The heart is opened by avoiding excessive looking, talking, listening, mixing with the people, eating, and sleeping. These excesses cloud and restrict the heart; rather, most of the punishments in this life and the next come from them. How constricted are the hearts of the people who indulge in all of them!?

Book: One Hundred Pieces of Advice
Author: Ibn al Qayyim
Published by: Authentic Statements Publications
Translated by: Rasheed Barbee
Page: 47

✒ Be The Key To Goodness And Not Evil 🗝

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن من الناس ناسا مفاتيح للخير مغاليق للشر ، وإن من الناس ناسا مفاتيح للشر مغاليق للخير . فطوبى لمن جعل الله مفاتيح الخير على يديه ، وويل لمن جعل مفاتيح الشر على يديه

The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu-‘Alaihi Wa Sallam said: “Indeed, from amongst mankind are those who are KEYS to GOODNESS (and) LOCKS to EVIL and indeed from amongst mankind are those who are KEYS to EVIL (and) LOCKS to GOODNESS, so GLAD-TIDING to the one for whom Allāh has placed the keys of goodness in his hands and WOE to the one for whom Allāh has placed the keys of evil in his hands.”

● [مختصر صحيح الجامع الصغير ٢٢٢٣ ، قال الشيخ الألباني : الحديث بمجموع طرقه حسن]

It was narrated on the authority of Usamah ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire; his intestines will spill forth and he will go around them as a donkey goes around the millstone. The inmates of Hell will gather around him and will say, ‘O so and so, what happened to you? Did you not use to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil?’ He will say, ‘Yes, but I used to enjoin good and not do it, and I used to forbid evil and do it.’”

Bukhârî-3267 Muslim-2989
Alifta Translation
http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/fatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=459&PageNo=1&BookID=14

Upon the authority of Ibn Umar [رضي الله عنهما] who said: The messenger of Allah [ﷺ] said:
❆━━━━━━━❃━━━━━━━❆
❝Be plentiful in sowing the seeds of paradise, for indeed its water is sweet and fresh, and its soil is good, thus be plentiful in planting it’s seedlings
‘Laa Haula Wa Laa Quwwata illaa Billah.' ❞
❆━━━━━━━❃━━━━━━━❆
[Collected By At Tabaraani In 'Al Mu’jam Al kabeer’, (No. 13354) | Sh. Al Albani: ‘Hasan’ In Saheehul Jaami’, (No. 1213)] Translated By Abu Hakeem Bilal Davis.

Madeenah Book 1 - Markaz Al Athari
http://www.markazblr.com/madeenah-book-1

Markaz Al Athari
http://www.markazblr.com/oPcSN/madeenah-book-1

Yahya Ibn Mu`aadh used to say:
❝I am not instructing you to forsake the Dunya (worldly pleasures); but I only instruct you to abandon the sins.

Forsaking the Dunya is Fadheelah (graciousness or doing more than what is obligatory), while abandoning the sins is Fareedhah (an obligation).

For you are in greater need of fulfilling the obligations (for they have precedence over) fulfilling that which is optional.❞

[Sifatul-Safwah (2/297)]

Three Men and Three Women...

It is reported that ʿUmar b. Al-Khaṭṭāb – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

There are three types of men and three types of women. As for the women, then [one] is the chaste, Muslim, gentle, loving and childbearing woman. She helps her family in difficult situations and does not help situations to overcome her family. Rarely will you find such women. Another is a vessel, she does nothing more than bear children. The third type is a shackle, Allāh puts her around the neck of whomever he wills, and when he wills to remove it, he removes it.

Men are [also] three kinds. [The first is] a chaste, easy, gentle man who possesses opinion (insight) and is worthy of being consulted; and when a matter befalls him, he follows his insight, and approaches matters as they should be. [The second is] a man who has no opinions of his own, and when a matter befalls him he goes to the one who does have insight and should be consulted, and he adopts his opinion on the matter. The third is a man who is confused, lost and aimless; he neither follows (seeks) guidance, nor obeys any guide.

