Messages From Quran
( أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُۖ فَبِهُدَىٰهُمُ ٱقۡتَدِهۡۗ )
“Those were the people God guided, ‘[Prophet], follow the guidance they received.”
Oh Allah!
I do not pray to You as You deserve,
I do not fast as Dawood used to do,
I do not endure when falling ill as Ayoub did,
I do not glorify and praise You as Yunus glorified and praised You into the belly of the whale,
I do not take my religion as firmly as Yahiya did,
I did not lower my gaze as Yusuf lowered all his organs,
I am not tolerant to the degree of saying: Go you are free,
But I am like all of them love you, Oh Allah.
( وَرُسُلٗا لَّمۡ نَقۡصُصۡهُمۡ عَلَيۡكَۚ)
“And also to some, We have not (mentioned to you).”
If people ignore your favour, do not feel sad;
It is enough that Allah knows who you are!
Knowing Noah (peace be upon him) increases nothing in his scale,
And ignoring other Prophets, whom Allah did not tell us anything about, decreases nothing in their scales.
The army of Haroun Ar-Rahid included twenty thousand Mujahid, who did not record their names in the Registry of Soldiers. So they did not take their salaries, for the purposes that no one would know them but Allah.
As-Saib bin Al-Aqra’ announced to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab the martyrs among Muslims in Nahawind Battle. He mentioned some names of noble people among the martyrs, then said: “And others among low-status people that the Commander of the Believers does not know.” ‘Umar wept and said: “This does not harm them that ‘Umar does not know them. Indeed Allah knows them!”
( إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ )
“For good things drive bad away”
Whenever you sin, say to yourself:
I have lost a battle, but I did not lose the war.
Do not despair, and repair your soul with Wudu and offering two Rak’ah.
Count Istighfar (i.e. asking for Allah’s forgiveness) on the same fingers that sinned.
Recite the Qur’an with the eye that looked at the unlawful.
The groan of the repentant is like the supplication of the obedient before Allah.
He named Himself Al-Ghafoor (the All-Forgiving) for that He wants you to get back to Him in repentance.
( بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ )
“Truly, man is a clear witness against himself”
Praise of the praisers does not benefit you,
If they have praised you for what is not in you.
And criticism of the criticizers does not harm you,
If they have criticized you for what is not in you.
Whatever righteousness of man is, he will for sure have haters,
Even Prophets were not beloved by all people.
And whatever immorality of man is, he will for sure have lovers,
Even Pharaoh and Nimrud were beloved by some people.
Mutraf bin Abdullah said: Imam Malik asked me:
What do people say about me?
I said: Your friends praise you, and your enemies criticize you.
He said: People are still in this state. We seek refuge with Allah from the union of all people’s tongues.
He sought refuge from being praised by all people so that he would not feel arrogance.
He also sought refuge from being criticized by all people so that he would have something of what they say.
Death is not the End of the Story;
It is the Beginning
( وَآتَاكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ)
“And given you some of everything you asked Him for”
He is Allah!
Who has come to Him afraid and He does not secure him?
Who has come to Him broken and He does not repair him?
Who has come to Him seeking help and He does not help him?
Who has come to Him sad and He does not please him?
Who has come to Him confused and He does not guide him?
Just choose the times during which supplications are answered, and set your demands and needs before His Door.
Come to Him during the last third part of the night; arrows of supplications after standing up for the night prayer do not go in vain.
Put your trust in your Lord; for empty hands stretched to Him do for sure return full.
And before all of this, let all your food be lawful.
It was reported in the Hadith: “Purify your food (from unlawful gains) so that your supplications will be answered.”
( عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا )
“But maybe our Lord will give us something better in its place”
Turn off the fire of your sorrow on any opportunity you lost,
Or any job you missed,
Or any loved one left you on the middle of the way,
Or any friend you see only his beautiful side, and then you find that this is just a mask for an offensive wolf.
What Allah has taken from you is for wisdom,
And what Allah has given you is mercy.
If you know the wisdom, express gratitude to Allah;
And if you ignored it, be patient.
All fates of Allah are good even if they caused you to suffer.
( وَقَاسَمَهُمَا إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ )
“And he swore to them, ‘I am giving you sincere advice’”
It did not come to the minds of Adam and Eve that someone may swear by Allah falsely.
But Iblis did so!
As for his advice, it was that he changed names of the objects.
It was the Tree of Disobedience,
But he named it the Tree of Eternity.
Evil people follow the steps of Iblis until this day.
They name the wine as a spiritual drink,
Nakedness as fashion,
Obscenity as civilization,
And adultery as open-mindedness.
