“Today, the average American, if he experiences some problem, what does he do? He goes to the church! He has been avoiding church for such a long time, and now, he turns to Allah! The Jews said: ‘We will remove the concept of God from the minds of the Christians, and put in its place financial figures.’ Does the average American get up at night to pray to Allah – the Mighty and Exalted? Does he show his need to Allah during the morning hours? What does he do? That is why, if he is faced with a huge problem, he has no option in front of him, except to commit suicide. This is what he does in this life. However, in the Hereafter, {“…neither will it have a complete killing effect on them, so that they die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them…“} [Fatir; 36]

…By Allah, the crisis of the disbeliever and the rebellious sinner in this life and the next truly is a crisis! For us, when we are stricken with some problem, one of us gets up during the night, humiliating himself before Allah – the Mighty and Exalted – saying: ‘O Lord! Relieve me of this! O Lord! Make this easy! O Allah! Make for us a way out of every grief and sadness, and make for us a way out of every tight situation!” You supplicate! As for the American, and the Brit – where does he go? That is why their problems pile on top of each other, until this results in psychological complications: {“Verily, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be disgraced, just as those before them were disgraced.”} [al-Mujadilah; 5]

Complications and disgrace. That is why you see that they cannot arrive at anything. They walk around, eating, enjoying themselves, not knowing how to rid themselves of these pains that they are living in. So, they do not find anything but the path of alcohol, the path of drugs. These drugs, such as marijuana, that these Americans use, and heroin, etc. – this heroin costs $1,000 for a gram! A kilogram costs a million dollars! You constantly see them with a needle – a syringe, for their drug use…They cannot sleep! Constant anxiety, sadness! 54 million Americans – one quarter of the American population – suffers from mental and psychological problems. You see one of them, a millionaire, in the newspapers: ‘Such-and-such killed himself…threw himself in front of a train…put himself underneath a train…threw himself off of a rooftop…’ – all in order to rid himself of this anxiety and sadness. He can find no escape! Where will he go? There is no escape from Allah, except to Him!

…One time, one of the brothers from the Mujahidin in Palestine said to me: “A Communist from the PDFLP (People’s Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) and I were surrounded for three days by the Jews. Finally, when we felt impending doom upon us, as a result of our scarce food and water supply, he said: “Supplicate to your Lord.” I said: “No. You supplicate to Stalin, so that he could save us”” – the Muslim is sarcastically telling this Communist to pray to Stalin or Marx. The Communist replied: “Where is Marx? Where is Stalin?” So, the brother called out: “O Allah,” and Allah saved them.

And I have said to you that even these Russian Communists who descended upon the town of Jatral (a Pakistani border town, near Afghanistan) in their aircraft, it was said to them, by the locals: “What is it that frightens you most?” The Russians replied: “The Stinger missiles. However, we have memorized some texts from your holy book (the Qur’an) that were taught to us by the Afghans. We recite these texts, and we are saved from these Stingers.”

They recite the Qur’an in order to save themselves! Do Marx or Gorbachev save them?

{“…They invoke Allah, making their faith pure for Him, saying: ‘If You deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful.’”} [Yunus; 22]“

['Fi Dhilal Surat at-Tawbah'; p. 503-505]

It is not imagined that one can have noble character except if it is founded upon four pillars:

The First: Sabr (Patience)
The Second: ‘Iffah (Chastity)
The Third: Shujaa’ah (Courage)
The Fourth: ‘Adl (Justice)

Patience inspires him to be tolerant, control his anger, endure the harms that he receives from others, to be forbearing and deliberate in his decisions. It motivates him to be gentle and not to be rash or hasty.

Chastity inspires him to avoid every imprudent characteristic, whether in statement or action, and encourages him to have a sense of modesty and integrity which is the epitome of all good. It prevents him from fornication, stinginess, lying, backbiting and spreading tales to cause separation and discord between the people.

