Islamic Commentary

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

Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “Spend, O Bilal, and do not fear from the Owner of the Throne to be given little.” Mamum said to Muhammad bin ‘Ibad Al-Mahlabi, “You spend extravagantly.” He answered, “To abstain from being generous is tantamount to having bad thoughts about the One Who is worshipped.” Allah (the Exalted) says:

“…And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Quran 34:39)

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 105

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

In 1408, the newspaper al-Muslimun (issue number 181, dated Dhul-Hijjah 8, 1408 (July 21st, 1988)) related the following story: It is a real life story whose hero a Syrian doctor who was afflicted with cancer and who remedied it with charity. Dr. ‘Isa Marzuqi relates that he was afflicted with cancer, a fact that is attested by the most eminent of doctors in Damascus; the amazing thing is that he was cured through charity. After many of his colleagues lost hope of his cure, the said Doctor returned to the hospital to assume his duties. The doctor’s fiancée had refused to break off their marriage because of the sickness, and instead decided to wait patiently until he died. but instead of that happening he was saved. He later provided authenticated certificates from many eminent doctors that he had cancer in his left armpit; they also attested to the fact that later on, no traces of that cancer remained. In fact, the first doctor who diagnosed him said that at first, he had expected him to die after only a few days. Dr. ‘Isa Marzuqi later said that he applied the words of Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection):

“Remedy your sick ones with charity.”

With that statement he still had hope, and so when he found out about a house whose breadwinner had died many years before, he decided to give them all the wealth he had, even though it was only a small amount. He sent the money to the poor family through a friend of his, asking him to tell them that the money was from a man afflicted with a death threatening sickness and that he was seeking a cure by giving charity, hoping from help from Allah. The story ended with his cure, which perplexed many of the most skilled doctors in Syria. He later said that he chose that cure because he wanted to follow the way of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH). He also said however, that he did not leave off treatment through normal medical methods; he believed in the Divine Preordainment, but that belief does not mean that one should turn away from doctors, nor does it mean that one should not take the appropriate tangible steps that are needed to achieve a desired goal.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 155

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

Allah separated you from what you love, to teach you about the nature of this life.

Then Allah returned to you what you love, to teach you about the nature of the next.

Source: Internet Site

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

Many people, and not just non-Muslims, become resentful when they or someone they love is afflicted with a calamity. To be sure, many people around the world are afflicted with difficult hardships and trials. Upon contemplating the situation of many among them, I asked myself, “How perfect Allah is! Indeed, He is the most generous of all, and generosity necessitates forgiveness. Then why is it that so many people are being punished?” It did not take long for me to find the answer to that question, for I came to the realization that most people lead worthless lives: they do not contemplate the numerous signs that point to the oneness of Allah; they care not about Allah’ commands and prohibitions; instead, they live as beasts do, caring for nothing except for food, drink, pleasure, and sleep. And here I am not referring only to non-Muslims, for there are many Muslims who apply the teachings of Islam only when doing so is easy or in agreement with their desires; otherwise, they blindly follow their lusts, caring not about how they earned their wealth – whether it is from lawful or unlawful sources. If it is easy for them to pray, they will pray; otherwise, they will forsake compulsory prayers. Others among them perpetrate grave sins, without afterwards feeling any remorse or guilt. Thus I came to know that, for many people, the punishments, trials, and afflictions that befall them – however great they may be – are less severe than the severity of their sins. Upon suffering a calamity, one might call out, “Why did this happen to me?” Yet he forgets the many sins he perpetrated throughout his life. And in his old age, a man might suffer a great deal of humiliation, to the degree that, by just looking at him, people pity him; yet perhaps they do not know that he is just being punished for not having fulfilled Allah’s rights during his youth. So whenever you see one who is being punished, know that it is because of his sins.

“(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: “From where does this come us?” Say (to them), “It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds).” And Allah has power over all things.” (Quran 3:165)

And this brings us to the point:

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 313

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

When you were born, you were crying and the people around you were smiling.

