💎 {{Sincerity & Tawakkul is the Foundation of Worship}}

🖊️Shaykh al Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH رحمه الله) said:

«فَكُلُّ عَمَلٍ يَعْمَلُهُ الْعَبْدُ وَلَا يَكُونُ طَاعَةً لِلَّهِ وَعِبَادَةً وَعَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ

"Every action performed by a servant that is not an act of obedience to Allah, an act of worship, and a righteous deed is futile.

فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُونَةٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا إلَّا مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ

Indeed, the world is cursed and everything in it is cursed except that which is for Allah.

وَإِنْ نَالَ بِذَلِكَ الْعَمَلِ رِئَاسَةً وَمَالًا فَغَايَةُ الْمُتَرَئِّسِ أَنْ يَكُونَ كَفِرْعَوْنَ وَغَايَةُ الْمُتَمَوِّلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ كقارون.

Even if one attains leadership and wealth through that action, the ultimate end of the one seeking leadership is to be like Pharaoh, and the ultimate end of the one seeking wealth is to be like Qarun.

وَقَدْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ فِي سُورَةِ الْقَصَصِ مِنْ قِصَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَارُونَ مَا فِيهِ عِبْرَةٌ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ.

Allah has mentioned in Surah Al-Qasas the stories of Pharaoh and Qarun, which contain lessons for those of understanding.

وَكُلُّ عَمَلٍ لَا يُعِينُ اللَّهُ الْعَبْدَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَكُونُ وَلَا يَنْفَعُ

Every action that Allah does not assist His servant in performing neither comes to pass and nor does it benefit.

فَمَا لَا يَكُونُ بِهِ لَا يَكُونُ وَمَا لَا يَكُونُ لَهُ ‌لَا ‌يَنْفَعُ ‌وَلَا ‌يَدُومُ»

What is not done for Him does not exist, and what is not for Him neither benefits nor endures."

["Majmoo' Al-Fatawa" (8/76)]

💎The Tābi'ī Mālik ibn Dīnār (d. 127 AH) said:

"مُنْذُ عَرَفْتُ النَّاسَ لَمْ أَفْرَحْ بِمَدْحِهِمْ وَلَمْ أَكْرَهْ مَذَمَّتَهُمْ.

"Since I came to know people, I have neither rejoiced in their praise nor disliked their blame."

قِيلَ وَلِمَ ذَاكَ؟

It was asked, "And why is that?"

قَالَ لِأَنَّ حَامِدَهُمْ مُفْرِطٌ وَذَامَّهُمْ مُفْرِطٌ".

He said, "Because their praiser exaggerates and their critic exaggerates."

[See: Al-‘Uzlah by Al-Khattābī (61); Az-Zuhd al-Kabīr by Al-Bayhaqī (154); Az-Zuhd by Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī (62); Tārīkh Dimashq (418/56)]

Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said: And some of the Salaf said:

"رُبَّ مُسْتَدْرَجٍ بِنِعَمِ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ لا يَعْلَمُ

"There may be someone who is led to destruction by the blessings of Allah while he does not know it.

وَرُبَّ مَغْرُورٍ بِسَتْرِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ لا يَعْلَمُ

And there may be someone who is deluded by Allah's concealment of his faults while he does not know it.

وَرُبَّ مَفْتُونٍ بِثَنَاءِ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ لا يَعْلَمُ!

And there may be someone who is deceived by the praise of people for him while he does not know it!"

[Al-Jawāb al-Kāfī (36)]


Read more:

https://www.umarquinn.com/articles/the-rarity-of-sincerity-4-curing-the-sickness-of-clout-chasing-amp-understanding-its-nature

💎Privately Work on Personal Virtue & Wisdom without Needing External Validation

🔘 Al Khattābī (d. 388 AH رحمه الله) said:

قَالَ بَعْضُ الْحُكَمَاءِ: إِنَّمَا يَسْتَوْحِشُ الْإِنْسَانُ بِالْوَحْدَةِ لِخَلَاءِ ذَاتِهِ وَعَدَمِ الْفَضِيلَةِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ

Some wise men have said: "A person only feels discomfort in solitude because of the emptiness within themselves and the lack of virtue in their soul.

فَيَتَكَثَّرُ حِينَئِذٍ بِمُلَاقَاةِ النَّاسِ وَيَطْرُدُ الْوَحْشَةَ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ، بِالْكَوْنِ مَعَهُمْ

Thus, they seek to fill this void by interacting with others, driving away their loneliness by being in the company of people.

فَإِذَا كَانَتْ ذَاتُهُ فَاضِلَةً طَلَبَ الْوَحْدَةَ لِيَسْتَعِينَ بِهَا عَلَى الْفِكْرَةِ وَيَتَفَرَّغَ لِاسْتِخْرَاجِ الْحِكْمَةِ.