So do not be deceived by names whenever they have been changed.
(وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ)
“Hurry towards your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth prepared for the righteous”
“Hurry” because death does not wait.
Tomorrow I will repent, tomorrow I will set a program for reading, and tomorrow I will follow a diet …
Tomorrow comes and we execute nothing of what we have intended.
As for long hope, all of us think that death is far!
By the way, those who die now were thinking the same for just a minute.
Hurry, for delaying just some moments may cost you a whole age.
And speaking of which,
As-Sunabehi says: We got out from Yemen migrating to Medina to meet the Prophet (peace be upon him). When we reached Medina, it was said to us:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) died for three nights.
Delay for only five nights deprived them of the honour of being among the Prophet’s Companions.
So Hurry Up; maybe a delay of an hour deprives you of Paradise.
( كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ )
“Every soul is certain to taste death: We test you all through the bad and the good, and to Us, you will all return”
Death is the cup from which all people will drink:
The believer and the immoral, the Prophet and the tyrant, the Jinn and the Angels;
No one but Allah will remain.
On the contrary, it (death) is just the beginning!
Sufficient is the death as an admonisher!
Abu Nawwas, the well-known poet who used to drink the wine much, had a righteous neighbour.
That neighbour used to call him to Allah and to leave drinking wine.
When this neighbour died, Abu Nawwas walked into his funeral.
When he stood before his grave, Abu Nawwas said:
Today you are more admonishing than when you were alive.
It means all the words you were advising me with,
Equal nothing as admonition besides seeing you in your grave.
( وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ )
“Seek help with steadfastness and prayer– though this is hard indeed for anyone but the humble”
This world is for planting not for harvest.
It is for testing not for reward.
Among Allah’s tests to His servants that He afflicts them with calamities:
Losing loved ones is a calamity.
Losing property is a calamity.
Bad neighbours, immoral husbands and wrongful managers are all calamities.
He who shows patience has passed the test.
And he who discontents has failed in the test.
No man will be saved from being afflicted by a calamity, even Prophets; their calamities were the severest.
The Historians and Biographers narrate:
When Dhul-Qarnain reached Babel, he was afflicted by a severe illness. He knew that this was a dead illness. His mother came to his mind and he wanted to relieve pain from her heart and strengthen her. So he sent her a great ram and recommended that when he dies, she should slaughter this ram, then cook it, and then invite to it those who have never been afflicted by any calamity or who have never missed a beloved one. When he died, she carried out his will, but the surprise was that no one came as there was no house free of a calamity or missing a beloved person. So she understood the message of her son and supplicated for him saying: “May Allah have mercy on you! You have been dutiful to me during life and after death.”
( يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ )
“Zachariah, We bring you good news”
His bones have weakened,
His hair was ashen grey,
And his wife was barren.
He knew that causes judge people,
But do not judge Allah Glory be to Him.
So he raised his hands, supplicating:
(فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا)
“So grant me a successor––a gift from You.”
Yet the answer came to him:
(يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ)
“Zachariah, We bring you good news of a son.”
He who attaches his heart to causes, Allah leaves him to them.
And he who attaches his heart to Allah, Allah creates causes to him!
( فَادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ )
“So enter the gates of Hell. There you will remain– the home of the arrogant is evil indeed.”
Hearts are afflicted by diseases like bodies.
Remedy of body diseases is easier than remedy of heart diseases.
Among the fatal diseases afflicting the heart is arrogance;
That is a man considers himself better than others,
Due to wealth, he obtained a certificate he gained or a job he occupied.
There is arrogance behind which there are no personal advantages; and this is the worst kind of arrogance!
In the Hadith: No one will enter Paradise who has even a mustard seed’s weight of arrogance in his heart!
It was a tradition of the righteous that they were immediately treating any feeling of arrogance they find within their hearts.
The great companion Abdullah bin Salam passed by the market carrying a bunch of firewood.
It was said to him: Has not Allah granted you wealth?
He said: Yes, but I want to oppress the arrogance.
( وَعَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَيِّ الْقَيُّومِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًا )
“And [all] faces a will be humbled before the Living, Ever Watchful One. Those burdened with evil deeds will despair.”
Allah does not hate anything more than injustice except polytheism.
Manifestation of Allah’s hatred to the oppression and the oppressor:
He answers the supplication of the oppressed disbeliever over the oppressing Muslim;
Not because He loves the disbeliever and hates the Muslim,
But because he loves the justice and hates the injustice!
Ibn Taimiah said: Allah brings victory to the just disbelieving country over the unjust believing country!
A man wrote to ‘Umar bin Abdul-Aziz saying: Write to me the whole knowledge.