Live your life so that when you are dying, you are smiling and the people around you are crying.

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

Here is a saying of Hassan al-Basri, one of the Tabi’en (second generation after the Companions RA), born in the year 21 (641-642), died in the year 110 (728-729).

Hassan Basri said: “He is a wise man who takes care of his interests of the other life without worrying that his temporal prosperity is not damaged. Whoever knows the Lord Most High sees his love for Him increasing day by day; anyone who knows this fleeting world considers it an enemy. The intelligent man is one who puts a firm brake on his passions and holds the bridle with a firm hand. Take a good look at what happens to the affairs of this world for someone who dies, because they will be exactly the same for you after you die. It was out of love for the earthly world that the infidels worshiped idols.” And he added: “Whoever highly values gold and silver, the Most High Lord will cause him to fall into debasement at the end. Only order others what you yourself can do.” He also said: “Anyone who reports the words of others to you is able to relate your own words to others. Do not give access to such a character near your person. On the Day of Resurrection it will be necessary to give an account not only of all that one will have eaten oneself, but of all that one will have made to eat to his father, his mother or his grandchildren (…) For each prayer that you will make without meditation, the punishment will follow closely behind.”

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

By brooding over the past and its tragedies, one exhibits a form of insanity – a kind of sickness that destroys resolve to live for the present moment. Those who have a firm purpose have filed away and forgotten occurrences of the past, which will never again see light, since they occupy such a dark place in the recesses of the mind. Episodes of the past are finished with; sadness cannot retrieve them, melancholy cannot make things right, and depression will never bring the past back to life. This is because the past is non-existent.

Do not live in the nightmares of former times or under the shade of what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past. Do you think that you can return the sun to its place of rising, the baby to its mother’s womb, milk to the udder, or tears to the eye? By constantly dwelling on the past and its happenings, you place yourself in a very frightful and tragic state of mind.

Reading too much into the past is a waste of the present. When Allah mentioned the affairs of the previous nations, Allah, the Exalted said:

That was a nation who has passed away. (Quran 2:134)

Former days are gone and done with, and you benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy over them, by turning back the wheels of history.

The person who lives in the past is like someone who tries to saw sawdust. Of old, they used to say: “Do not remove the dead from their graves.”

Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present: neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. If every man and every jinn were to try jointly to bring back the past, they would most certainly fail. Everything on earth marches forward, preparing for a new season – and so should you.

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
P30

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

Here is an anecdote of Sheikh Chaqiq Balkhi:

“On he who falls a decree of destiny must show resignation. Whoever, during trials, despairs and weeps is like a person who has seized a spear to fight against the Lord Most High.” He also said: “The root of piety is the fear of the Lord Most High and refraining from all that is forbidden. The failure of men is due to three reasons: One is that they commit sins and that they lull themselves in the hope of doing penance later, the other is that they are in no hurry to do penance, because they feel that they will live a long life, and the third is that many people on the pretext that Allah’s Mercy is great, die without doing penance after spending their days in heedlessness. The Lord Most High, at the moment of death, doubles the intensity of life for those of his servants who served faithfully, while Allah makes them similar to the dead, even during their lives, the bad servants who are addicted to sinning.” “What I like above all, he said, is to receive a guest in my home, because while the guest only eats what has been destined to him by Allah, I participate in the reward promised to those who give from their wealth.”

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

Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Beware of gluttony, it harms the body, brings disease and blocks the accomplishment of prayers. Look for moderation which is beneficial to the body, away from any excess because Allah the Exalted does not like the portly glutton. Man destroys himself if he prefers his passions over his Iman (faith). (Abu Naim)

The Compagnons of the Prophet (SAWS) (Hayat-Assahaba)
By Mouhammad Youssef Al-Kandahlawi – Volume II

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

A man went to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, “O Ibn Abbas, I want to enjoin people to do good and forbid them from doing evil.” Ibn Abbas said, “And have you reached that level?” He said, “I hope that is so.” He said, “If you do not fear to be exposed by three Verses of Allah’s Book, then do so.” The man asked, “And what are they?” He mentioned this Verse:

“Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves…” (Quran 2:44)

And then asked, “Have you applied the implications of this Verse?” He said, “No.” Ibn Abbas then mentioned the second Verse:

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do.” (Quran 61:2-3)

After that he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this Verse?” He said, “No.” He then mentioned the third Verse regarding Shuaib (Peace be upon him):

“…I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you…” (Quran 11:88)

And then he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this Verse?” He said, “No.” Ibn Abbas said, “Then begin with yourself.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 205

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

Somebody asked a scholar once about how their parents were encouraging them to buy a house on interest otherwise they’d be poor.

So the scholar answered:

“Allah will never put the secret of success in something that Allah forbade or has made haram.”

So if anybody ever tells you that you’ll only become wealthy if you deal in interest (riba), then they have lied to you. They have lied to you out of ignorance or for whatever reason because Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will never put success in something that Allah has made haram. If you do see some people being successful with it, they’re being set up and you’re being set up. Their success will be in the short-term with failure, sadness and loss in the long-term. It’s a test from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

This applies to everything in life, money, relationships, health etc…

“Allah will never put the secret of success in something that Allah forbade or has made haram.”

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

The divine decree related to the believer is always a bounty, even if it is in the form of withholding (something that is desired), and it is a blessing, even if it appears to be a trial, and an affliction that has befallen him is in reality a cure, even though it appears to be a disease!

Unfortunately, due to the ignorance of the worshipper, and his transgressions, he does not consider anything to be a gift or a blessing or a cure unless he can enjoy it immediately, and it is in accordance with his nature. If he were only given a little bit of understanding, then he would have counted being withheld from as a blessing, and the sickness as a mercy, and he would relish the trouble that befalls him more than he relishes his ease, and he would enjoy poverty more than he enjoys richness, and he would be more thankful when he is blessed with little than when he is blessed with a lot.

Imam ibn al Qayyim rahimahullah
Madarij al-Salikin 2/215-216

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

Imam Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

“Allah, Glory and Purity to Him, imposed on the goods of the rich enough to feed the poor. A poor man only feels hunger because of an enjoyment of a rich person and Allah, the Exalted, will account them for it.”

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

Hasan Basri (one of the Tabi’en) said: “Woe to him, of the sons of Adam who puts his complacency in this world, where we must account for the use of legitimate things and where there is a punishment for the forbidden things! Whenever dies a son of Adam, he will leave with three regrets:

1. Never having been sated in accumulating the goods of this world;
2. Never having found satisfaction for the desires that were in his heart;
3. Not having properly prepared the provisions for the other world.”

Someone said: “Such a person is dying”. Hasan Basri would exclaim: “But it has now been seventy years that he has been dying; today he will be delivered from this effort.”

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

There will be Duas you make that won’t manifest when you want them to…

That doesn’t mean it’s an unanswered Dua…

There are 2 critical points I’d like you to understand…

The first is… Allah answers ALL Duas. It comes in one of 3 ways:

1. Yes.
2. Yes, but not yet.
3. Yes, I have something better for you.

The second critical point is this…

When the answer is “Yes, but not yet”, here’s why…

If you wanted to strengthen your upper body for weight lifting, a trainer would start with your lower body.

To get your upper body ready, you need to be stable, to plant your feet in the ground.

Likewise, for you to be ready for some duas, Allah wants you ready for it…

Put another way, a seed can’t produce fruit right away. It has to first grow roots, strength its trunk, grow its branches and then finally the fruits.

