Being Prompt!

“Shaikh al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, used to teach us to be precise for appointments.

An example of that is when I would invite him to visit me or if I accompanied him to an invite, he, may Allah have mercy on him, would not turn up late or early for the set engagement. Once I invited him over at 1 pm and he arrived in his car before that by a quarter of an hour, and remained seated in it and did not get out until the time was due. I was not aware of the Shaikh’s presence, it was the people who accompanied him who told me about that [later]. When I asked the Shaikh about that, he said, ‘Because before the [set] time you’re busy preparing for the guest’s arrival at [that] specified time, if we were to come in before it, we’d divert you from your preparation for your guests.’ So may Allah have mercy on our Shaikh, how precise his understanding was! And how keen he was to act upon the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.

When he, may Allah have mercy on him, was invited to a place he would not take anyone with him unless the host had permitted him to. One time I invited him saying, ‘Our Shaikh! I invite you to lunch with me tomorrow,’ and by that I meant him and his wife, Umm al-Fadl. The next day he came alone so I said to him, ‘Where is Umm al-Fadl?’ So he replied, ‘You didn’t mention to me that I should bring Umm al-Fadl with me. And we stick to being precise in what is said.’”

Al-Aqeedah Awwalan Law Kanu Ya’lamun, pp. 17-18.

Every Calamity Is An Opportunity for Reward

The proofs regarding calamities being an expiation of sins are many, and when he is patient with them, he is rewarded for his patience.

This is because reward and recompense are only [granted] for a performed action, it being patience [in this case]. As for the calamity itself, this is from the actions of Allah, not from the actions of the slave. It is part of Allah’s repaying the slave for his sin and atoning his sin through it.

In al-Musnad, it was reported that they entered upon Abu ‘Ubayda (radiallahu anhu) during his sickness and informed him that he would be rewarded for his illness. He said, “I earn no reward or this… Rather, calamities are [a means of] forgiveness.” By that, he (may Allah be pleased with him) clarified that he would not be rewarded for the sickness itself, though it would expiate his sins.

[Majmu’ al-Fatawa: 30/361]

A Womens Love

“He (Prophet Ayyub) had plenty of livestock, cattle and crops, many children and beautiful houses, and he was tested in these things, losing everything he had. Then he was tested with regard to his body, and he was left alone on the edge of the city and there was no one who treated him with compassion apart from his wife, who took care of him.

It was said that it reached the stage where she was in need, so she started to serve people (to earn money) for his sake.”

Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir 21:83

Before It Slips Away

Please click on the following link to access notes from Shaykh Muhammad al Shareefs lecture on Time Management. Please note this is not a transcription of the lecture, but some notes pertaining to the most important points made in the lecture.

Time Management Notes

Time Management lecture

may Allah bless Shaykh Muhammad al Shareef and all our scholars ameen

Six Words & Thirty Angels

(This is so beautiful; we should all make an effort to memorise this super short du’aa so as to ensure we also earn the reward.)

“One day we were praying behind the Prophet ﷺ
and when he raised his head from rukoo’, he said, ‘Sami Allah liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him).’

A man behind him said,

‘Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan fihi (Our Lord, to You be praise, much good and blessed praise).’

When the prophet (peace be upon him) finished the prayer he said, ‘Who was the one who spoke?’

The man said: ‘Me.’

The Prophet said: ‘I saw thirty-odd angels rushing to see which of them would write it down first.’ “ [Bukhari, 2/284]

Light Upon Light

 

Allah made every act of worship performed in salaah/namaaz a means of atonement for the (minor) sins committed, and also rewarded them with a special light for praying. In fact, salaah brings forth

•light and strength into the heart,
•increases the share of one’s provision in this life,

•inspires others to love the one who prays, and
•lets Angels and also the earth with its mountains, trees and rivers rejoice..

On the day of Judgement, when the believing servants of Allah meet their Lord, their salaah shall turn into light and transform into reward.

(—• Ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah)

 

Start with Yourself First

 It’s befitting for the individual that when he makes du’a, he starts with himself first. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen, Sharh Alfiyyah Ibn Malik (p. 43)

Before We Criticise

We criticize people who might’ve been settled in heaven for more than 200 years! 
Yayha bin Ma’een, Siyar a’lam an-Nubala (v. 13, p. 268)

Benefits of Dhikr

Benefits of Dhikr:

• Repels Shaytan, and humiliates him.
• Pleasing to Allaah.
• Removes sorrows and heartaches.
• Brings happiness and optimism to the heart.
• Brightens the heart and face.
• Increases one’s sustenance and blessings.
• Causes one to grow closer in love to Allah.
• Opens up a door of dialogue between the servant and the Lord.
• When done in fortunate circumstances, it’s repaid by Allah remembering him in less fortunate circumstances.
• Causes its practitioner to be kind and loving to others.

Summary of Wabil as-Sayyib by Ibn al-Qayyim

Three Affairs

Shaykh bin baz (may Allah have mercy upon him) says: 

With a hardship there are 3 affairs;

• Being patient with it – It’s obligatory

• Being pleased with it – It’s Sunnah

• Being grateful for it – It’s most virtuous/best

‎[مجموع الفتاوى ١٣/٤١٣]