‘Umar wrote to him: Knowledge is much, but if you can meet Allah with a light back from the blood of people, an empty stomach from their wealth, restraining your tongue from their honour, and adhering to the command of their unity, then do so. Peace be upon you!
( ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ )
“And turned away and behaved arrogantly”
There is a big difference between a man committing a sin out of weakness while being broken and a man sinning while belittling it arrogantly.
A man committing a sin and replies when advising him:
Supplicate for me, my desire has overcome me, the Satan has whispered to me and my self has beautified the sin to me,
Such person differs from a man committing a sin and replies when advising him:
What is the problem? It is one life, so enjoy it, oh man!
The first’s return to Allah is easy as his problem is within his organs,
But the second’s return to Allah is difficult as his problem is within his heart.
Sufyan bin ‘Uyainah used to say:
He whose sin lies in his desire, hopes the good for him,
And he whose sin lies in arrogance, fear on him;
Adam peace be upon him disobeyed out of desire, and Allah forgave him,
While Iblis disobeyed out of arrogance, and Allah cursed him!
( وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ)
“Do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice.”
Intense hatred is destructive,
Intense love is destructive.
Yusuf (peace be upon him) was afflicted with both of them.
As for intense hatred; it was a reason for throwing him into well.
And as for intense love; it was a reason for putting him in jail.
Sometimes we cannot control our hearts,
But we are commanded to achieve justice in case of both hatred and love.
Do not turn the evil deeds of those you love into good deeds,
And do not turn the good deeds of those you hate into evil deeds.
Be just and put things into their proper places.
Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Warraq reported: We came to Imam Ahmed who said to us: From where do you come?
We said: From the assembly of Abo Kuraib.
He said: He is a righteous Sheikh, so write about him.
We said: But he slanders you.
Then he replied: He is a righteous Sheikh afflicted with me.
( وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ * إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ )
“On that Day there will be radiant faces,
Looking towards their Lord”
The most beautiful bliss of Paradise is not the Houris,
However this is a beautiful thing!
It is not also its rivers,
However it is a fascinating thing!
But it is looking towards Allah the Al-Mighty.
When People of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah will say to them: Do you want anything more?
They will say: Have not You let us enter Paradise, whitened our faces and saved us from Fire?
Then the veil will be lifted from Allah’s Noble Face; nothing given to them is more beloved than looking towards their Lord Glory be to Him!
( وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَا أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَا أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا مَا يُنفِقُونَ )
“And there is no blame attached to those who came to you [Prophet] for riding animals and to whom you said, ‘I cannot find a mount for you’: they turned away with their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they had nothing they could contribute”
Abo Laila and Abdullah bin Maghfal came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the Day of Tabuk to give each of them a horse to share in Jihad on it.
When he told them that he had nothing to give them,
They returned back weeping.
This weeping was because of missing an act of obedience!
Then what about their weeping when committing disobedience?!
This is the state of the true believer.
He finds it difficult that the doors between him and Allah are closed!
This is regarding a good deed he seeks to perform,
And then for some reason, he cannot perform it.
So what is the matter if he feels he gets away from Allah due to a sin he committed?!
( وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ )
“Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not wish that God should forgive you? God is most forgiving and merciful.”
The most beloved manner that Allah loves from His servant,
It is the manner that Allah Glory be to Him has chosen for Himself.
And as Allah loves forgiveness and pardoning,
His love to those who forgive and pardon is greater than His love for others.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) one day urged to give charity;
There was a poor person called ‘Ulbah bin Zaid; he did not have anything to give to charity.
So he stood up and said: Oh Messenger of Allah! I have given charity by forgiving all those who wronged me!
On the following day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: Where is ‘Ulbah bin Zaid?
He stood up and said: Here I am, Oh Messenger of Allah.
Then the Prophet said to him: Allah has accepted your charity.
( قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ )
“My son, I have seen myself sacrificing you in a dream”
One of the hardest trials in the history of humankind;
A great, old man, who was deprived of children for years
When he was provided with a son and his heart became attached to him,
A Command (from Allah) to sacrifice his son was revealed to him!
He did not hesitate or slow down!
He knew that visions of Prophets are a revelation,
So he hurried up to execute Allah’s Command; however, this command was against his desire.
That is exactly why Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was a Ummah (a whole nation).
Allah the Al-Mighty was first in his heart, even before himself.
Allah’s Glory be to Him is too Merciful to decree upon his friend to sacrifice his son, but when the heart of Ibrahim was greatly attached to Isma’il (peace be upon them), Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son.
There are hearts that Allah is jealous to have anyone else share a place in.