Al-Bayhaqī, Shuʿab Al-Īmān 10:39 ḥadīth 7131

🌐 Source: https://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/three-men-and-three-women/

Good deeds are not known based upon desires and innovations; rather, they are known by following the Sunnah; they are known by way of the Book and the Sunnah. Good deeds are every command we are told to do, either in the Book of Allāh or in the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Book: Explanation of the Concise Advices of Shaykh-ul-Islām ibn Taymiyyah
Author: Shaykh Sulaymān ar-Ruhaylī
Published by: Authentic Statements Publishing
Translated by: Rasheed Barbee
Page: 78

Love For The Sake Of Allāh

It is said that if two men love one another for the sake of Allāh, then the best of the two of them is the one who loves his companion more.

This is because this love comes from the love for Allāh, and whoever's love for Allāh is the deepest is the best.

[Book: The Principle Of Love & Desire by Shaykhul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 95 | Translator: Ihsan Gonsalves | Authentic Statements Publishing]

﴾يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا﴿

Translation: Oh woe to me; I wish I never took so-and-so as a friend!

Commentary: Whoever takes someone from the creation as a close friend [who is] in opposition to the commandment of Allaah and his Messenger, then this threat is for him!

Source: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah’s Majmoo’ al-Fatawa (v. 7, p. 73)

Sa’id ibn al-Haddad said: “Nothing obstructs the journey to Allaah more than the search for praise and fame.”

Source: Siyar a’lam an-Nubala (v. 14, p. 214)

Ibnul-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

The most intelligent one is he who complains about his grief to Allaah (alone).

[Al-Fawaaid, page 127]

@BeneficialReminders

☁️🌿 Ponder upon the verses of Allah ..

﷽

(The Prophet (Peace be upon him)) frowned and turned away,

Because there came to him the blind man (i.e. 'Abdullah bin Umm-Maktum, who came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) while he was preaching to one or some of the Quraish chiefs).

But what could tell you that per chance he might become pure (from sins)?

Or that he might receive admonition, and that the admonition might profit him?

As for him who thinks himself self-sufficient,

To him you attend;

What does it matter to you if he will not become pure (from disbelief, you are only a Messenger, your duty is to convey the Message of Allah).

But as to him who came to you running.

And is afraid (of Allah and His Punishment),

Of him you are neglectful and divert your attention to another,

Nay, (do not do like this), indeed it (these Verses of this Quran) are an admonition,

So whoever wills, let him pay attention to it.


Surah: 'Abasa
Translation: Muhsin Khan

Trust in Allāh means turning your affairs to Allāh and relying upon Him. Allah the Exalted said:

و منْ يتو كلْ على الله فهو حسبه
And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.
[Surah at-Talaq 65:3]

Whoever puts his trust in Allah and surrenders his affairs to Allah then Allah will protect all of his affairs.

قل حسبي الله عليه يتو كل المتو كلون
Say: "Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust must put their trust.
[Surah az-Zumar 39:38]

Say: Allah suffices me from needing anyone other than Him. To Him I entrust all of my affairs. Allah is sufficient. In His Hand is the harm and the benefit, and this is not in the hand of anyone other than Him.

{Explanation of the concise advices of shaykh ul islam ibn Taymiyyah by sh sulayman ar ruhaylee, P. 236}

Abū Khuraym `Uqbah b. Abī al-Ṣahbā reported that he heard Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī say: "O young people, I warn you of procrastination, (saying): ‘Soon, I am going to do this, and soon I am going to do that.’“

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُوعَاصِمٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خُرَيْمٍ عُقْبَةُ بْنُ أَبِي الصَّهْبَاءِ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الْحَسَنَ، يَقُولُ: " يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالتَّسْوِيفَ: سَوْفَ أَفْعَلُ، سَوْفَ أَفْعَلُ "

Ibn Abī ʾl-Dunyā, Qaṣr ʾl-Amal #212 1/141
ابن أبي الدنيا، قصر الأمل #٢١٢ ١/١٤١
http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-6899/page-206

Ibn al-Jawzi:

“And the miskeen, the true miskeen, is the one who wasted his life learning what he does not practice, thus he looses the pleasures of the dunya and the goodness of the akhirah. In addition to Coming forth bankrupt on the Day of Judgment with strong evidences against himself.”

