Recent Blog Entries

Aug

2018

Our Need for Allaah (the Most High)

posted by Seifeddine-M on 6th August 2018 - 0 comments

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله wrote, "You must know that a human's need for Allaah سبحانه و تعالى - that he worship Him and not associate any partner with Him - is a need concerning which there is no comparison that one can make an analogy to. In some matters, it resembles the need of the body for food and drink. However, there are many differences between the two. The reality of a human being is in his heart and soul. These cannot be prosperous except through [their relation] with Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, concerning whom there is no other god. There is [for example,] no tranquillity in this world except in His remembrance. Verily, man is heading toward his Lord and he shall meet Him. He must definitely meet Him. There is no true goodness for him except in meeting Him. [2] If the human experiences any pleasure or happiness other than in Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, that joy and happiness will not endure. It will move from one nature to another or from one person to another. The person will enjoy it at one time or only some of the time. In fact, sometimes the thing he enjoys and gets pleasure from does not bring him pleasure or enjoyment. Sometimes it even hurts him when it comes to him. And he is even more harmed by that. But his God is definitely always with him under every circumstance and at all times. Wherever he is, He is with him [by His knowledge and aid] ... If someone worships anything other than Allaah سبحانه و تعالى - even if he loves it and attains some love in this world and some form of pleasure from that - [that false worship] will destroy the person in a way greater than the harmful displeasure that comes to a person who ate poison ...

Aug

2014

Be in the World As If You Were a Stranger or a Traveler Along a Path

posted by Seifeddine-M on 7th August 2014 - 1 comment

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path." [1] This hadith shows that a believer should have one of two attitudes toward this world. The first is that of a stranger in a strange land. He feels that he is in a place where he does not belong. This is not his home and he cannot feel entirely happy here. His heart can never be tied to this land. Instead, his heart and mind are preoccupied with getting back to his home. His time and his efforts are filled with that purpose. He is spending his time, money and capabilities to gather together what he needs to return to his home. His time is not spent or wasted on entrenching himself deeply in this environment to which he knows that he does not belong.

Nov

2012

Categories of People Regarding the Worldy Life

posted by Seifeddine-M on 12th November 2012 - 0 comments

Shaykh Ahmad Fareed said, "The censuring of this world is not with respect to the place of the world, which is the Earth, or what is placed in it of mountains, rivers and mines. All of that is part of the bounties of Allah سبحانه و تعالى upon His servants as they contain many beneficial things for them. They are aspects for reflection and indicators of the oneness of the Creator and of His power and greatness. The censuring and the blame is with respect to the acts that humans do in the world as most of those acts are not done in the proper fashion that leads to praiseworthy results... With respect to the world, humans are divided into two categories: First are those who reject the idea that for the humans there is an abode after this world for reward and punishment... The only concern for those people is enjoying this world and taking advantage of its pleasures before they die, as Allah سبحانه و تعالى has said, "Those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be their abode." (47:12)

Nov

2012

The Bounty Of Thankfulness Is "Greater" Than The Wordly Bounty Itself

posted by Seifeddine-M on 4th November 2012 - 0 comments

Many humans receive numerous bounties from Allah سبحانه و تعالى, yet they do not recognise that these bounties come from Allah سبحانه و تعالى. They, obviously, then do not give thanks and gratitude to Allah سبحانه و تعالى for these bounties. They receive their worldly bounties and blessings but they are missing an aspect that is much more important.

There are other individuals who have been further blessed and guided by Allah سبحانه و تعالى. These are the ones who recognise that these bounties have come from Allah سبحانه و تعالى. In return, they give thanks to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. These people also receive their portion of worldly blessings from Allah سبحانه و تعالى. However, in addition, they have recieved this religious blessing from Allah سبحانه و تعالى: being guided to giving thanks and having gratitude toward Allah سبحانه و تعالى. This religious blessing is much more important than any worldly blessing. This will last them beyond this life and into the Hereafter.

In fact, every worldly blessing that is not accompanied with thanks to Allah سبحانه و تعالى is a calamity. If Allah سبحانه و تعالى blesses a person and guided him to thanking Allah سبحانه و تعالى for a bounty that he has received, that act of thankfulness is better than that worldly bounty and more beloved to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Allah سبحانه و تعالى is pleased with the attribute of thankfulness and gratitude. And He bestows it as a special grace from Himself to whomsoever He wills. [Ibn Rajab رحمه الله: Jaami' al-'Uloom wal Hikam]

The result is that the person will realise that his act of thankfulness to Allah سبحانه و تعالى is yet another bounty that Allah سبحانه و تعالى has bestowed upon him. He, therefore, should strive once again to thank Allah سبحانه و تعالى for that bounty also. This continual realisation will make Allah سبحانه و تعالى more beloved in the heart of the human and will make him try to please and be grateful to Allah سبحانه و تعالى to the best of his ability. [Zarabozo: Commentary on the 40 Hadith of an-Nawawi رحمه الله]