The demand was slaughtering the desire of Ibrahim towards Isma’il.
( وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَّنثُورًا )
“And We shall turn to the deeds they have done and scatter them like dust”
It was reported in the book “Bahr Ad-Dimoo'” for Ibn Al-Gawzi that Saeed bin Jubair said: On the Day of Judgment, the servant will be brought and given his book (of his deeds). He will not see his prayer, his fasting or any of his good deeds.
He will say: My Lord, this is the book of someone else! I had good deeds not recorded in this book.
Allah will say to Him: Your Lord does not error or forget. Your good deeds have been removed due to backbiting others.
Therefore beware of worshipping Allah for others’ sake: Beware that your good deeds go for someone you broke his heart, took his wealth wrongfully, assaulted his honour, or stole his job!
( وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ )
“Believers, all of you, turn to God so that you may prosper”
Ibn Al-Qayem (may Allah show mercy on him) used to say:
The best day of a servant at all is the day when he returns to Allah in repentance.
It was reported:
If a servant repented, a caller would announce that so-and-so has reconciled with his Lord.
If a man had a beloved one and some disputes occurred between them, he would follow all means to reconcile with him to return to their previous state. And it is more worthy to seek Allah’s Pleasure.
If you commit a deed that scratches Allah’s love within your heart,
Then follow various means to attain His Pleasure.
Sometimes with giving charity and other times with Istighfar (asking for Allah’s Forgiveness), prayer and reciting the Qur’an!
When seeking reconciliation with a nobleman, he would accept it;
Then how about Allah, the Most Merciful of the Merciful?!
( قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ ۖ )
“Here is a joy to behold for me and for you”
That is what Asia bint Muzahim said to her husband Pharaoh about Moses (peace be upon him).
Pharaoh said to her: A joy to you; as for me I am in no need to him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said commenting on this incident:
By the One we swear by! If Pharaoh admitted that Moses would be a joy to him as her wife admitted, Allah would guide him as he guided her. But Allah deprived him.
Fate is attached to the spoken words, so think of and hope for the good and you will get it.
A man who gets a job, while thinking deeply that it bears misfortune for him, will be so!
And a man marrying while thinking that this marriage would be a losing deal, it will be as he said!
So think and speak well;
For a man may be afflicted by (spoken words of) his tongue!
( قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ )
“Say, ‘Praise belongs to God!’ Truly, most of them do not use their reason”
If you notice Allah’s description of most of people in the Qur’an, you will find that He say about them:
Do not know, do not express gratitude, and do not use their reason.
In return, our Lord says:
(وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ)
“Few of my servants are truly thankful.”
So do not incline to people much;
Perform what is dutiful on you and ask Allah for what is for you.
Imam Ahmed said to Hatem Al-Asam: What is the way to find safety from people?
He replied: That is to give them your wealth without taking from theirs, not to harm them when they harm you, and to fulfill their needs without assigning them to fulfill any of your needs.
Imam Ahmed said: This is too hard, oh Hatem!
Hatem said to him: And you might not be safe!
( وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ * هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ )
“Do not yield to any contemptible swearer,
To any backbiter, slander-monger”
Backbiting separates groups and destroys relationships.
And how much are the backbiters?
If a man speaks well about another man while being absent,
You rarely find someone informing (that absent man) about that!
But if a man speaks ill about another man while being absent,
Many people seek to deliver this news to him!
In the past, righteous people used to close doors before the faces of the backbiters.
Al-Fadl bin ‘Ayash said: While I was with Wahb bin Monbeh, a man came and told him: I passed by so-and-so and he was slandering you.
Wahb said to him: Did not Satan find any messenger other than you?
So do not messengers of the Satan!
(وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ)
“When We told the angels, ‘Bow down before Adam,’ they all bowed. But not Iblis, who refused and was arrogant:
He was one of the disobedient”
Iblis’s rejection of the prostration that Allah has commanded to perform was a cause of expelling him from Allah’s Mercy!
But if we meditated on the state of Iblis and the state of a person leaving prayer,
We will be astonished!
Iblis refused to prostrate to Adam,
And a person leaving prayer refuses to prostrate to the Lord of Adam.
Glory be to Allah! How much is He Merciful and Forbearing on this Ummah!
He calls His servants to return to Him by day and night;
No matter how great the sin, how severe the disobedience or how long the abandonment!
( وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ )
“Do not turn your nose up at people”
yahia bin Mou’een says:
I have never seen anyone like Ahmed bin Hanbal.
I accompanied him for fifty years and he never boasted over us of anything he had of righteousness and goodness.
He (Ahmed bin Hanbal) (may Allah show mercy on him) used to say:
We are poor people, so be modest.