Courage inspires him to have a sense of self esteem, to emphasize high and noble manners and to make it apart of his natural disposition. It also encourages him to exert himself and to be generous, which is in essence, true courage and it leads to strong will and self determination. It encourages him to distance himself from his ardent lowly desires, to control his anger, and to be forbearing because by such, he can control his temper, take it by the reins and curb his violent and destructive behavior just as the Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“The Strong is not the one who can wrestle his opponent to the ground but rather the strong is the one who can control himself when he gets angry.” [Agreed upon]
This is true genuine courage and it is the sole trait that the slave utilizes to conquer his opponent.

Justice encourages him to be impartial in his behaviour with people and to be moderate between the two extremes of negligence and extremism. It motivates him to be generous and kind; which is the middle course between absolute degradation and arrogance, and to make this a part of his disposition and makeup. It encourages him to be courageous; which is the middle course between cowardice and imprudence, and to be forbearing; which is the middle course between extreme unnecessary anger and ignominy.

These four virtuous characteristics are the axis and provenance of all noble manners and the foundation of all repugnant and ignominious characteristics are built upon four pillars:

The First: Jahl (Ignorance)
The Second: Dhulm (Oppression)
The Third: Shahwah (following ones lowly desires)
The Fourth: Ghadab (Anger)

Ignorance allows him to view good in the form of evil and evil in the form of good, and to consider that which is complete to be incomplete and that which is incomplete to be complete.

Oppression causes him to put things in places which are not appropriate for them, so he gets angry when it’s time to be happy and he is happy when it’s time to be angry. He is ignorant and hasty when it’s time to be deliberate and deliberate when it’s time to be hasty, he is stingy when it is time to be generous and generous when it’s time to be stingy. He is weak when it is time to be courageous and assume responsibility, and he assumes responsibility when it is time to take a step back (and let someone else undertake the initiative). He is gentle and lenient when it is time to be harsh and firm and he is harsh and firm when it is time to be lenient. He is humble when it is time to be superior and arrogant when it is time to be humble.

Following (his) lowly desires encourages him to be diligent in obtaining that which the soul ardently desires, to be stingy and greedy. It encourages him to adorn himself with all types of despicable and imprudent characteristics.

Anger incites him to be arrogant, jealous, envious, to hold enmity of others and to be imprudent and shameless.

The foundation of these four repugnant and blameworthy characteristics; are two pillars:

Either extreme self ignominy,
Or extreme self pride.

Source : Madaarij ul Salikeen of Ibn Al-Qayyim: Vol 2, P 308.

A man said to al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah):  ‘The people sit around you so that they may find fault with you!’ So he said, ‘Indeed, I encouraged my soul to aspire for Paradise so it aspired for it. Then I encouraged it to aspire for salvation from Hellfire and so it aspired for it.  Then I encouraged it to aspire for salvation from the people, but I didn’t find a way to that. Indeed the people were not pleased with their Creator although He provides for them, so how can they be pleased with another creation like themselves?’ [1]

Prophet Musa (‘alayhisalam) said: ‘O my Lord, the people say things about me which are not (i.e. not true)! So Allah revealed to him: ‘O Musa, I did not make that (privilege) for Myself, so how can I make it the case for you?’ [2]

Malik ibn Dinar: ‘Since I have known (the reality of) people, I have not taken delight in their praise nor have I hated their criticism.’ It was said to him, ‘Why is that?’ He said, ‘The one who praises from amongst them is excessive and the critic from amongst them exaggerates!’ [3]

‘Aisha (radhiallahu `anha) wrote to Mu’awiya (radhiallahu `anhu): ‘Salamun ‘alayk. Amma ba’d, I have heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) say, ‘Whoever gains the Pleasure of Allah by the anger of the people (i.e. thereby gains their anger), Allah suffices him of the people’s troubles. And whoever gains the pleasure of the people by the Anger of Allah (i.e. in the process he gains His Anger), then Allah leaves him to the people.’ Wa-Salaamu ‘alayk.’ [4]

