Haqq and Sabr

  ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab is reported to have said: “Remember the fire a great deal; for its heat is intense, its bottom is deep, and the stay therein is long.”   One of the Salaf said, “One of the punishments of bad deeds is more bad deeds, and one of the rewards of good deeds is more good deeds.“   Shurayh said: “If I am afflicted with a calamity, I praise Allaah for it four times: I praise Him because it wasn’t worse than it was, I praise Him when He gives me the patience to bear it, I praise Him for enabling me to say al-istirjâ’ (‘To Allaah we belong and to him we will return’; see Al-Baqarah: 154-156) in hope of a great reward, and I praise Him for not making it a calamity in my religion.”   Al-Qaasim Ibn Muhammad, the grandson of Aboo Bakr, said: “In my time the people were not impressed by speech, they were impressed by actions. Anyone can say whatever he wants.”   ‘Umar ibn Abdil-’Aziz said: “Become a scholar if you are able. If you are ...

  It is reported that Al-Ḥasan Al-Baṣrī said: Son of Ādam, you will never find the reality of īmān as long as you fault people for doing what you yourself are guilty of, until you clear yourself of that fault and correct it. Then, you will not correct a fault in yourself except that you will notice another, so your occupation will become correcting yourself, and this is the most beloved thing to Allāh, when you are like this.

  Here are some selected verses and hadiths to inspire us to maximize this glorious opportunity from our Lord. Enjoy!   "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know." (2:183-84)   Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. (Bukhari, Muslim).   Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan with...

  It is reported from Anas b. Sīrīn that he said:   It once reached us in Kūfā that Masrūq used to flee from the plague. Muḥammad denied this and said, “Let us go to his wife and ask her.” So we entered upon her and asked her about this, and she replied, “No, by Allāh, he never used to flee, but he would say, ‘These are days of preoccupation, so I like to be alone during them to worship.’ So he used to go aside and be alone to do worship. Sometimes, I would sit behind him and cry because of what I saw him doing to himself; he would pray so much that his feet would swell. I heard him say, ‘the plague, abdominal disease, postpartum bleeding and drowning: whoever dies during any of them will have it in his credit as martyrdom.'”   It is reported that Muʿādh b. Jabal – Allāh be pleased with him – said: “O people, there are four characteristics to come, whoever can avoid reaching them should do so.” [People] asked, “And what are they?” He replied, “There will come ...

    It is reported that Bakr b. ʿAbdillāh Al-Muzanī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:   If you want your ṣalāh to benefit you, say (to yourself): perhaps I will never pray another (my life will end before the next prayer).   It is reported that ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said: Fulfil what Allāh has obligated you to do and you will be from the most devout of people, stay away from what Allāh has forbidden you and you will be from the most careful of people, and be satisfied with what Allāh has apportioned for you and you will be from the richest of people.   It is reported that ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said: If you see a man amongst you having committed a sin, do not supplicate Allāh against him and do not revile him; instead, pray to Allāh to cure him and accept his repentance, for when we used to see a man die upon something good, we would have hope for him, and when we used to see a man die upon...