However, if a person possesses virtue within themselves, they will seek solitude to aid in reflection and to devote themselves to the pursuit of wisdom."

وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: الِاسْتِئْنَاسُ بِالنَّاسِ مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ الْإِفْلَاسِ.

And some of them said: "Finding comfort in the company of others is a sign of bankruptcy."

[Al ‘Uzlah, p. 17]

💎Most People Love Controversy for the Sake of Controversy & Are Unappeasable

🖊️Abu Sulayman Al Khattābi ( رحمه الله) said:

وَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْحُكَمَاءِ: الشَّرُّ فِي النَّاسِ طِبَاعٌ، وَحُبُّ الْخِلَافِ لَهُمْ عَادَةٌ، وَالْجَوْرُ فِيهِمْ سُنَّةٌ

Some of the wise have said: "Evil is inherent in the nature of people, the love of differing is their norm, and injustice among them is a tradition.

وَلِذَلِكَ تَرَاهُمْ يُؤْذُونَ مَنْ لَا يُؤْذِيهِمْ وَيَظْلِمُونَ مَنْ لَا يَظْلِمُهُمْ وَيُخَالِفُونَ مَنْ يَنْصَحُهُمْ

For this reason, you see them harming those who do not harm them, wronging those who do not wrong them, and opposing those who advise them."…

وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: إِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُولِعُ بِالْخِلَافِ أَبَدًا حَتَّى إِنَّهُ يَرَى أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ الْأُمُورِ أَنْ لَا يُوَافِقَ أَحَدًا وَلَا يُجَامِعَهُ عَلَى رَأْي وَلَا يُوَاتِيهِ عَلَى مَحَبَّةٍ

…And some of them said: "Among people, there are those who are perpetually obsessed with differing, to the extent that they believe the best course of action is never to agree with anyone, never to align with anyone’s opinion, and never to unite with them in affection.

وَمَنْ كَانَ هَذَا عَادَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُبْصِرُ الْحَقَّ وَلَا يَنْصُرُهُ وَلَا يَعْتَقِدُهُ دِينًا وَمَذْهَبًا إِنَّمَا يَتَعَصَّبُ لِرَأْيِهِ وَيَنْتَقِمُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَيَسْعَى فِي مَرْضَاتِهَا

Whoever has this habit will neither perceive the truth, support it, nor adopt it as a belief or doctrine. Instead, they are biased towards their own opinion, seeking vengeance for themselves, and striving to satisfy their own desires.

حَتَّى إِنَّكَ لَوْ رُمْتَ أَنْ تَرْضَاهُ وَتَوَخَّيْتَ أَنْ تُوَافِقَهُ عَلَى الرَّأْيِ الَّذِي يَدْعُوكَ إِلَيْهِ تَعَمَّدَ لِخِلَافِكَ فِيهِ وَلَمْ يَرْضَ بِهِ حَتَّى يَنْتَقِلَ إِلَى نَقِيضِ قَوْلِهِ الْأَوَّلِ

Indeed, if you tried to please them and endeavored to agree with them on the opinion they were promoting, they would deliberately oppose you in that very matter and would not be satisfied until they shifted to the opposite of their first stance.

فَإِنْ عُدْتَ فِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى وَفَاقهِ عَادَ إِلَى خِلَافِكَ

If you then returned to agreeing with them, they would return to opposing you.

قَالَ أَبُو سُلَيْمَانَ فَمَنْ كَانَ بِهَذِهِ الْحَالِ فَعَلَيْكَ بِمُبَاعَدَتِهِ وَالنِّفَارِ عَنْ قُرْبِهِ فَإِنَّ رِضَاهُ غَايَةٌ لَا تُدْرَكُ وَمَدَى شَأْوِهِ لَا يُلْحَقُ

Abu Sulayman said: So, if someone is in such a state, you should distance yourself from them and avoid being near them, for their satisfaction is an unattainable goal, and the extent of their stubbornness cannot be matched."

📚[Al ‘Uzlah]

💎[Consistent Sincerity & Uprightness Adorns a Person with Graciousness, Gentleness & Sweetness]

Ibn al Qayyim (رحمه الله) said [in Al Madārij]:

والظّرف في هذه الطّائفة أحلى من كلِّ حلوٍ، وأزين من كلِّ زينٍ،

“The gracefulness found within this group (ie., the ascetic worshippers) is sweeter than any sweetness and more beautiful than any beauty.

فما قُرِن شيءٌ إلى شيءٍ أحسن من ظَرفٍ إلى صدقٍ وإخلاصٍ، وسرٍّ مع الله وجمعيّةٍ عليه،

Nothing has ever been paired together more perfectly than gracefulness with sincerity and devotion, and a secret relationship with Allah and a focused attachment to Him.