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

A man went to the caliph, Mamun, in order to advise and admonish him; however, he was very severe in his speech, so much so that the ruler was visibly affected by his words. When the man left the company of the caliph, he regretted his words and feared punishment from him. When he returned to his home, he found out that the caliph wanted to meet him, and so he returned to him in a state of fear and agitation. Mamun said, “Indeed, Allah has ordered he who is better than you to be gentle in speech with he who is more evil than me.” Allah (the Exalted) said to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) when he sent him to Firaun:

“And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah.” (Koran 20.44)

The man apologized for what he said, and he learned gentleness in speech from Mamun.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 146

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

Some of the scholars of tafseer say that if you look at the Mahajirouns, the ones who emigrated from Mecca to Medina; later on every one of them became a leader of a state or an emir of an army. So Allah gave them a better status in this world then what they had in Mecca. That is in this world; in the hereafter the reward is even greater.

The scholars also say that: “Whoever leaves something for the sake of Allah, Allah will give that person something better.”

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

Here is a saying of Imam Ali (May Allah be pleased with him):

Your talk (words) are your prisoner as long as you have not spoken. But, as soon as you speak, you become its prisoner.

Hoard your tongue as you hoard your gold and silver because it may be that one single word may take away your happiness and attract to you a calamity.

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

The Caliph Othman Ibn Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) said about the richness of the soul:

“The wealth of the soul puts the soul above all need, even if poverty bites hard causing pain.

Any difficult period, endure it with patience even if prolonged, because it is not made ​​to last and ease necessarily will follow.”

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

Asma’i related: “I was with a man from the inhabitants of Sham (Modern day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan regions combined) and was attempting to appease him in a certain manner when a vendor with a bucketful of pomegranates passed by. To my surprise, my companion who was of the noble aristocrats of Sham quickly snatched a pomegranate and slipped it into his sleeve. I could not believe what my eyes had witnessed until we happened upon a beggar. This man from Sham retrieved the hidden pomegranate from his sleeve and handed it to the beggar. I questioned him about this strange action.” He replied, “Do you not understand that taking the pomegranate was one evil deed and giving it to the beggar equated to ten good deeds?” Asma’i responded, “Do you not know that the taking of it was an evil action and the good of giving it was not accepted of you because it was Haram (forbidden).”

Additional commentary: Allah is Good and only accepts that which is good.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 83

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

Abu-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “He who defends the honour of his (Muslim) brother, Allah will secure his face against the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Commentary: If someone says something disgraceful against a Muslim, one must defend his Muslim brother (or sister, for that matter) and say that what has been stated about him or her is wrong and that he (or she) is free from the accusation made against him (or her).

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 255, Page 438, No 1528

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

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Among deeds, there are four that are most difficult to adorn oneself with: 1) Forgiveness when angry; 2) Generosity in hard times; 3) Chastity when alone; and 4) Speaking the truth to the one that fears it.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 119

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

Ali bin Fudail related that he heard his father say to Ibn Mubarak, “You order us to seek little from this world, yet we see you trading in merchandise. Please explain how you reconcile one with the other?” He said, “O Abu ‘Ali, I do so only to protect myself (from begging), to be generous to my family, and to use wealth to help me in obedience to my Lord.” ‘Ali said, “O Ibn Mubarak, if you achieve all of that, then your way of earning and spending are both noble indeed!”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 115

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

Al-Walid Ben ‘Oubada said: “I went to visit ‘Oubada (May Allah be pleased with him) as he was sick, thinking his death was impending. I told him:” Father! Give me some tips that will benefit me. “He asked to be put into a sitting position, and then he said:” O son! You will not taste the sweetness of Faith (Iman) or reach the degree of knowledge on the reality of Allah as long as you do not believe in Destiny in the good and in the evil. “O father, I asked, how will I know Destiny in the good and in the evil? He replied, “Know that what you have missed would not be able to reach you, and what has reached you would not have missed you. O son, I heard the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) say: “The first thing Allah created was the Calame (Pen). Allah said: “Write.” And the Calame wrote at that moment all that will take place until the Day of Resurrection. “O son! If you die without believing in this, you will enter into Hell.” (Ahmed)

The Compagnons of the Prophet (Hayat-Assahaba)
By Mouhammad Youssef Al-Kandahlawi – Volume II
Translated by Fawzi Chaaban
Editor: Dar El Fikr – Beyrouth/Liban
Page 92

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

1. Know that if you do not live within the scope of today, your thoughts will be scattered, your affairs will become confused, and your worrying will increase – these realities explain the Hadith:

“When you are in the morning, do not expect to see the evening, and when you are in the evening, do not expect to see the morning.”

