(From the lectures of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat)

The following is a beautiful example of an analogy used by our Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, often used by our respected Shaykh. Abu Musa Al- Ash’ari radhiyallaahu ‘anhu narrated that he had heard Allah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam saying,

“The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or at least you would smell its pleasant odour; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e. the blacksmith), he would either burn your clothes or at least you shall have to smell a repugnant smell”. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Shaykh lays great stress on keeping good company. Quoting the above hadith he explains that good company is like having a perfume seller for a friend from whom you will either get free perfume if he is a generous friend or at the least you will get the fragrance of musk in your clothes when you visit him. As for the friend who is a bad influence and described as the blacksmith, on visiting him, if one was not careful, one’s clothes would get burnt and if one was to be very careful, one’s clothes would be safeguarded from getting burnt however the repugnant smell would most definitely get in one’s clothes.

Entertaining Guests
Good and bad thoughts are like guests. If we entertain and treat guests with respect and show hospitality they will feel welcome and will incline to visit again. If they were to be made unwelcome or shown disrespect, they would not return. No self respecting person would return after being shown disrespect. So it is with thoughts which enter our hearts. If it is a good thought i.e. one feels inclined to perform salaat or give in charity, one should act on these good thoughts. If one was to ignore them, they may not reoccur. When beseeched by bad thoughts i.e. the whispers of Shaytaan or inclining toward sins, one should ignore them. In this case they will occur again and again as they are similar to guests who have no self respect, but eventually they will disappear.

Child’s play
The Nafs is not our enemy. It does not differentiate between good and bad as its objective is enjoyment. If enjoyment is in sin, it will pursue sin and if enjoyment is in worship it will pursue worship. The Shaytaan on the other hand is our open enemy. His objective is to make us disobedient to Allah subhaanahu wata’ala. He will never encourage us to do good since this will lead to the pleasure of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala.

The Nafs is like a child concerned only with having fun. A child running after a ball will not heed the danger of an oncoming car as its focus is on getting the ball. A child has to be trained to recognise and avoid danger and just as the child gets wiser and more intellectual with age, similarly the Nafs has to be controlled and trained and eventually it will find enjoyment in worship and obedience of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala and this is what it will pursue.

Beware of a Sleeping Snake
Once the nafs is trained one should not become complacent. Like a sleeping snake it cannot be trusted. On being prodded the snake will wake up and be just as dangerous as before.

The illuminated heart
Just as without light the cracks in the wall are not apparent, similarly without the noor (light) of Thikr (remembrance of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala) one’s shortcomings and faults will remain hidden.

Intentions
We tend to worry about the quantity of deeds while having no concern for their quality. More does not necessarily mean better. If a person was to blow up many balloons and pile them up in one corner of the room and in another corner if he was to place a few kilograms of rice, an onlooker will see the balloons in a massive heap while the rice will appear to be in a very small quantity. However if the rice and balloons were to be weighed, the rice will definitely outweigh the balloons.
The true weight in deeds is that of sincerity of intentions. We should worry about the quality of deeds and not just the quantity.

Effort is necessary for success
If a person wished to become a footballer but does not have control of the ball and due to people laughing he gave up he would never attain his goal. If he continues trying, eventually he will succeed. Similarly if one realises that one’s deeds are devoid of sincerity one should not give up the good deeds. One should continue with them and strive to attain sincerity by making Muhaasabah (taking an account) before, during and after the deed. If one finds any insincerity then one should repent and continue striving. Eventually the goal will be attained.