فَإِنَّ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ عُنِيَ بِهَذَا الشَّأْنِ تَضِيقُ نَفْسُهُ وَأَخْلَاقُهُ عَنْ سِوَى مَا هُوَ بِصَدَدِهِ، فَتَثْقُلُ وَطْأَتُهُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَجَلِيسِهِ،

Indeed, most of those who are deeply engaged in this spiritual endeavor find their spirits and manners discomforted by anything other than what they are focused on, making them burdensome to their family and companions.

وَيَضْمَنُ عَلَيْهِ بِبِشْرِهِ، وَالتَّبَسُّطِ إِلَيْهِ، وَلِينِ الْجَانِبِ لَهُ. وَلَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمَعْذُورٌ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي ذَلِكَ بِمَشْكُورٍ، فَإِنَّ الْخَلْقَ كُلَّهُمْ أَغْيَارٌ، إِلَّا مَنْ أَعَانَكَ عَلَى شَأْنِكَ وَسَاعَدَكَ عَلَى مَطْلُوبِكَ.

They may not extend cheerfulness, openness, and gentleness towards others. By Allah, they are excused for this, even if it does not earn them gratitude, for all of creation are distractions, except those who assist you in your spiritual pursuit and support you in achieving your objective.

فَإِذَا تَمَكَّنَ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَالِهِ وَصَارَ لَهُ إِقْبَالٌ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَجَمْعِيَّةٌ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكَةً وَمَقَامًا رَاسِخًا أَنِسَ بِالْخَلْقِ وَأَنِسُوا بِهِ، ‌

But when a servant becomes firmly established in his spiritual state, attaining a steadfast and deep connection with Allah, he finds comfort in the company of others, and they in him.

وَانْبَسَطَ ‌إِلَيْهِمْ وَحَمَلَهُمْ عَلَى ضَلَعِهِمْ وَبُطْءِ سَيْرِهِمْ، فَعَكَفَتِ الْقُلُوبُ عَلَى مَحَبَّتِهِ لِلُطْفِهِ وَظَرْفِهِ،

He becomes open towards them, bearing with their weaknesses and their slow progress. As a result, hearts are drawn to love him for his kindness and gracefulness.

فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يَنْفِرُونَ مِنَ الثقيل وَلَوْ بَلَغَ فِي الدِّينِ مَا بَلَغَ، وَلِلَّهِ مَا يَجْلِبُ اللُّطْفُ وَالظَّرْفُ مِنَ الْقُلُوبِ، وَيَدْفَعُ عَنْ صَاحِبِهِ مِنَ الشَّرِّ، وَيُسَهِّلُ لَهُ مَا تَوَعَّرَ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ،

People tend to avoid those who are burdensome, no matter how devout they may be. Indeed, the grace and charm that one displays can attract hearts and ward off harm, making things easy that would otherwise be difficult for others.

فَلَيْسَ الثُّقَلَاءُ بِخَوَاصِّ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ، وَمَا ثَقُلَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى قُلُوبِ الصَّادِقِينَ الْمُخْلِصِينَ إِلَّا مِنْ آفَةٍ هُنَاكَ،

The burdensome are not among the true friends of Allah, for no one becomes a burden on the hearts of the sincere and devoted except due to some affliction.

وَإِلَّا فَهَذِهِ الطَّرِيقُ تَكْسُو الْعَبْدَ حَلَاوَةً وَلَطَافَةً وَظَرْفًا، فَتَرَى الصَّادِقَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَحْلَى النَّاسِ وَأَلْطَفِهِمْ وَأَظْرَفِهِمْ، قَدْ زَالَتْ عَنْهُ ثَقَالَةُ النَّفْسِ وَكُدُورَةُ الطَّبْعِ، وَصَارَ رُوحَانِيًّا سَمَائِيًّا بَعْدَ أَنْ كَانَ حَيَوَانِيًّا أَرْضِيًّا،

Otherwise, this path clothes the servant in sweetness, gentleness, and gracefulness. You will find the sincere among them to be the sweetest, most gentle, and most graceful of people. The heaviness of the ego and the roughness of temperament disappear from them, and they become spiritual and heavenly after having been earthly and animalistic.

فَتَرَاهُ أَكْرَمَ النَّاسِ عِشْرَةً، وَأَلْيَنَهُمْ عَرِيكَةً، وَأَلْطَفَهُمْ قَلْبًا وَرُوحًا، وَهَذِهِ خَاصَّةُ الْمَحَبَّةِ، فَإِنَّهَا تَلْطُفُ وَتَظْرُفُ وَتَنْظُفُ

You will find them to be the most honorable in companionship, the most lenient in nature, and the kindest in heart and spirit. This is the unique quality of love, for it refines, beautifies, and purifies.”