Sufyan al-Thawri (may Allah have mercy upon him):

رضا الناس غاية لا تُدْرَك، فأحمقُ الناسِ من طلب ما لا يُدْرَك

“People’s pleasure is a goal that can never be attained. The most foolish of people is the one who seeks that which can never be attained.”

Qūt al-Qulūb: 2/389

Shaykh Sulaymaan ar-Ruhayli, may Allah preserve him, said:

"Taqwa, if it is mentioned by itself then it means the deen, all of it. And if it is mentioned with prohibited actions or commandments then the intended meaning is: Fear the punishment of Allah."

Source: Sharh al-Waseeyah as-Sughraa

التقوى إذا ذُكرَت مفرَدة؛ فهي تعني الدِّين كلّه وإذا ذُكِرَ معها المنهيات أو الأَوامِر؛ فيكون المقصود بها: اتِّقاء عذاب الله.

شرح الوصية الصغرى للشيخ سليمان الرحيلي -حفظه الله-

The dunya will make you think that every blessing has to be financial, so you underrate the gift of life, family, imaan, health and peace of mind.

Being innocent and overly compassionate often does more harm than good. People don’t see it as kindness; they see it as weakness. They use your softness, silence, and patience for their own benefit and agendas, until you are completely drained. When your intentions and emotions are repeatedly ignored or exploited, there comes a point where you feel emotionally numb, as if something inside you has shut down.
The problem is not innocence or compassion itself, but innocence without boundaries. Kindness without awareness turns into self-harm. True wisdom is having a soft heart with open eyes being caring, yet protecting your self-respect and limits. Otherwise, a person eventually becomes what they never wanted to be: cold, detached, and exhausted.

They plan but Allah is the best of planners.

Jumuʿah: The Best Day with Allāh

Friday — The Day of Celebration

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
“Verily, Allah has made this day (of Friday) a celebration for the Muslims. So whoever comes to Friday (prayer), then let him bathe himself, and if he has any perfume let him put some on, and use the toothstick.”

● [Ibn Mājah 1098, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb 1/298]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
“The Friday prayer is from the greatest of congregations of the Muslims.”

● [Zād al-Maʿād 1/364–365]

Sending Salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
“Increase in salutations upon me, on the day of Friday (Jumuʿah) and its night.”

● [Zād al-Maʿād 2/420]

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
“Send prayer upon me abundantly on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday) & on the night of Jumu’ah (Thursday night), for he who sends prayer upon me one time, Allāh sends prayer upon him 10 times.”

● [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ 1209]

Virtue of Ṣalāh on Jumuʿah

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best of prayers with Allāh is the prayer of morning (Fajr) on the Day of Friday in congregation.”

● [Ṣaḥīḥah 1566]

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday, and bathes completely, and goes early, arriving early, gets close and listens and is silent, there will be for him in every step he takes, the reward of a year of fasting and standing (in prayer).”

● [Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 496]

Recitation of Sūrah al-Kahf

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays will be adorned with light from that Friday to the next.”

● [Ṣaḥīḥ Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr 2/6470]

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light for him between this Friday and the next.”

● [al-Sunan al-Kubrā 5856]

Duʿā on Jumuʿah

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is such an hour on Friday, that if any Muslim makes Du’ā during it, his Du’ā will be accepted.”

● [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5295, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 852]

Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
“A time when Du’ās will be accepted is during the last hour of ‘Asr on Jumu’ah.”

● [Zād al-Maʿād 1/104]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله also said:
“The Hour of Response in it (i.e. Friday) is like the Night of Decree in Ramaḍān.”

● [Zād al-Maʿād 1/398]

Expiation of Sins

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Jumʿah to Jumʿah expiates the minor sins in between them except for the major sins.”

● [al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 3623]

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best of days with Allāh is the day of Jumu'ah.”

● [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ 1098, al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 1502]

Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said:
“The leader of all days is Friday and the leader of all months is Ramaḍān.”

● [Ibn Abī Shaybah in al-Muṣannaf 5552]

Etiquette of Jumuʿah Khutbah & Masjid Manners

Listening and Silence During the Khutbah

Saʿīd ibn Jubayr رحمه الله said:
“That I hit whips on my head, it is more beloved to me than me talking whilst the Imām is giving a sermon.”

● [Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd 6/260]

Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله said:
“It is not legislated to return the salām during the khuṭbah. Rather you must remain silent.”

● [Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 12/339]

Sh Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله said:
“It is impermissible for a man to give salām during Friday sermon and also it is ḥarām to return salām.”

