 
“Take account of your own selves (i.e., of your deeds), before you will be taken to account (on the Day of Resurrection).
 
Weigh yourselves (i.e., your deeds) before you will be weighed (i.e., before your deeds will be put on the balances on the Day of Resurrection).
 
Verily, if [...]

“By Allah, I then fell down unconscious.”

Saleh al-Mizee said:
“In the middle of the day, I entered the graveyard. I looked at the graves and they were like a group of silent people.
I said,
‘How perfect Allah is! Who will bring you back to life and resurrect you after a long period of decomposition?’
A caller called out to me from behind those holes [...]

Winter – The Season of Benefit

It is reported from Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – that he said, “Shall I not point you to comfortable proceeds?” People responded, “And what is that O Abu Hurayrah?” He replied, “Fasting in winter.” The Arabs used to refer to matters which were relatively easy to gain as being cool. [...]

The Deeds of the People of Hell…

Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah was asked
“What are the deeds of the people of hell and what are the deeds of the people of paradise?”

He replied:

“The deeds of the people of hell are:

associating partners in worship with Allah

disbelieving in His Messenger

kufr (ingratitude, disbelief)

hasad (malicious envy)

lying

treachery

oppression and wrongdoing (dhulm)

promiscuity

backstabbing

cutting off the [...]

Ibn al-Qayyim’s beautiful description of Paradise

Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

“And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.
And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then [...]

Afraid?

The jurist of Samarkand says that the person who does one good deed should be weary of four things (imagine what a person who commits a sin should be afraid of!) :

The fear of not being accepted because Allah says:
‘Allah only accepts from those who fear.’ [Maidah: 27]

The fear of showing off, for Allah [...]