[Sayd al-Khatir, p. 138]

“All men go out early.....”

- AbuMuadhTaqweem

https://twitter.com/MarkazBukhari/status/1088779406305308672

If a calamity befalls you, look towards Allāh’s favor upon you. If Allāh tests you with a sickness in your body, then surely, despite your illness, He has blessed you in your body in many other ways. Thus, the One who tested you is the One who has also favored you with countless blessings. This will assist the Muslim in being patient with calamities that befall him. If a calamity befalls him and he is patient, he will attain a tremendous position.

Book: Explanation of the Concise Advices of Shaykh-ul-Islām ibn Taymiyyah
Author: Shaykh Sulaymān ar-Ruhaylī
Published by: Authentic Statements Publishing
Translated by: Rasheed Barbee
Page: 83

Between The Past And The Future – Imâm Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

al-Fawaa’id, pp 151-152, Al-Istiqaamah, No. 2

Your life in the present moment is in between the past and the future.

So what has preceded can be rectified by tawbah (repentance), nadam (regret) and istighfar (seeking Allaah’s forgiveness). And this is something that will neither tire you, nor cause you to toil as you would with strenuous labour. Rather it is an action of the heart.Then as regards the future (then it can be corrected) by withholding yourself from sins. And this abandonment is merely the leaving of something and to be at ease from it. This also is not action of the limbs, which requires you to strive and toil. Rather this is a firm resolve and intention of the heart – which will give rest to your body, heart and thoughts.

So as for what has preceded, then you rectify it with repentance. And as for the future – then you rectify it with firm resolve and intention. Neither of these involves any hardship or exertion of the limbs.

But then your attention must be directed to your life in the present – the time between two times. If you waste it, then you have wasted the opportunity to be of the fortunate and saved ones. If you look after it, having rectified the two times – what is before and after it, as we have said – then you will be successful and achieve rest, delight and ever-lasting bliss. However, looking after it is harder than that which comes before and after it, since guarding it involves keeping to that which is most befitting and beneficial for your soul, and that which will bring it success and well-being.


https://abdurrahman.org/2009/10/13/between-the-past-and-the-future/

Ibn Taymiyyah:

"The more a person has a desire for knowledge and worship, and the abler he is to engage in it ... the greater he will achieve, so long as Allah keeps him safe from Shayṭān; and the greater fitnah he will cause if the Shayṭān gets control over him."

Al Imān p.223

Translated by Abū Suhailah ʿUmar Quinn

https://twitter.com/AbooSuhailah/status/980290862310715392?s=19

Which is Better?

Q: When we are reciting the Qur'an, is it better to read from the Mushaf, or from memory?

A: As for reciting the Qur'an outside of the prayer, it is better to read from the Mushaf, because it is better from the view precision and memorization, except when reciting it from the heart is more conducive to memorizing it and makes it easier to concentrate. In this case one should recite it from the heart.

In the case of the prayer, it is better to recite from the heart. This is because when one recites from the Mushaf it results in unnecessary motion from holding the Mushaf, turning the pages, and looking at the letters. All of this causes one to be unable to properly place the right hand over the left on the chest while in the standing position, and it may also result in harsh treatment to it during the bowing and prostration positions when he has to put the Mushaf under his arm, etc. It is for these such reasons that we prefer a person to recite from his heart during prayer rather than from the Mushaf.

We even see some people, when they are praying behind an Imam, reading directly from the Mushaf, following his recitation. Because of the reasons mentioned above, and because the worshipper needs only to follow the Imam, people should not hold the Mushaf when they are praying.

But if the case is that the Imam's memory is not good, and he says to one of the followers, ''While you are praying behind me follow along in the Mushaf in case I make a mistake.'' Then there is no harm in this.

Ibn 'Uthaimin

Book: Fatawa Islamiyah Islamic Verdicts [Volume 7] - فتاوى إسلامية
Collected by: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-‘Aziz Al-Musnad
Published and translated by: Darussalam
Page: 17,18