● [Fatāwā 16/100]

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said:
“From the rulings of Jumuʿah prayer is that it is not permissible to speak whilst the Imām is giving the khutbah.”

● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/198]

Entering the Masjid on Jumuʿah

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said:
“It is recommended to leave early to go to the Masjid on the day of Jumu’ah and when one enters pray two units of prayer for Taḥiyyat al-Masjid.”

● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/196]

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“It is more right for the one who comes on Jumu’ah that he busy himself with prayer up until the Imām comes out [to give the khutbah]...”

● [Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 24/189]

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said:
“From the rulings of Jumuʿah is that whoever comes to the Masjid whilst the Imām is giving the khutbah, he should not sit until he has prayed two light units of prayer.”

● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/198]

The Man who Killed 100 People vis-à-vis a Man of Knowledge

We all know the famous narration about that man from the Children of Israel who killed 99 people. This man went to get advice about repenting from his crimes from a man who was known to be an avid worshiper of Allaah.

The worshiper, who was so deep in his worship, could not fathom how Allaah would forgive such a mass murder, so he answered the killer of 99 people by telling him that there is no repentance for him. So the man, being used to killing, and getting such an answer, killed the avid worshiper to make the number 100.

Lessons so far:

1. Giving a verdict without knowledge can go as far as causing loss of life, not just ruining families or loss or religion, among others.

2. The man's devoutness to worshiping Allaah is not enough for him to give verdicts. Without knowledge, worship is not as valuable. Worshiping Allaah should be done with knowledge and proper insight.

3. One's acts of worship should not cause him to doubt that Allaah will forgive even the worst of sins. He should not let his acts of worship blind him to the fact that Allaah forgives any sin as long as one is alive, and any sin except Shirk if one dies with other sins, even major ones.

Moving on...

The killer of 100 went to a man of knowledge and asked him the same question about repentance. The man of knowledge told him that nobody is standing between him and his repentance to Allaah, and that he must migrate and abandon the bad town in which he was living and move to a good town instead.

More lessons:

4. One who is looking to change his life around should abandon evil places and evil people. The overall environment and the people have a major impact on an individual.

5. The man with knowledge gave the correct advice, indeed, it is not surprising to assume that the man of knowledge was also an avid worshiper of Allaah, and even if he was not as avid as the one without knowledge, the man of knowledge still has more fear of Allaah because he has that knowledge.

Moving on...

On the way, the killer of 100 died, and the angels of mercy disputed with the angels of torment about who should take his soul. Allaah sent an angel to settle the dispute and told them to measure the distance which the man travelled before dying, and that if he was closer to the good town, that the angels of mercy would take his soul. Allaah caused the landscape to change so that the distance between the man and the good town is shorter.

Final lessons:

6. Allaah will make a way out for you if your sincere, no matter how evil you think you are, no matter what evil actions you have done, if you feel really bad about those deeds and feel a darkness in your heart, that is because your heart had light in it to begin with, otherwise, you would not have such a great feeling of sorrow for your bad deeds. No matter how great are your evil deeds, Allaah is greater and will forgive you.

7. Never give up hope in Allaah's mercy and forgiveness.

May Allaah grant us wisdom and insight and keep us steadfast on His straight path. Aameen

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN ISLAM:

(Practical insights from our deen that always work for: anger, sadness, fear, jealousy and guilt)

1. When feeling angry:

- Make Wudu (Ablution): The Prophet (fe) said, "Anger is from Shaytan, and Shaytan is created from fire. Fire is extinguished by water, so when one of you becomes angry. make wudu." (Abu Dawood)
- Change Your Position: If you're standing, sit down, and if you're sitting, lie down. The Prophet (a) recommended this to diffuse anger.
- Seek Refuge in Allah from Shaytan
- Recite or Listen to the Quran: its verses can help reduce the intensity of anger.

2. When Feeling Sad or Anxious:

- Pray Two Rakat of Salah: The Prophet (se) would often turn to prayer when distressed. Salah realigns focus toward Allah.
- Make Du'a: The Prophet (af) taught a powerful du'a for anxiety and grief: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men." (Bukhari)
- Recite Surah Ad-Duha (93)
- Remember the Blessings of Allah

3. When Feeling Fear or Doubt:
- Recite Du'a for Protection: One powerful du'a is: "Hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa Huwa 'alayhi tawakkaltu wa Huwa Rabbul-Arshil-Adheem" (Sufficient for me is Allah)
- Remember Allah's Plan: "Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good." (Quran 16:128) Remind yourself that Allah is in control and His plan is always best.
- Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas: Reciting these Surahs provides spiritual protection against fear, envy, and harm.

