Islamic Commentary

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.

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account. Weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you and beautify yourselves (with good deeds) for the great display (on the Day of Judgment).”

On the Day when every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil. And Allâh warns you against Himself (His Punishment) and Allâh is full of Kindness to the (His) slaves. (Koran 3:30)

So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. (Koran 99:7-8)

Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are brought out and poured forth (all mankind is resurrected). And that which is in the breasts (of men) shall be made known. Verily, that Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) their Lord will be Well-Acquainted with them (as to their deeds), (and will reward them for their deeds). (Koran 100:9-11)

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.

There is an interesting situation that confuses many: the believer who is afflicted with a calamity and then invokes Allah constantly, yet sees no signs of an answer to his prayers. Then when he comes near to the point of hopelessness, the true worth of his heart is found out. If he is pleased with what Allah decreed for him, without losing hope of Allah’s Favour, then in most situations it is at this point that such a person’s supplications are answered, answered because his test is over: his faith has shined through and the Devil has been defeated. So it is at the time of near hopelessness that the worth of man is judged. This meaning is alluded to in the saying of Allah:

“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allâh?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allâh is near!” (Quran 2:214)

After Ya’qub (peace be upon him) lost his son, much time elapsed, yet he never lost hope of relief. Instead of relief, another of his sons was then taken away, and even then he did not lose hope of Allah’s Favour and Mercy:

“So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them all (back) to me. Truly He! only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (Quran 12:83)

And similar were the words and sentiments of (Zachariya) Zakariyyah (peace be upon him):

“And I have never been unblest in my invocation to You, O my Lord!” (Quran 19:4)

Never, therefore, should one feel that too much time has passed by without his supplications being answered. One should realize that, whenever one is tested with hardship, one’s mettle and faith are being tested. To pass such a test, one must drive away the whispers of the Devil and then turn for help to the Most-Merciful, the Most-Generous, the Most-Wise.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 317

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.

When Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) was Caliph, the Caliphate received some pieces of cloth from one of the Islamic states. Umar distributed these pieces of cloths evenly; he gave everyone one piece of cloth. One day when Umar stood to give a khutba (lecture), he had two pieces of those cloths on. Umar then spoke and said, “Listen and obey everybody!” Salman Farsi (May Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, “We will not listen and we will not obey.” Umar bin Khattab asked, “How come?” Salman Farsi said, “Because you have given each one of us, one piece of cloth, and we see that you are wearing two pieces of cloth.” Umar bin Khattab did not respond, but signalled his son Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to stand up and respond to what Salman is saying. Abdullah bin Umar stood up and said, “My father is a very tall man, very well built, with wide shoulders. One piece of cloth would not be enough for him, so I gave him mine.” Salman Farsi said, “Now we will listen and obey.” This was the standard of justice that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) had. The leadership was held to account and the people would not accept any injustice from their leaders. They knew that on the Day of Judgement, being a follower of a corrupt leadership will not be an excuse. Allah Alim.

And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant; “Verily! We followed you, can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?” Those who were arrogant will say: “We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily Allâh has judged between (His) slaves!” (Koran 40.47-48)

Source: Did not find the exact source of this commentary. Transcribed from an audio lecture and from memory. The exact wording used by the Companions may not be exact. May Allah forgive any errors. Amin.

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.

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

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “We were the most humiliated people on earth and Allah gave us honour through Islam. If we ever seek honour through anything else, Allah will humiliate us again.”

Say: “O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things. (Koran 3.26)

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

So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. (Koran 19.22)

When Saidna Maryam (PBUH) was pregnant and felt that her delivery was approaching she went towards Bethlehem (a remote place). It seems that she had kept her pregnancy concealed. Nobody knew about it. She was able to hide her pregnancy throughout. She left out of Jerusalem and went towards Bethlehem. She fell down under a palm tree. Allah, the Exalted, says:

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree… (Koran 19.23)

I want you to imagine now that you are over there. Imagine the situation. Maryam (PBUH) has been hiding this pregnancy for 9 months. That is difficult in itself. And now she is leaving out of her town, alone and with no help. She is feeling the pain of childbirth and it drives her and she falls down under a palm tree. It was so difficult on her that she said:

…She cried (in her anguish): “Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten. (Koran 19.23)

Saidna Maryam (PBUH) was chaste and righteous. Now she is going to deliver a child and she has never been married. She knows the tongues of the people. She knows the harm they will cause her and her family. The righteous family of Al-Imran. It became so difficult on her that she wished she never had lived before this. And she wished that no one has known her and that she was forgotten and that she didn’t exist. In that moment of difficulty, Allah, the Exalted, provided her with Sakina. When things got to the level where it is unbearable for her anymore than Allah, the Exalted, brought her comfort and Mercy. Allah says:

But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): “Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; (Koran 19.24)

The scholars say the voice is either Jibreel (PBUH) or Issa (Jesus) (PBUH). The voice says: La tahzani! (do not grieve), your Lord has provided a water stream under you.

