TYPES OF PEOPLE IN PRAYER

Ibn al Qayyim رحمه الله said, when it comes to prayer, people are of five levels:

●1) The first level is the one who wrongs himself and is negligent. He does not do wudoo’ properly, or pray at the right time or make sure he does all the necessary parts of prayer.

●2) The second is one who observes the outward essentials of prayer, prays on time and does wudoo’, but he has lost the battle against his own self and is overwhelmed with waswa'as (whispers)

●3) The third is one who observes the outward essentials of prayer, prays on time and does wudoo’, and also strives against his own self and against waswaas, but he is preoccupied with his struggle against his enemy (i.e. the Shaytan), lest he steal from his prayer, so he is engaged in salah and jihad at the same time.

●4) The fourth is one who when he stands up to pray, he fulfils all the requirements of the prayer, and his heart is fully focused and alert lest he omit anything, and his concern is to do the prayer properly and perfectly. His heart is deeply immersed in his prayer and worship of his Lord.

●5) The fifth is one who does all of that, but he takes his heart and places it before his Lord, looking at his Lord with his heart and focusing on Him, filled with love and adoration, as if he is actually seeing Him. That waswaas and those thoughts diminish, and the barriers between him and his Lord are lifted. The difference between the prayer of this person and the prayer of anyone else is greater than the difference between heaven and earth. When this person prays, he is preoccupied with his Lord and content with Him.

1.The first type is punishable.
2.The second is accountable.
3.The third is striving so he is not counted as a sinner.
4.The fourth is rewarded and
5.The fifth is drawn close to his Lord because he is one of those for whom prayer is a source of joy.

Whoever finds their joy in Salah in this life, will find their joy in being close to Allah in the Hereafter, and will also find his joy in Allah in this world. Whoever finds his joy in Allah will be content with everything, and whoever does not find his joy in Allah, will be destroyed by his feelings of grief and regret for worldly matters.”

[al-Waabil al-Sayyib, pg. 40].

Ibn al-Jawzī [رحمه اللّٰه]said:

❝The month of Ramaḍān to the other months is like Yūsuf to his brothers. So, just like Yūsuf was the most beloved son to Yaʿqūb, Ramaḍān is likewise the most beloved month to Allāh.❞

Source:‎ [بستان العارفين ورياض السامعين ص ٢١٣]

Ibn al-Jawzi (rahimahullah) said:

Those addicted to lowly desires reach a state where they no longer enjoy themselves, but are unable to restrain themselves because it becomes as if it’s a necessity of life (it becomes second nature to them).

Source: Dham al-Hawa, pgs. 36-37]

BLOOD🩸, DISEASE🦠 AND RAIN🌧.

Ka’b al-Ahbar رضي الله تعالى عنه said:

“If you see swords have been unsheathed and blood spilled, then know the ruling of Allāh has been lost and Allāh has taken revenge for some of them with others.

If you see that disease has spread then know fornication and adultery has spread.

If you see that rain has been withheld then know zakāh has been withheld and people have denied what is with them so Allāh denied what is with Him.”

Hilyat-ul-Awliyā 3/256.

The Heart And Eemaan

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah [رحمه الله] said:

‎«لا يحصل المرض إلا لنقص أسباب الصحة كذلك القلب لا يمرض إلا لنقص إيمانه.»

❝Sickness does not occur except due to a deficiency in reasons of health, likewise the heart does not become sick except due to deficiency of its Eemaan.❞

[Majmoo Al-Fatawa, (10/637)]

❞
Sufyani al-Thawri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said
: The greatest reward that a believer will see in the book of his deeds on the Day of Resurrection is sorrow.❝

◆Al-Hilya | 48

❞
Imam 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
If a man has a shortcoming in doing good deeds, he will be tested with sorrow to expiate his sins

◆Al-Mawsoo’a of Ibn Abi al-Dunia

❞Al-Fudhayl ibn 'Ayyadh (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
When Allaah loves a servant, He increases his sorrow, and when He is angry with a servant, He opens the world to him.❝
.
◆Syiar A’lam An-Nubala’ | 433/8

❞
Yazid al-Raqashi says:
Prayers are answered when sorrow and grief attack you.❝

◆Al-Ham Wa Al-Huzn of Ibn Abi al-Dunia
..