Imam al-Shafi’i: ‘There is nobody except that he has someone who loves him and someone who hates him. So if that’s the case, let a person be with the people who are obedient to Allah `azza wa jall!’ (- as they love and hate for the Sake of Allah and they are not unjust) [5]

________________________

References:

[1] Al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya (9/318 )

[2] Al-Adaab al-Shar’iyyah by Ibn Muflih (1/38 )

[3] Tarikh Dimishq (59/307)

[4] Reported by al-Tirmidhi in Kitab al-Zuhd (no. 2414), declared Sahih by al-Albani

[5] Hilyat al-Awliya (9/124)

The deep advice of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (as narrated by Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib):

“There’s nothing more sufficient than when someone disobeys Allah in dealing with you, you do nothing but obey Allah in dealing with him. Place the affairs of your brother when they reach you upon the best of interpretations until there comes to you clarity which overcomes that. Do not think ill of a statement which comes from another Muslim if you can find a good interpretation for it. Whoever exposes himself to suspicion let him not blame those who then think badly of him, and whoever conceals his secrets, strength of choice will be in his hands.

Hold fast to truthful companions, live with them closely for they are a charm at times of ease and an aid at times of difficulty. Stick to the truth even if the truth kills you, and do not involve yourself with issues that don’t concern you. Do not ask about things which haven’t taken place for indeed, that which has already taken place is enough to preoccupy you from it! Do not seek help or take your affairs to someone who doesn’t wish to see you succeed, and do not befriend the sinful lest you learn from his sins and evil. Keep away from your enemy and be cautious of even your friend, except for the truthful and trusted friend. And no-one is trustworthy except him who fears Allah.

Humble yourself at the graves, lower yourself in obedience and stand firm against disobedience. And when it comes to your affairs, seek counsel only from those who truly fear Allah for indeed, Allah says,

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ
“…Indeed, it is only those who have knowledge among His Slaves, that truly fear Allah.” [al-Fatir:28]

Taken From :  Rawdhat al-‘Uqala’ (pg. 77-78]

It is reported that the last sermon ‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz – Allâh have mercy on him – delivered was as follows:

He praised Allâh and said, “You were not created in vain, nor will you be left without purpose. Verily, you have an appointed time in which Allâh – the Most High – will come down to judge you. Wretched and ruined will he be who leaves the mercy of Allâh and is denied a Garden whose width is that of the heavens and Earth. Know you not that no one will be safe tomorrow save one who is wary of today and fears it; and sells the transitory for what will remain, and the little for the plenty, and fear in exchange for security [in the hereafter]? See you not that you are in the loins of the dead, to be taken by those who remain after you, until all matters return to the Best of Inheritors? Every day, [in the funerals] you accompany those returning to Allâh the Mighty and Sublime, having spent their time, until you hide them in a crevice in the ground, in the belly of a bare and unfurnished hole, having parted from their loved ones, stroking the dirt and facing their accounts. Now, they are dependent on their deeds, free of what they left behind, in need of [the deeds] they put before them. So fear Allâh before the time He appointed is up and death descends upon you. This is what I have to say.” He then lifted the edge of his garment over his face and wept profusely, and made everyone around him weep.

Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm Vol. 3 p343.

One of the reported instructions ‘Umar wrote to Abû Mûsâ Al-Ash’arî and those under his governance during the former’s Caliphate was, “Seek knowledge and understanding of (fiqh) the Sunnah and seek knowledge and understanding of Arabic.”

Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf Vol.6 p126.

It is reported that he said, “Learn Arabic, for it strengthens the intelligence and increases one’s noble conduct (al-murû`ah).”

Al-Bayhaqî, Shu’ab Al-Îmân Vol.4 p187.

It is also reported that he said, “Do not learn the language of the non-Arabs, and do not enter upon them in their churches on their festivals, for indeed wrath descends upon them.”