“And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. (Koran 19.25)

Shake the trunk of the date-palm towards you and it will let fresh ripe dates fall upon you. So Allah provided her with water and Allah provided her with dates. It is a miracle from Allah that Allah provided her with this. A water stream was suddenly flowing under her. She can reach it with her hands and then Allah, the Exalted, said to shake the palm tree and fresh ripe dates will fall unto you.

Now we learn from this some very important lessons.

Maryam (PBUH) just delivered a child, is helpless, alone. And she is told by Issa (PBUH) or Jibreel (PBUH) to shake, not the branch of the palm tree, but to shake what? The trunk, the base of the palm tree. And all of you know palm trees and how solid they are. If a group of men surrounded it and tried to shake it at the base it is impossible. So what is the point in Allah telling Maryam (PBUH) to shake the base of a palm tree? She’s not going to be able to shake it. She’s not going to be able to move it even a fraction of an inch. So why is Allah telling her to shake it? Make an effort. She has to do her part. Allah could have made the dates fall on her without her shaking it. Because it is not the shaking of a palm tree that will make the fruit fall down. It is a miracle from Allah. If you put your hands on a palm tree, don’t expect any dates to fall on you. It is a miracle from Allah. Allah, the Exalted, could have made the dates fall down without her intervention. But Allah wants her to do her part. And that is a very very important lesson. If we want the victory of Allah, we have to do our part. You have to take the first step. Allah says in the Hadith Qudsi “If you walk towards Me. I will run towards you”. But you have to take the first step. And Allah says the ones who seek guidance, who look for it, Allah will give it to them. If you seek guidance Allah will give it to you. If you wait there expecting things to come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward the person for their laziness, procrastination and passiveness. Allah wants us to do our part.

So Maryam (PBUH) put her hand on the palm tree and these fresh ripe dates fell on her. We also learn from this in conjunction with the Sounna of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) that that is the best food for the women who just delivered a baby. Dates are the best food for a woman who just delivered a child and this is also confirmed in the Sounna of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). They used to give the women who just delivered dates to eat. Allah provided her with water and provided her with dates.

“So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye… (Koran 19.26)

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection
PBUH: Peace be upon him/her

Source:
Audio lecture “Lives of the Prophets” by Imam Anwar.
The full audio series may be downloaded here.

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

Words of the Caliph ‘Umar (may Allah grant him His Satisfaction):

Equity (justice) is beautiful, but it is even more so among princes.

Generosity is beautiful, but it is even more so among the rich.

Scrupulous fear (Taqwa) of Allah is beautiful, but it is even more so among scholars.

Patience is beautiful, but it is even more so among the poor.

The return to Allah is beautiful, but it is even more so among the youth.

Modesty is beautiful, but it is even more so among women.

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

Words of Imam Ali (may Allah grant him His Satisfaction):

People hurt themselves in three things:

1. Their overeating, relying on their good health.
2. Their acceptance of intolerable burdens, relying on their strength.
3. And their choice of deliberate inaction, relying on Destiny.

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

A story related to Suliman ibn Abdel Malek, a Muslim Caliph, during a golden era of Islam when the Muslim Ummah was expanding, the wealth of the world was coming to the Islamic nation and Allah was giving this Ummah rizk (provisions) so much so that the Ummah was living an extravagant lifestyle. Damascus, the capital of the Muslim Caliphate at the time was the greatest city in the world, the most luxurious city in the world and Beni Oumaya were living a life that no one else in the world would dream of.

Suliman ibn Abdel Malek was accompanying a scholar from al Tabiyeen (second generation after the companions), so he asked this scholar a question: “How come we hate death?”, so the scholar responded and said: “Ya Emir Al Moumineen (O Leader of the Believers), you have constructed your dounia (this present world) and you have destroyed your ekhira (the hereafter). So you would not want to think of leaving what is constructed to what is destroyed.”

The scholar is saying that all you have done is prepare for yourself a good life for this world but you haven’t done much for the hereafter. You built a palace here but you didn’t build a palace there. You made for yourself an easy lifestyle here but you didn’t make sure that you will have a similar one in the hereafter and that is why you don’t like death. But for somebody who is investing all of their money, their effort and time in building for themselves a better life in the hereafter, for these they would love to go from this world to the hereafter.

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

We dictate how others think of us. If a person were to see you in the market and frown at you, then see you at the grocer’s and frown at you, and then you bump into him at a wedding party and see him frowning at you, you would form a picture of him in your mind. If you were to see him again, or even hear of him again, his frowning face would instantly come mind. Isn’t that true?

If a person meets you with a smile, then he meets you elsewhere with a smile, and so on, there will be a positive smiling picture of him imprinted in your mind.