2. Forget the past and all that it contained. Being absorbed in things that are gone is sheer lunacy.

3. Do not be preoccupied with the future. Because the future is in the world of the Unseen, do not let it bother you until it comes.

4. Do not be shaken by criticism; instead, be firm. And know that in proportion to your worth, the level of criticism rises.

5. Faith in Allah and good deeds: these are the ingredients that make up a good and happy life.

6. Whoever desires peace, tranquility, and comfort can find it all in the remembrance of Allah.

7. You should know with certainty that everything that happens, occurs in accordance with a divine decree.

8. Do not expect gratitude from anyone.

9. Train yourself to be ready and prepared for the worst eventuality.

10. Perhaps what has happened is in your best interest (though you may not comprehend how that is so).

11. Everything that is decreed for the Muslim is best for him.

12. Enumerate the blessings of Allah and be thankful for them.

13. You are better off than many others.

14. Relief comes from one hour to the next.

15. In both times of hardship and ease, one should turn to supplication and prayer.

16. Calamities should strengthen your heart and reshape your outlook in a positive sense.

17. Indeed, with each difficulty there is relief.

18. Do not let trifles be the cause of your destruction.

19. Indeed, your Lord is Oft-Forgiving.

20. Do not be angry… Do not be angry… Do not be angry.

21. Life is bread, water, and shade; so do not be perturbed by a lack of any other material thing.

And in the heaven is your provision, and that which you are promised. (Koran 51.22)

22. Most evil that is supposed to happen never occurs.

23. Look at those who are afflicted and be thankful.

24. When Allah loves a people, He makes them endure trials.

25. You should constantly repeat those supplications that the Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) taught us to say during times of hardship.

26. Work hard at something that is productive, and cast off idleness.

27. Don’t spread rumors and don’t listen to them. If you hear a rumor inadvertently, then don’t believe it.

28. Your malice and your striving to seek revenge are much more harmful to your health than they are to your antagonist.

29. The hardships that befall you atone for your sins.

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 135

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

Imam, Al-Qadi, Abu Bakr Muhammad bin’ Abdul-Baqi Al-Ansari – may Allah have mercy on him – used to live in Makkah. Having gone without food for longer than was comfortable for him, he became extremely hungry, but had nothing with which he could fend off his hunger. As he was walking through the streets of Makkah, thinking about his predicament, he found a silk bag that was tied by a silk string. After he picked up the bag, Imam Abu Bakr took it to his house. There he opened the bag and found in it a pearl necklace, the likes of which – in terms of beauty and quality – he had never before seen in his entire life. But if he felt any joy at having found such a valuable thing, that joy was short-lived, for when he went into the street, he came across an old man who was announcing that he had lost a silk bag that contained a valuable necklace. The old man said that there was a reward of 500 dinars for the person who returned the bag and necklace.

Many others who are put through a similar test fail, especially those who are poor and for whom the temptation of a valuable item is simply too much. But not so for Imam Abu Bakr, who instead of reflecting on his own situation, took the old man back with him to his house and asked him to describe the bag, the string, the pearls, and the string to which they were attached. The old man of course gave an accurate description of everything, after which Imam Abu Bakr took out the lost items and gave them to him. The old man immediately took out 500 dinars and tried to hand them over to Imam Abu Bakr, who then refused to take the reward, explaining that it was a religious duty upon him to return the lost items and that, therefore, it was not befitting for him to take a reward for having fulfilled that duty. The old man continued to insist for a while, but Imam Abu Bakr was adamant that he was not going to take the money. The old man then took his leave and went on his way.