🎓Shaikh `Abdul Razzaaq al-Badr:

While reciting the Qur’aan, your concern should not be: "When can I finish this Surah?"

Rather, when reciting the Qur’aan, you should be concerned with: "When will I receive guidance through this Qur’aan?", "When will I benefit from this Qur’aan?", "When will I be from the people of al-Qur’aan (those who recite it and implement it)?"

Allah's Plan.. SubhanAllah

The Intellect of the Elderly Man is Stronger Than That of the Youth

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:

الشيخ وإن ضعف بدنه ؛ فعقله أقوى من عقل الشاب

“The elderly man, even if his body is weak, his intellect is stronger than the intellect of the youth.” Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā (16/281).

Narrated 'Aisha رضي الله عنها A man asked permission to enter upon the Prophet. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw him, he said, "What an evil brother of his tribe! And what an evil son of his tribe!" When that man sat down, the Prophet (ﷺ) behaved with him in a nice and polite manner and was completely at ease with him. When that person had left, 'Aisha رضي الله عنها said (to the Prophet). "O Allah's Apostle! When you saw that man, you said so-and-so about him, then you showed him a kind and polite behavior, and you enjoyed his company?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O 'Aisha! Have you ever seen me speaking a bad and dirty language? (Remember that) the worst people in Allah's sight on the Day of Resurrection will be those whom the people leave to be away from their evil ."

Sahih al-Bukhari 6032

✒ If A Part Of Paradise Was Revealed

Prophet Muḥammad Ṣallallāhu-ʿAlaihi Wa Sallam said:

“If as little as a fingernail of what is in Jannah were to appear (in Dunyā), it would have beautified all far corners of the heavens and the earth.”

● [سلسلة الأحاديث الصحيحة ٣٣٩٦]

Translated By: Sameeullaah Sameeullaah (Aboo Maryamm)

Treat the non-believers with respect & care, because many of them accepted Islam through the good characters of our prophet (ﷺ).
#Manners#

Temptation of Wasting Time in Ramaḍān

Over the past two days, I found myself interested in looking at stories online about accidents that took place in Niagara Falls, people almost drowning and being saved, or almost falling over the falls, then it took me to stories of cars falling in the water and sinking.

Then I stopped myself and went back to my Qur'ān recitation, only to find myself reciting the following verses of Sūrat al-Isrā' and realizing that nothing is random or coincidence, as if Allāh is telling me not to waste time and just keep up with my Qur'ān - الله أكبر

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ كَفُورًا (67)

And when adversity touches you at sea, lost are [all] those you invoke except for Him. But when He delivers you to the land, you turn away [from Him]. And ever is man ungrateful.

أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا (68)

Then do you feel secure that [instead] He will not cause a part of the land to swallow you or send against you a storm of stones? Then you would not find for yourselves an advocate.

أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ۙ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا (69)

Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back into the sea another time and send upon you a hurricane of wind and drown you for what you denied? Then you would not find for yourselves against Us an avenger.

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا (70)

And We have certainly honored the children of Ādam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.

Reciting the Qur’ān with reflection and contemplation helps in executing difficult tasks and bearing adversities:

{ وَرَتِّلْ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلاً * إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلاً ثَقِيلاً }
“And recite the Qur’ān with measured recitation. Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.” [Al-Muzzammil 73:4-5]

قراءة القرآن بتدبر وتفكر تعين على تكاليف الأعمال وتحمّل الشدائد (ورتل القرآن ترتيلاً إنا سنلقي عليك قولًا ثقيلاً(

Allah says in surah Aal 'Imran:

[إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ ۗ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ]
If Allah aids you, no one can overcome you. But if He forsakes you, then who is there after Him that could help you? And upon Allah let the believers place their reliance. [160]

Commenting on this, Imam al-Shawkani wrote:

[من علم أنه لا ناصر له إلا الله سبحانه وأن من نصره الله لا غالب له ، ومن خذله لا ناصر له ، فوض أموره إليه وتوكل عليه ولم يشتغل بغيره ، وتقديم الجار والمجرور على الفعل في قوله : وعلى الله فليتوكل المؤمنون لإفادة قصره عليه . ]

Anyone who knows that there is no one who can grant him victory except Allah, and that if Allah helps someone no one can defeat him, and that if He forsakes someone then no one can make him victorious, then he would entrust his affairs to Allah, place his reliance on Him, and not busy himself with anyone else.