4. When Feeling Jealous:

- Make Du'a for the Person: The Prophet (pbuh) taught that if you see something you envy in someone, make du'a for barakah (blessings) in their life. This reduces jealousy and earns reward.

- Reflect on Qadr (Divine Decree): Remind yourself that everything happens by Allah's decree, and He gives everyone exactly what they need.

- Focus on Your Own Blessings: Remember the good things Allah has given you, and focus on self-improvement rather than comparison.

5. When Feeling Guilt or Shame:

- Seek Forgiveness (Istighfar): Constantly saying "Astaghfirullah" (I seek forgiveness from Allah) cleanses the heart and brings peace.

- Perform a Good Deed: The Prophet (sa) said: Follow up a bad deed with a good one. and it will wipe it out." (Tirmidhi). Doing good deeds helps alleviate guilt and earns Allah's pleasure.

- Repent Sincerely (Tawbah): Turn back to Allah with sincere repentance, trustir

Allah is the Most Forgiving.

Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله said:

‎“Hardships have an end whose time is known only to Allāh.

‎So, anyone experiencing them has no choice but to be patient.

‎Losing patience before that time will not help anything.”

‎[Sayd al-khātir]

‘Abdullāh bin ‘Amr رضي الله عنه:

‎“A time will come upon people when they will gather in their mosques, and there will not be a believer among them”

{Sifāt al-Nifāq by al-Firyābī p138}

Imam Bukhari created a Chapter: The preaching (and teaching) of the (religious) knowledge to women by the Imam (Chief); and he recorded the hadith,

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

Once Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came out while Bilal was accompanying him. He went towards the women thinking that they had not heard him (i.e. his sermon). So he preached them and ordered them to pay alms. (Hearing that) the women started giving alms; some donated their ear-rings, some gave their rings and Bilal was collecting them in the corner of his garment. [Bukhari 98]

Ibn al-Mulaqqin said,
'The imam's obligation to attend to his flock, teach them, and admonish them, men and women alike, as indicated by his statement: "He thought that the women had not heard him, so he admonished them." [التوضيح لشرح الجامع الصحيح,]

Al-Nawawi said: This indicates the desirability of admonishing women, reminding them of the Hereafter and the rulings of Islam, and urging them to give charity. This is provided that no harm or temptation results from it for the one admonishing or the one being admonished, and so on.

This indicates the permissibility of a woman giving charity from her own wealth without her husband's permission, and this is not limited to one-third of her wealth.

“It was said to Ibn Mas’ood (رضي الله عنه):

We are not able to perform the Qiyam al-layl (Tahajjud prayers)..

He replied: “Distance yourselves from your sins.”

[Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif p98]

"If you don't find me in Jannah then ask about me..."

Surely the people of Jannah when they enter and they don't find those companions of theirs who were with them upon good in this world, they will intercede for them in front of Allah (swt) and they will say:

"Oh Rabb we have brothers and sisters who used to offer salah and fast with us, we do not see them?

Allah (swt) will say, "Go to the fire and take out any person who had even an atoms amount of emaan (faith) in his heart."

Hasan Basri said, "Have lots of believing friends because they will be able to intercede for you on the day of Qiyamah.' If you don't find me in Jannah then please ask about me..."

Sahih Bukhari 7704

Advice on how to attain Al-Hayā’: Be humble, don’t put yourself forward, don’t seek position, fame or notoriety―dress and behave modestly (males and females), don’t look down upon others, help the weak, aid the oppressed, don’t show-off, avoid the desire to be the centre of conversations and attention―don’t desire to have the most followers on social media, and don’t put out images of yourself for the world to see―don’t seek to embarrass and shame others, and especially the people of Sunnah, rather, learn to love them and aid them―and if you are unknown, praise Allah, and thank Him! The Messenger (ﷺ) said: “There is not a person who humbles himself for Allah except that Allah raises him.” (Muslim, no. 2588)

(Based on and adapted from Sharh Kitāb Al-Imān min Sahīh Al-Bukhāri of Ash-Shaikh Al-‘Allāmah Sālih Al-Fawzān, pp. 84-85)

A Supplication to Remove Poverty and All Harms

Mak-hool (rahimahullah) said:

Whoever says —

لاَ حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ ،وَلا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللهِ إِلاَّ إلَيْهِ

laa hawlaa wa-laa quwwata illa bilLaah, wa-laa mal-ja’a min-Allahi illa ilayH

There is no power nor strength except with Allah, and there is no refuge from Allah except unto Him

— Allah will remove from him seventy types of harm,

the least of which is poverty.