Wealth that makes you arrogant is poverty!
A science that makes you arrogant is ignorance!
A position that makes you a tyrant is degeneration!
A strength that makes you an oppressor is weakness!
Richness, power and science are characteristics of the modest!
( وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ )
“Bear anything that happens to you steadfastly: these are things to be aspired to”
In this world, we live according to Allah’s fate.
The illness afflicted you, you could not avoid it.
The death befell your beloved one would occur no matter how hard you tried to prevent it.
The job you missed, you will for sure miss it even if you wipe the shoes of your boss every day.
See how the Prophet (peace be upon him) soothes the hearts by his saying:
Know that what has come to you could not miss you and that what has missed you could not come to you.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: If we are not tested in what we love, our reward will be reduced. Allah is the Most Generous! He afflicts the servant with what he dislikes to reward him!
( وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ )
“Do not walk about the place arrogantly, for God does not love arrogant or boastful people”
Imam Ahmed once went to the market in Baghdad, bought a bunch of firewood and carried it on his shoulders.
When people saw him, they hurried up to him; people left their shops and the passer-by stopped, and all of them went to greet him. They asked him to carry the firewood on his behalf.
Imam Ahmed’s face became red and his eyes filled with tears, and said:
We are poor. If it were not for Allah’s cover, we would be exposed!
Ahmed bin Hanbal learned modesty from the Prophet (peace be upon him):
He knew that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to milk his sheep, mend his sandals, sew his clothes, and race with his wife ‘Aisha. When his companions divided the work for slaughtering a sheep, one of them said, ‘I will slaughter it,’ and another said, ‘I will skin it.’ Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘And I will gather the firewood.’
( مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ )
“He does not utter a single word without an ever-present watcher.”
The angles do not only write down what you orally say to people,
But they also write down what you say on social media.
A good word is to be registered in a paper of good deeds,
And the evil word is to be registered in the paper of bad deeds.
All that you write on social media will remain even after your death.
So if your posts do not contain a running charity,
At least do not leave behind a running sin!
( لَا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا )
“For you cannot know what new situation God may perhaps bring about”
Incidents become narrow around man until he thinks that there is not way-out from them,
But then relief comes from Allah Glory be to Him!
Who thought that Hajar who was running between Safa and Marwah (Mountains) searching for water, Zamzam Water, would burst between her son’s feet?!
This water was not only for them to drink, but people would drink from it until the Day of Judgment!
Thus Allah changes matters in the blink of an eye.
Adversity is cut off; it does not last forever.
Ibn Al-Qayem said:
All of us have faced severe moments, expecting them the end,
But all of this has now become just memories!
So do not despair and put your trust in your Lord,
For the greatest worship is waiting for Allah’s Relief!
( إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ )
“Joseph said to his father, ‘Father, I dreamed of eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them all bow down before me”
Think carefully about it: To his father!
Know where to put your secret.
Not every man can be trusted.
And not every matter can be exposed.
Do not mix entirely with people,
And leave something of yours to yourself!
( قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا)
“Lord, my bones have weakened and my hair is ashen grey”
All reasons were standing against Zachariah (peace be upon him).
He wished a son, but all ways were closed;
His bones were weakened, his hair was ashen grey, and his wife was barren!
So from where a son may come in presence of all these blocks?!
But Zachariah (peace be upon him) knew that Allah is the Omnipotent.
When he freed his heart from being attached to reasons,
When he saw reasons nothing besides the Power of Allah Glory be to Him,
And when he attached his heart to his Lord Alone,
This beautiful call came to him:
( يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ)
Zachariah, We bring you good news of a son whose name will be John.
He who deals with Allah with certainty, Allah will subject the miracles to him!
( فَافْسَحُوا يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ )
“Then do so, and God will make room for you”
This verse was revealed regarding making room for one another in assemblies,
But it bears more than this meaning and offers a greater reward.
Whoever eases (the burden) for someone in hardship, Allah will ease (his burden).
Whoever mends a broken heart, Allah will mend his heart.
Whoever pleases a heart, Allah will please his heart.
Whoever relieves a pain, Allah will relieve his pain.
Whoever wipes a tear (of someone), Allah will wipe his tears.
No one is generous and loyal more than Allah Glory be to Him.
Acts of kindness protect from bad incidents!
( وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا )
“And they will each return to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone”
You will be alone!
Without the wealth you have gathered,
Without the high position you have occupied,
Without the large family, you were taking protection from.
You, your deeds and Allah only!
When King Suliman Al-Qanony was lying on his death bed, he said to people around him: When I die, get my hands out of the coffin so that people would know even the king gets out of the world with empty hands.