And placing the preposition and object of the preposition before the verb in "And upon Allah let the believers place their reliance" indicates that this reliance should be exclusively for Allah.

[Fath al-Qadeer pg 252]

كتاب الزكاة24 Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat)
(53)Chapter: The Statement of Allah 'Azza wa Jall: "... They do not beg people persistently. ..." (2:273) And who may be considered to have enough to be content and abstain from begging"(53)بَابُ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {لاَ يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا} وَكَمِ الْغِنَى
Sahih al-Bukhari 1476

Narrated Abu Huraira (May ALLAH be pleased with him):

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The poor person is not the one who asks a morsel or two (of meals) from the others, but the poor is the one who has nothing and is ashamed to beg from others."

حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي تَرُدُّهُ الأُكْلَةُ وَالأُكْلَتَانِ، وَلَكِنِ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ غِنًى وَيَسْتَحْيِي أَوْ لاَ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ‏"‌‏.‏
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1476
In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 77
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 24, Hadith 554

The devil Shaytan was NOT an angel once he was a Jinn...this is why it's important to read Qur'aan with translation

💠* The Sunnah of spitting out the date seed*

➡️ *After eating a date, the Sunnah of casting aside the date seed from the mouth is to place it at the back of the hand, between the forefinger (index finger) and the middle finger, and not with the underside of the hand, i.e. the palm. So that the fingers do not touch the wet date seed and then the same hand is used to pick another date. *

*As has been reported in the Hadeeth:*

*Abdullaah Ibn Busr reported: "Allaah's Messenger ﷺ came to my father and we brought to him a meal and he ate out of that. He was then given dates which he ate, casting out the date seeds between his fingers and holding his forefinger and middle finger together"... *
📚* [Saheeh Muslim (2042) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee]*

*Abdullaah Ibn Busr from Banu Sulaim said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ came as guest to my father's house. He offered food to him ﷺ and brought hais. He then brought a drink which he ﷺ drank and then he ﷺ passed it to the one on his right. He ﷺ then ate dried dates and began to put the seeds on the back of his forefinger and middle finger. When he ﷺ got up, my father also got up, and held the rein of his ﷺ mount. He said : Pray to Allah for me. He ﷺ said : "O Allaah, bless them in what you have provided them, and have mercy on them." *
📚* [Sunan Abu Dawood (3729) and graded as "Saheeh" by Shaikh al-Albaanee] *

🌴🌴🌴

➡️ *It is disliked to put the date seed back in the same dish/plate which contains dates or to hold the dates and date seeds in the same hand after discarding it from the mouth.*

*Ibn Muflih reported in al-Aadaab al-Shariyyah:*

*"And on the authority of Anas رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ disliked to put back the seed in the same plate which contained dates as mentioned by al-Baihaqee." *

*And Ibn al-Jawzee said in "Aadaab al-Akal" (Etiquettes of eating): "Do not mix the date seeds and the dates in the same plate or in the same hand after spitting it from the mouth. Rather, one should place it on the back of the hand..."*

📚* [al-Aadaab al-Shariyyah (3/225)]*

Just yesterday, we were eagerly waiting for Ramadan to start. Making lots of Du'aa to Allāh to make us reach Ramadan.

Now we are already half way through Ramadan, making Du'aa to Allāh to make us reach Laylat al-Qadar.

Soon Ramadan will be over and there will be two groups among us: *those who did their best in Ramadan and those who did not.*

_Which category do you want to be in?_

Even if you started the month slow, you can now start to worship really hard during the 2nd half of the month.

إن شاء الله

Ali رضي الله عنه:

"When the weapon of the Prophet ﷺ had been assembled, I found on the handle or blade of his sword three sayings:

'Maintain relations with those who cut you off, speak the truth even if it is against yourself, and be good to one who is evil to you.'"

[Mu’jam Ibn al-A’rābī: 1507]
Grade: Sahih

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin (رحمه الله) said:

“If you experienced prolonged distress and suffering, then it is upon you to: have patience (awaiting relief - which is worship) and pray.”

-Tafsirul Fatihah wal Baqarah, 1/165.