‘Abd Al-Razzâq Al-San’ânî, Al-Musannaf Vol.1 p411.

It is also reported that he was once circumambulating the Ka’bah when he heard two men speaking in a language other than Arabic behind him. He turned to them and said, “Find some way to learn Arabic.”

‘Abd Al-Razzâq Al-San’ânî, Al-Musannaf Vol.5 p496.

It is reported that Ubay b. Ka’b – Allâh be pleased with him – said, “Learn Arabic just as you learn to memorize the Qurân.”

Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf Vol.7 p150.

It is reported that Ibn ‘Umar – Allâh be pleased with them – used to hit his children for making language errors.

Tahdhîb Al-Tahdhîb Vol.9 p292.

It is reported that Shu’bah – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “Learn Arabic, for it increases the intelligence.”

Tahdhîb Al-Tahdhîb Vol.4 p303.

It is reported that ‘Attâ b. Abî Rabâh – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “I wish I were fluent in Arabic,” when he was ninety years old.

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, in his biography of ‘Attâ b. Abî Rabâh.

It is reported that Ibn Shubrumah – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “Men have never worn a garment more beautiful than Arabic.”

Al-Bayhaqî, Shu’ab Al-Îmân Vol.4 p197.

It is reported from ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib –Allah be pleased with him – that he said:

The thing I fear for you most is following desires and having extensive hopes (about this worldly life). Following one’s desires blocks you from the truth, and having extensive hopes makes you forget the hereafter. Verily, this worldly life is departing and the hereafter is approaching and each of them has its children. So be children of the hereafter, not children of this world, for today there are (opportunities to do) deeds and there is no reckoning, but tomorrow there will be reckoning and no deeds.

Quoted by Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh, The Book of Raqâ`iq without the first sentence. Reported in its entirety by Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` Vol.1 p40, and others.

Al-Hâfidh Ibn Hajr states in Fath Al-Bârî:

Extensive hopes (about this worldly life) give rise to lethargy when it comes to acts of obedience, procrastinating with repentance, desire for worldly things, forgetfulness of the hereafter and hardness of the heart; because the softness of the heart and its purity only comes about by remembering death, the grave, reward and punishment, and the horrors of the hereafter…for if one remembers death, he strives to do acts of obedience, his worries decrease and he is satisfied with less.

Here is an advert for the position of Imam of the Grand Mosque in Istanbul at the time of Sultan Suleyman who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1520 – 1566.

1. To have mastered the languages of Arabic, Latin, Turkish and Persian.
2. To have mastered the Qur’an, the bible and the torah.
3. To be a scholar in Shari’ah and Fiqh.
4. To have mastered physics and mathematics up to teaching standard.
5. To be a master of chivalry, archery, duelling and the arts of Jihad.
6. To be of a handsome countenance.
7. To have a strong melodious voice.

(Source: Al Ahram newspaper 22nd September 1986, Egypt)

So then, how to you think our Imams of today would do if they were to apply for this post????

I shudder to think how many would even come close to getting this position!

Allahul Musta’aan.

Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi.

He defied the odds in an era of darkness. He set aside the criticism of those who called him crazy for wanting to do the seemingly impossible: uniting the Ummah, standing up to the Crusaders, and returning honor where it belonged. He was respected by both his friends and foes, and is perhaps one of the few men whose name evokes feelings of honor and pride in the minds of so many people in every era and place. Even the generally anti-Muslim film industry in America could not help but portray the honor and righteousness that Salah ad-Din was known for.

We all know of how he laid waste to the Crusaders and had them chasing their tails in the battles of Alexandria, Hittin, Acre, Tyre, Beirut, Nablus, Haifa, Tiberius, Gaza, ‘Asqalan, Jerusalem, and dozens of other cities and towns across Sham and North Africa. We know of Salah ad-Din the warrior.

But, who was the man behind the armor? What was he like as a person? What was he like as a Muslim? What personality does it take to carry out such heroic feats and achieve such a status?

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