There is no problem to work for your world,
But without forgetting your Hereafter!
There is no problem to beautify your house,
But without forgetting your grave!
( قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ )
“Small thanks you give!”
A righteous man was bald, leprous, blind, and of paralyzed hands and feet.
However, he used to say: Praise be to Allah Who has saved me from what He has afflicted many of His creation.
A man passed by him and said: You are bald, leprous, blind and paralyzed; from which He has saved you?!
He replied: Oh man! He has given me a tongue remembering Him, a heart thanking Him, and a body enduring the affliction!
Unfortunately, many people think that only wealth is the bliss deserving thanking Allah for it.
They forget the eyes that see while there are blind people in the world.
They forget hands that give and take while there are paralyzed people in the world.
They forget legs that walk while there are disabled people in the world.
So praises be to You, Our Lord!
( لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍ )
“You will progress from stage to stage”
Your circumstances change from one state to another.
After distress comes relief.
After illness comes health.
After sadness comes happiness.
After separation comes a meeting.
This world does not remain on one state at all.
Through which people turn between poverty and richness, health and illness, distress and relief, and separation and meeting.
And the pleased among people is the one keeping with Allah at all states!
( قَالَ سَآوِي إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ ۚ )
“But he replied, ‘I will seek refuge on a mountain to save me from the water.’”
The man brought up in the Prophet’s house was drowned in the flood.
And the man brought up in the Pharaoh’s house split the sea with his stick.
What matters is not where you live, but it is how to live.
What matters is not the beginning, but it is the ending!
( وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ )
“He made me blessed wherever I may be”
What matter is not where you are, but it is how you are.
The true essence of (man) is not changed by time;
Richness, position and certificates increase his modesty!
While evil man remains so, whether he is a shoe-shiner or a minister!
In prison, people said to Yusuf:
“إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ”
We can see that you are a knowledgeable man.
And when being on a chair of the king, they also said to him:
“إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ”
We can see that you are a knowledgeable man.
A noble man remains so wherever he is!
( فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ )
“She struck her face and said, ‘A barren old woman”
This is Sara whom the angles gave her glad tiding with Ishaq!
She struck her face out of astonishment as she was a barren old woman.
A woman who gave birth during her youth will not for sure give birth in old age.
Then how about her who was unable to give birth during her youth?!
You may look now at your position and state,
Saying: Oh God, how wishes can be achieved?
But trust that if your Lord intends good for you, He will bring it to you even through your enemy!
( وَاللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الرِّزْقِ )
“God has given some of you more provision than others”
Allah does not grant wealth to the disobedient out of weakness,
And He does not deprive the obedient of wealth out of poverty,
But the world is the house of testing!
Allah’s glory be to Him grants for wisdom and deprives for wisdom.
What is fated to you will come to you, even if the whole world stands to prevent it from reaching you.
And what is not fated to you will not come to you, even if the whole world supports you to get it.
The pens are lifted and the pages are dried!
( يَا يَحْيَىٰ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ )
“John, hold on to the Scripture firmly.”
It is not firmness of hand or body,
But it is firmness of heart and faith.
And you too: Hold on to the Book firmly!
Be firm in your belief and be steadfast in your faith.
If all people are inclined, stay firm!
And if all people regress, do not abandon your righteousness!
This religion will win with or without you!
It is you alone who will lose if the caravan passes without you!
( الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا)
“Wealth and children are the attractions of this worldly life”
A world with money is easier,
And with children is more beautiful.
But meditate on the accuracy of expression in the verse: Attraction, not Value.
Man is valued by what he knows not by what he owns,
With what was in his heart not with what was in his pocket,
With his affection not with his sovereignty,
And with his gentleness not with his cruelty!
Do not be like those who envied Qarun for his wealth,
And when the earth swallowed him and his house, people realized the reality.
So realize it earlier!
( لا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ )
“Do not consider it a bad thing for you [people];
It was a good thing”
Allah’s Gentle Kindness flows while we are unaware!
Within every affliction that occurs to us, there is goodness that we will discover later.
If the ship mentioned in Chapter of the Cave was not holed, the king would take it by force and so the poor would lose the source of their sustenance!
And if the young boy was not killed, he would be wretched and so would be his parents!
And if the wall had not been established, right of the two orphans would have been lost!
Therefore put your trust in Allah, for the Lord of goodness brings nothing but goodness!
( يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ )
“He runs everything, from the heavens to the earth”
Allah runs and manages everything, so from what are you worried?