This is concerning someone with whom you have no relationship and only meet with every now and then. But as for those whom we meet all the time, like a wife, children, work colleagues and neighbours, then we don’t always deal with them in the same manner. Yes, they will see us laughing and joking, but no doubt they will also see us sometimes angry, frowning, argumentative or even insulting because we are, after all, human beings.

Consequently, their love for us is governed by our good or bad conduct towards them. If you wish, you can say that their love for us is in proportion to the emotional credit that we may have in our accounts with them. How so?

When you show good conduct towards a person, you are in reality depositing fond memories about yourself in his memory register. In other words, it is as if he has opened up an account for you in his heart where he keeps safe his love and respect for you. Thereafter, your bank balance either increases or decreases. Hence, each time you meet him with a smile, your emotional bank balance increases. Each time you give him a gift, it also increases. Every act of courtesy increases it further. Similarly, each time you offend, insult or curse a person, you make a withdrawal from that emotional bank balance.

Similarly, if you have a huge balance with a person and one day end up angering him, you withdraw only a small percentage from your emotional bank balance due to the huge original balance.

If a beloved comes with one vice,

His virtues come to the rescue with a thousand intercessors

However, if you don’t have an emotional bank balance with a person to begin with and then begin to withdraw, then your account with him will be in deficit. Subsequently, he may develop a dislike for you since you continue to withdraw but never deposit.

You may have heard the story about a wife who was divorced by her husband. When asked about the reason for the divorce, she said, “It was a trivial reason. He wanted me to go with him to see his sister and I refused. He became angry and began insulting and cursing me, and then eventually divorced me!”

If you contemplate a little why she got divorced, you would discover that the reason was not as trivial as she claimed. Rather, the incident was the last straw that broke the camel’s back!

It is said that there was once a man who had a strong camel. One day he decided to travel, so he placed all his belongings on the camel’s back and tied it up. The poor camel tried to withstand the pressure as he managed to place on its back the load of four camels. The camel began to waver as the people shouted at the man saying, “Enough!” But the man didn’t listen. He finally took a belt made out of straw and placed it on the camel, saying, “This is very light, and this is the last thing I will place on it.” As soon as he placed the belt on it, the camel fell to the ground. Thus, his story became an idiom and it was said, “The last straw which broke the camel’s back!”

If you think about it, you will realise that the belt was quite innocent, for it was not the belt that broke the camel’s back. Rather, the back was broken due to the heavy overall load that was placed on it, which it tried to withstand with patience until it could stand it no longer. The miniscule weight of the belt then finally broke its back.

The same goes for the woman who was divorced by her husband (*Note: the same applies to a husband towards his wife). I can say for certain that the reason was not just the fact that she refused to visit his sister. Rather, it was a number of things including refusing to fulfill his requests and his wishes, the lack of love between the two, her arrogance and the lack of respect she had for his views. She continued to withdraw from her emotional bank account without depositing anything. She continued to hurt him without healing his wounds. He continued to bear her with patience, until this incident happened which broke the camel’s back.

If she were to have contributed to her emotional bank account on a regular basis by meeting him nicely, spoiling him a little, making herself beloved to him, joking and being light-hearted with him, taking care of his food and clothes and respecting his views, she would have had a huge emotional bank balance. She would have been a millionaire in his heart. Consequently, it would not have mattered much if her emotional bank balance decreased slightly because her wrong actions would have disappeared in the sea of her virtues.

You can say the same about a troublemaking student who has made one mistake due to which his teacher become very angry and perhaps punish him, or threw him out of the classroom. Then the student may complain, “Such-and-such a colleague of mine does things much worse than me, yet he isn’t punished! As for me, I didn’t do anything, except that I made a joke without permission.” He doesn’t realise that the joke was the last straw which broke the camel’s back. He had always hurt his teacher without healing his wounds. The same can be said about colleagues or neighbours who argue amongst each other.

Hence, we are always in need of depositing into the emotional bank balance that lies in people’s hearts. The husband should look for opportunities to deposit into his wife’s heart and continue to increase his points. The wife should do the same. The son should likewise deposit some love in his mother and father’s heart, as should the teacher with his students and a person with his brother. In fact, even the manager should do the same with those who work under him.

