Hadith ~ An Ant’s Weight of Arrogance

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (SAWS) said, “He who has, in his heart, an ant’s weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah.” Someone said: “A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, “Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people.” (Muslim).

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Commentary: The Hadith says that a man who has even an iota of pride in his heart will be barred from entering Jannah. The Hadith word used for the smallest amount means in Arabic either the smallest ant or the particle which is radiated by sun-rays and seen through a wall-chink. Obviously, such a particle has almost a non-existent amount, but even this much is disapproved by Allah. If pride incites a man to deny the existence of Allah and His Revelation, he is sure to be thrown into Hell. He also faces Divine displeasure and the danger of infernal fire if mere consideration of riches, physical beauty, social and intellectual prominence and family status makes him proud and self-conceited and he looks down upon others, or persists in the denial of Truth.

[1]: Audio lecture on pride and arrogance can be downloaded here.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 72, Page 199, No 612

Commentary ~ The fruits of contentment

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

…Allah is pleased with them and they with Him… (Koran 5.119)

Contentment bears many blessed fruits. More than anything else, by being contented with that which is decreed, one is able to soar to the highest levels of faith and truthfulness.

Some might wish for only good to befall them, for only pleasant things to occur in their lives, but that is not what being Allah’s slave means. Many of the true believer’s characteristics, which include patience, total dependence, contentment, humbleness, and submission of one’s will, only become manifest when one is confronted with something that one dislikes. So being pleased with that which has been decreed does not mean being contented with only those things that suit one’s disposition; the real gauge for true contentment are those times when one goes through a painful situation. And it is not for the slave to dictate the terms of preordainment; he can be happy or discontented and it makes no difference except that by being discontented, he is sinning. Human beings do not have much choice in regards to Divine decree: the choice and decision thereof belong only with Allah. He is All-Knowing and Most High.

La Tahzan (Don’t be sad)
By Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Translated by: Faisal ibn Muhammad Shafeeq, 2nd ed. Riyadh 2005
Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House
ISBN Hard Cover: 9960-850-36-6
ISBN Soft Cover: 9960-850-44-7
Page 349

Hadith ~ Marriage Proposal

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: (إذا خطب إليكم من ترضون دينه وخلقه فزوجوه؛ إلا تفعلوا تكن فتنة في الأرض، وفساد عريض) رواه الترمذي

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “When someone proposes marriage to one of you whose religion and character pleases you, then you should let him marry. If you do not do so, there will be tribulations in the earth and the proliferation of corruption.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of Marriage, Number 1084, Silsilatou al-ahadith as-Sahih, 1022 – authenticated by al-Albânî)

Commentary: The hadith mentions two aspects to look for when there is a marriage proposal: Religion AND character (morality). Not only religion and not only character. What is required is a complete Muslim personality. Allah Alim.

Source: Internet Site