Healing of the disease afflicted you is from Allah,
Settling the debt that overwhelmed you is from Allah,
Removing of the worry burdened you is from Allah,
And relieving of the distress disturbed you is from Allah.
So turn to Him all the time!
The generous among people fulfills people’s needs;
Then how about Allah?!
( هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ )
“This is what you were promised––this is for everyone who turned often to God and kept Him in mind”
The word (Awwab) linguistically is an exaggerated expression.
In the dictionary, it means the one who often turns to Allah in repentance.
The context of the verse says:
If the person did not commit many sins, he would not turn much to Allah in repentance.
Beware of enlarging your sin before the Mercy of Allah!
And in return beware of belittling your sin before Allah’s Punishment!
Balance between hope and fear;
Hope of His Mercy and fear of His punishment Glory be to Him.
And beware that Satan makes you shy of your sin, turning you away from your Lord!
He has named Himself Al-Ghafoor (the Oft-Forgiving) due to that we commit sins and He repents on us!
If you commit a thousand sins a day,
Then turn to Allah in repentance a thousand times!
Whoever Attaches His Heart To Causes,
Allah Will Leave Him To Them;
And Whoever Attaches His Heart To Allah,
Allah Will Subject The Causes To Him!
( ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا )
“This is an account of your Lord’s grace towards His servant, Zachariah”
Zachariah (peace be upon him) was just a carpenter in the sight of people,
But in the sight of Allah, he was a Prophet and Messenger.
Your value is not determined through your job or certificate,
It is determined according to your value before Allah!
It was reported in the Hadith that every Prophet had worked as a shepherd.
The companions asked: And you, Messenger of Allah?
The Prophet replied: Yes, I used to be a shepherd for the people of Quraysh for a payment of some Qirats.
So do not be ashamed of your job or position.
As long as you eat from lawful earnings, be proud of yourself!
( الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ )
“Those who followed him in the hour of adversity”
This verse was revealed about the Prophet’s companions during the battle of Tabuk.
It was the hardest among the Prophet’s battles.
It was the battle of the furthest distance.
It was during summer; the heat was severe and the desert was blazing.
Its army was named the Army of Adversity as there was no money to prepare it; however, Allah has named all these hardships the hour of Adversity.
Time passes quickly,
Days change like the wind,
What remains of the obedience is its reward,
And what remains of the disobedience is its punishment.
The righteous used to recommend each other during time of adversity, saying:
These are just days that will pass and the appointment will be Paradise!
( مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ )
“To whoever, male or female, does good deeds and has faith, We shall give a good life”
Saeed bin Jubair said:
The good life is that Allah does not make you in need to people.
This is a beautiful meaning, but the verse bears more.
The good life does not mean not to be afflicted with disease or poverty.
It does not also mean to be of great honor and position.
But it is to be content with Allah’s fate whatever it is;
Discontentment of Allah’s fate is wretchedness, fatigue and adversity.
When Allah grants you contentment of all His fates,
Making you thankful during times of prosperity and patient during times of adversity,
Then He has given you a good life!
( لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ )
“We create man in the finest state”
“In the finest state” does not mean handsome and blond,
But in a body which is a miracle in its functions.
Beauty and wealth are means of sustenance; Allah has distributed them among His creation for wisdom.
Luqman al-Hakim (the wise) was a slave from Nubia,
Bilal bin Rabah was of black skin,
But this harmed them nothing!
What benefit that handsomeness and beauty provides for people of immoral hearts who will be burnt in Fire!
So do not mock the shape or body of anyone;
You did not create yourself:
If you do not respect the creation, respect the Creator!
Do not lead anyone to hate his shape and body due to you want to laugh and joke.
Tongue sometimes is more effective than a sword strike.
( خُلِقَ الْإِنسَانُ مِنْ عَجَلٍ )
“Man was created hasty”
This is the way we have created; we do not bear waiting!
Even old people are like children; when being promised something, they ask about it every minute.
So discipline this manner of hastiness with patience.
There are many things that the hasty person misses due to his hastiness.
Al-Dhahabi narrates in “Biographies of the Nobles” that Ja’far bin Abu ‘Uthman said:
We were gathered at Yahia bin Mu’een when a hasty man came and said: Oh Abu Zachariah, tell me something that I will remember you with.
Yahia said to him: Remember that you have asked me to tell you something and I did not do so.
He intended to tell him that knowledge is not given to hasty person!
( وَمَا آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ )
“Though only a few believed with him”
It is Sheikh of the Messengers Noah (peace be upon him);
He kept calling his people (to Allah) for thousand years except for fifty years, though only a few believed in him.
We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome!
For the way we pursued through, not the arrival!
It was reported in the Hadith that the Prophet comes with no one with him.