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah), 20447]

From the Treasures of Jannah

Abu Musa (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to me, "Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Jannah?"

I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!"

Thereupon he (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,

لاَ حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ

"(Recite) 'laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa bilLaah' (there is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah)."

[aI-Bukhari 6384, and Muslim 2704, an-Nasa’i in ‘Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah’ 356, Riyad as-Salihin, 1443, In-Book Reference: Book 15, Hadith 36, Buloogh al-Mar’am, Book 16, Hadith no. 111]

an-Nasa’i (rahimahullah) added in his version,

{وَلَا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ}

“there is no refuge from Allah except by turning to Him.”

[Buloogh al-Mar’am, Book 16, Hadith no. 112, an-Nasa’i in ‘Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah’ 358]

*Al-Ḥasan (al-Baṣrī) رحمه اللهsaid:*

*“O son of Ādam! Sell your current life for your Hereafter, and you will win both. Do not sell your Hereafter for this life, for you will lose them both.”*

*[Abū Nuʿaym al-ʾAṣbahānī, Ḥilyah ʾl-Awliyāʾ 2/143]*

Question:

What is better, that a person reads the Qur’aan and finishes it many times or that he reads it pondering over its Tafseer [and finishes it] once or twice in Ramadhaan?

Shaykh Ahmad Yahya An-Najmee:

”By Allaah if he reads it once with its explanation and understands it, it is better than if he reads it being hasty or so. And when a man said to Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (Radiya Allaahu ‘anhu),” I have indeed read al Mufassal yesterday” [Mufassal, 4 Juzz from Qaaf up to An-Naas]. Ibn Mas’ood answered: “This is the reading of a hasty poet.”

It is therefore better to read and ponder [over the Aayah] using an explanation to make the meaning clear. It is better to read with a Tafseer and to ponder [over the Aayah], Na’am.”

_Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه used to say:_

_“When the Quran is recited in a home, that house becomes spacious and comfortable for those who live there. Angels remain present within it, devils stay away from it, and its blessings increase. But when the Quran is not recited in a home, that house becomes cramped and uncomfortable for its inhabitants. The angels depart from it, devils enter it, and its blessings decrease.”_

*_(Sunan Darimi, Hadith: 3352)_*

Allaah, The Most High, said:
‎وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا
((And speak good to people)) (Al-Baqarah: 83)

He, The Mighty and Majestic, said likewise:

‎وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
((And say to My servants that they should say that which is best. Indeed, Satan provokes strife between them. Verily; Satan is to man a clear enemy.)) (Al-Israa: 53)

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
‎الكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ
((The good word is charity.))
[Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (no.2707) and Muslim (no.1009)]

Shaikh ‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: “The good word in reality opens the heart and becomes a reason for an abundance of good.”

[Al-Qawl al-Mufeed ‘alaa Kitaab at-Tawheed vol.2 p.88]
https://www.wrightstreetmosque.com/words-that-inspired-statements-that-motivated-the-great-scholars/#_ftn3

Today's chain of transmission in taking Islamic knowledge:

" I saw Google who narrated from FaceBook who narrated from Twitter from You Tube from keyboard Mufti who got his inspiration from his own desires who said: Verily, the religion is about being kind to others and that is based purely on your personal opinions and desires and your perception of what is good, and when in doubt, open up the online shopping cart and engage yourself in fatwa shopping and make sure you start the chain of narration from Google. "

[Source: Imam Liberalist son of Modernist]

~ Moral of the story: knowledge starts from Google and ends with Google ~

When Ibn Taymiyyah entered prison, he found the prisoners pre-occupied with various types of games with which they passed time, such as chess, backgammon and the likes, of (those things that lead) to neglect of the five daily prayers.

So Ibn Taymiyyah disapproved of that from them.

He commanded them to adhere to the five daily prayers and to turn to Allaah through performance of righteous deeds, glorification of Allaah, seeking forgiveness for their sins and du’3a.

He made them acquainted with what they were in need of from the Sunnah.

He awakened their desire for it and urged them towards it, until a lot of good came about in the prison until the prison turned into a place of knowledge and religion so it became better than many of the small prayer rooms, the hospices, the places where people secluded themselves for worship and even the schools!

And it reached a point where many prisoners chose to remain with him after they were released, and those returning to the prison, which made it became so numerous that it became filled with them!

● [al-Uqood Ad-Du’riyyah Fee Dhikri Manaaqib Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (pp. 330-331)]