Shortly thereafter, Imam Abu Bakr, perhaps seeking out a new life and a new means of gaining sustenance, left Makkah and became a passenger on a sea vessel. During his journey, the ship began to sink, and as a result, many people died, and their wealth went with them to the bottom of the sea. The ship was breaking into pieces, and with a great deal of difficulty, Imam Abu Bakr managed to hold on to one of those pieces and thus remain afloat. He continued to hold on to the broken piece for a long time, and when he finally reached an inhabited island, he could not tell how many days he had spent all alone in the sea.

As a newcomer to the island, he did not know anyone, and needing a place to rest and recuperate, he sat down in a Masjid. While he was seated in the Masjid, reading the Quran, many people heard him and approached him, asking him to teach them the Quran. He was all too happy to teach them, and as a reward for his services, they paid him a significant amount of money.

Later on, he found papers on which was written chapters of the Quran. He finally found an opportunity to read directly from the Quran instead of reciting from memory. Apparently, at least most people on the island were illiterate, for seeing that he could read, a throng of people approached him and asked him if he was able to write. He answered in the affirmative, and they said, “Teach us how to write.” They then brought to him children of all ages and he became their teacher. And again, in return for his services, he was paid a handsome sum of money.

Being pleased with both the character and knowledge of the newcomer, the leaders of the island approached him, saying, “Among us lives a young female orphan. She is rich, and we want you to marry her.” At first Imam Abu Bakr refused, but they insisted until he finally gave in and agreed to marry her.

On the day of their marriage, the leaders of the island presented Imam Abu Bakr’s new bride to him. With a look of utter amazement in his eyes, he began to stare at the necklace that she was wearing. So long did he stare at it, that the leaders of the island said, “You are breaking the heart of this young orphan, for instead of looking at her, you are looking at her necklace.” Imam Abu Bakr then told them of his story with the old man in Makkah. Everyone present began to pronounce the Testimony of Faith and to extol Allah’s greatness; they were so loud that their voices could be heard by all of the inhabitants of the island. Imam Abu Bakr asked, “What is the matter with you?” They said, “The old man who took the necklace from you is the father of this girl, and he used to say: ‘I have never found a [true and sincere] Muslim in the world except for the man who returned this necklace to me.’ And he used to supplicate, saying: ‘O Allah, bring me and that man together, so that I can marry my daughter to him.’ And now that has happened.”

Imam Abu Bakr outlived his wife and the children she bore him. Inheriting the necklace and then selling it for 100,000 dinars, he remained a wealthy man to the end of his days.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 270

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

Here is a saying of Hassan al-Basri, one of the Tabi’en (second generation after the Companions RA).

“There are three degrees of fear: the first is to always tell the truth, the second is to keep his person away from all works that the Lord most High does not love, the third is to behave so as to see ones acts accepted by Allah.” And he added, “A mitzqal (about six and a half grams) of fear is better than a thousand mitzqal of fasting and prayers.” The most excellent of all works is the practice of fear and reflection on one’s own acts. One whose heart does not go hand in hand with ones tongue (speech), whose exterior and interior are not in unison, bears on him the imprint of hypocrisy. The true believer is the one who makes efforts constantly to not fall into hypocrisy, who does not do anything that one should not do, that never utters a word that one must not say.”

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

Nadr bin Shumail said that in a certain place the price of silk had increased and that if it increased there, it should also increase in Basrah. Yunus bin ‘Ubaid was a silk manufacturer and when he learned of this fact, he bought from a man a quantity of goods for thirty thousand. Yet, afterwards, he asked the seller if he was aware of the price increase. The seller replied that he was not and that had he been, he would not have made the sale at such a price. Yunus insisted that his money be returned for the goods that were sold to him. This illustrates the piety of our predecessors, for even in their business transactions they attempted to maintain the highest level of honesty and clarity in all matters, pertaining to both the buyer and seller.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 50

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

Here is a saying of Imam Ali (May Allah be pleased with him):

“Science is linked to action, the one who knows acts, science calls out to action: either action responds to it or science goes away”.

Commentary: Science i.e. Religion.