That is because every Prophet will be with his people on the Day of Judgment, and there are Prophets with whom no one believed!
Imam Al-Awza’i said: When ‘Ata’ bin Abi Rabah died, who was the most knowledgeable on earth, only nine people attended his gathering!
( ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ )
“[Prophet], call [people] to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good teaching”
No matter how right you are and how wrong the other person is,
No matter how guided you are and how misguided the other person is,
Morals come first!
A thief entered the house of Malik bin Dinar and found nothing to steal.
Thereupon Malik called him saying: You found nothing to take of worldly affairs. Do you want to take something for the Hereafter?
The thief replied: Yes.
Malik said to him: Perform ablution and offer two Rak’ah.
The thief did so, sat for sometimes and then went to the Masjid.
When Malik was asked about that man, he said: He came to steal us but we stole him!
( عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُ وَأَعْرَضَ عَن بَعْضٍ ۖ )
“He confirmed part of it, keeping the rest to himself”
Sometimes you have to adhere to silence, for some problems get worse due to speech!
Pretend that you do not know,
Act as if you did not see,
Behave as if you did not hear,
And receive as if you did not understand.
A man entered upon Caliph Al-Mahdi carrying a slipper and said:
Oh, Commander of the Faithful! This is the slipper of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Al-Mahdi took the slipper, kissed it, and gave the man ten thousand Dirhams.
When the man got out, Al-Mahdi said to people sitting with him: I know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not see or wear this slipper, but if we rejected that man he would tell people that he has given slipper of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to the caliph, and he did not take it!
( إِن تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِن تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُوا بِهَا ۖ )
“They grieve at any good that befalls you [believers] and rejoice at your misfortunes”
Rejoicing others’ afflictions is a characteristic of the hypocrites.
Wish goodness to people as if it were for you,
And hate harm to them as if it were for you.
Sra as-Saqti, the most knowledgeable during his time, said:
For thirty years, I am still seeking Allah’s forgiveness for my saying, “Praise be to Allah.”
People asked him: How is this?!
He said: A fire occurred in Baghdad and I got out to check my shop.
A man met me and told me that my shop had been saved.
I then said: Praise be to Allah.
And I am regretful since that time for seeking goodness for myself without considering others.
( وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ )
“The present world is only an illusory pleasure”
The world is temporary pleasure; this is its true nature for those who understand!
It is not a friend to anyone, and in the end it will abandon all people. The mindful is the person who abandons it before it abandons him.
When ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab went to Sham, he said to Abu ‘Ubaidah: Let’s go to your house.
He said to him: What do you want to do in my house? You want to weep on me?!
When ‘Umar entered his house, he asked: Where is your luggage? I see nothing here.
Abu ‘Ubaidah said: I have nothing except what you see.
‘Umar asked: Do you have food?
Abu ‘Ubaidah got pieces of bread out of a pot.
‘Umar wept and said: We all have been changed due to worldly affairs except you, oh Abu ‘Ubaidah. This happened while Abu ‘Ubaidah was the Commander of Muslims over Sham!
( فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ )
“And so he called upon his Lord, ‘I am defeated: help me!'”
Beware of the supplication of those who turn to none but Allah!
The poor worker whom you took his right wrongfully!
The brother whom you took his inheritance by force!
The neighbour whom you took over his land!
Maybe you sleep while such a person stands during the night, performs ablution and supplicates to Allah with this supplication of Noah (peace be upon him) so Allah accepts supplication of that wronged person and commands His angels to help His slave!
Ga’far Al-Barmaki asked his father while they were in prison:
Oh, my father! After the command, prohibition and wealth, we ended up in prison!
The father said to him: My son, this is the consequence of supplication of a wronged person; we neglected it but Allah did not neglect it!
( وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا )
“Speak good words to all people”
It is not in vain that a good word is charity!
It paves ways, repairs spirits and heals hearts!
“Who is active among you to gather Sahih (authentic Hadiths)?”
Ishaq bin Rahawiyah said this phrase in his assembly, and it affected the heart of al-Bukhari who gathered As-Sahih (authentic Hadiths).
“Your handwriting resembles that of scholars of Hadith.”
Al-Barazali said this phrase to his student Al-Dhahabi. Allah endeared to him the science of Hadith.
“What is your fortune in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), oh Shaf’i?”
The writer of Mus’ab Al-Zubairy said this to Al-Shaf’i who was interested in poetry. Due to this phrase, Al-Shaf’i has become a well-known scholar of Fiqh as we know! Imam Ahmed said about him:
“Al-Shaf’i is like a sun to the world and health to the people.”