In short…
If a beloved comes with one vice,

His virtues come to the rescue with a thousand intercessors

Enjoy your life
Dr. Muhammad ‘Abd Al-Rahaman Al-Arifi
Translated by: Saleem Beg
Edited By: Nasim Chowdhury
Published By: Darussalam
P510

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

Fudail bin ‘Iyad said: “If you are not able to fast or pray, then know that you are shackled and confined by your sins.” Allah (the Exalted) says:

“Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, they are dwellers of the Fire (i.e. Hell); they will dwell therein forever.” (Quran 2:81)

Ibn Mubarak said: “I saw that sins cause hearts to die, that base actions lead to their addiction, that avoiding sins is life for the heart, and that it is better for your soul for you to disobey it.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 149

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

Hasan, the son of Abul-Hasan, entered upon Abdullah bin Ahtam, visiting him during his illness. He saw Ibn Ahtam point his finger toward a box in his house. He went to the box and asked Hasan, “O Abu Sa’eed, what would you say about one hundred thousand in this box, of which I have never paid Zakat and from which I have never joined ties of relations.” Hasan replied, “May your mother lose you. For whom were you gathering this wealth?” Ibn Ahtam explained, “I gathered it for difficult times, or the harshness of a cruel ruler, or for an increase in wives and children.”

Shortly after this meeting, Ibn Ahtam died and as he was being buried, Hasan said to those present, “Look at this pitiable person. Satan came to him, making him fear poverty and kept him from spending of that which Allah (the Exalted) gave to him. And now he has departed from this world, empty-handed and miserable.” Hasan then turned to the inheritors of the deceased and said, “Let not this wealth deceive you as it deceived this companion of yours. This wealth has come to you in a Halal manner, so do not let it be your destruction. For indeed the greatest sorrow on the Day of Judgment will be to see your wealth, which you toiled to gather (from both Halal and Haram sources), in the scales of your inheritors – if they do good with the money (charity, etc.), the good deed is with them, and the sin of that wealth is upon you.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 33

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

It is related that a woman went to the Prophet Dawud (PBUH) and said, “O Prophet of Allah, is your Lord an oppressor or is He just?” The Prophet replied, “Woe unto you, O woman, He is the All-Just, Who never oppresses. What is your story?”

She explained that she was a widow with three daughters and that she provided for them by what she would spin with her hands. She explained, “Yesterday, I tied what I had spun into a red cloth to sell in the marketplace so as to provide for my children. As I was walking, a bird came and snatched the cloth from me and flew away, leaving me with nothing to sell for the provision of my children.”

As the woman was speaking to Dawud (PBUH), someone came knocking on his door. He gave permission for them to enter and learned that they were ten businessmen bringing with them one hundred dinars each. They said, “O Prophet of Allah, give this wealth to the one that is deserving.” Dawud asked them what had brought them to him with their wealth.

They explained, “O Prophet of Allah, we were on a boat, the wind was very violent, and we were about to drown when a bird came and dropped a red cloth upon us. In this cloth was some yarn and with this we were able to block the hole in the ship until the winds subsided and we vowed that each one of us would give one hundred dinars in charity. So give that amount to whomever you please.” Dawud turned to the woman and said, “Your Lord does business for you in the land and in the sea, yet you ask whether He oppresses!” He gave the 1000 dinars and said: “Spend this on your children.”

PBUH: Peace be upon him

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 68

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

Shu’bah and Qatadah related from Yunus bin Jubair, who said that he and his companions visited Jundub and said to him, “Give us some advice.’ He replied, “I advise you to fear Allah. I advise you to adhere to the Qur’an – for it is light in the darkest of nights and it is guidance during the day. Apply it… and if a trial, such as poverty, comes to you, give precedence to your religion over wealth. If that trial worsens, continue to put your religion before your wealth and your soul, for indeed the only one who is destroyed is the one whose religion is destroyed; the one who is poor is the one who has lost his religion. Know that there is no poverty after Paradise and there is no richness after the Hellfire.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 42

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

The life of a Muslim must stand on seven foundations: adherence to Allah’s Book, following the way of Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection), eating that which is lawful, refraining from harming others, staying away from sins, repenting frequently, and fulfilling the rights of others. In the past and present, the great Islamic jurists of this nation have confirmed that the Muslim’s life must be based on the aforesaid foundations. Brother Muslim, you must remain firm upon those seven comprehensive foundations – by the Will of Allah – until the day you die.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 147

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

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahuAllah), in his book Ad-Da’ Wad-Dawa’, said that surely sins are like the seeds of fruits that always bear like fruits. Some of our pious predecessors have said that indeed the punishment for committing a sin is that one is compelled to commit sin again, and the reward for committing a good deed is the guidance to follow that up with yet another good deed. This singular action of doing a good deed bears a series of good deeds and in turn one’s profits multiply. Similarly bad deeds beget more bad deeds and begin to take shape and permanence in one’s character.

If a righteous person were to leave a good deed, he would feel confined and constricted, though he lives in a world of vast magnitude. Much like a fish out of water, the soul finds rest only in the tides of moral decency. So, it is the same for the sinner, who finds comfort only in the familiarity and repetition of an old sin. He, too, feels the same sense of longing as the righteous person does. He sins not for the pleasure that is derived from it, but to pacify the pain that being away from it brings.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 32