In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful
Abu 'Abdirrahmaan Muhammad al-Kanadi
Al hamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalameen wa salaatu wa salaamu ‘ala
ashrifil anbiyaai wa al mursaleen nabeeyana Mohammad wa ‘ala aalihi wa sahbihee
ajma’een.
Wa b’aad:
Truly, we were granted this life to be tested which of us
would remain steadfast in the dhikr (remembrance) and shukr (gratitude) of
Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala). Living in a landmine where every step you take
can lead to your possible destruction, and not destruction of the body but
rather of the soul, we see people being annihilated every single day.
This world is one big attraction, making those who are in
reality are meager and full of weakness look strong and mighty, making those
who are ignorant seem intelligent, and portraying those who have been misguided
and enslaved to their own desires as being the most guided of people.
Know, that no one lives in this dunya except that he will
be eaten by it in its entirety or will leave bruised and scarred except for
those whom Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has mercy upon. Hassan al Basari
(Rahimahullah) had some wise words concerning the dunya when he said: "So
beware of this land (the dunya) that is falling down and is misleading and
deceiving, being decorated by its deceit and having eluded (others) by its
delusion, and having killed its people with its hopes. It looks forward with
anticipation towards the one who proposes to it for marriage. Hence it becomes
like the unveiled bride -all the eyes are looking towards it, and the souls are
in love with it, and the hearts are captivated by it".[1] Indeed
he was true in his words, as we are all guilty of the crime of being deceived
by the dunya with its beauty and glamour. Some of us were fortunate to get out,
al hamdulillah, while others have wandered off into the everlasting dark tunnel
that had no light at its beginning and has no light at its end, and the only
thing that will allow him to leave is death itself. Refuge is sought with Allah
(Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) from such an evil ending.
And know for a fact that no matter how much good you may
see in this dunya, in reality it is just a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing.
Had there been any good in it, then Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) would have
made it a place of reward, and place of dissension of His mercy. But rather
Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) only sent one of His mercies upon the earth
through which we are kind to one another, and rather has made it a place of
trial and tribulation and a true prison for the believer. Likewise, had there
been good in it we would have seen the Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhee wa
Sallam) being attached to it and living in its luxuries but rather he
sacrificed it all with full certainty in that which will come after is better
and everlasting. Thus, he (Salla Allahu ‘alayhee wa Sallam) said: “The dunya is
cursed. Cursed is all that is in it except for the remembrance of Allah, and
that which resembles it, a scholar, and a student (of knowledge).” [2] So
do we need anymore proof that this dunya is an endless pit for the one who is
not careful and falls into it?
One of the most beautiful words ever uttered were at the
end of a seerah lecture where the speaker said referring to the Prophet (Salla
Allahu ‘alayhee wa Sallam) "He had the world at his feet, yet not a dinar
to his name.” Indeed that’s what true zuhd (asceticism) and taqwaa (piety) is,
having the dunya bestowed upon you from every angle imaginable and sacrificing
it for the noble face of your creator and sustainer, truly noble attribute that
most have lost, except those who have been encompassed by the mercy of Allah
(Subhaanahu wa ta’aala). So let us abandon this dunya and its temporary beauty
for the joys, which will last for eternity. Let us be the children of the
aakhirah and not of the Dunya as 'Ali (Radiya Allahu ‘anhu) said: “Verily the
dunya is coming to an end, and the aakhirah is coming to a beginning and they
both have children. So be children of the aakhirah and don’t be children of the
dunya. For verily today there is action with no account and tomorrow there’s
account with no action”. [3] So let us wear the garments
of Imaan (belief) and Taqwaa (piety) as they are the only true garments the
cover the 'awrah, and are the only protection from the tribulations of the dunya.
Like Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) said “And take provision, verily the best of
provisions is at-Taqwaa" [4] and as He (Subhaanahu wa
ta’aala) says, " Verily for the Muttaqeen (people of Taqwaa) is success
(paradise)" [5] and as He (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala)
says, “Indeed successful are the believers” [6] and as he
(Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says, "Verily those who believe and do righteous
deeds will have the gardens of al-Firdous (the loftiest form of paradise)” . [7] May
Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) make us of these people. Aameen.
Lastly, before I end off I leave you with the words of the
Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhee wa Sallam) "Every man starts his day being
a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or bringing about its ruin". He
who enslaves his soul to Allah has indeed liberated it and he who enslaves his
soul to his whims and desires then let him prepare for a marriage to captivity
till death do you part. Proving this point is the statement of the 'Allaamah of
raqaaiq Ibn ul-Qayyim (Rahimahullah), "Verily the life of man is in the
life of his heart and his soul. And there is no life in the heart except by
knowing its creator, having love for him, worshipping him solely, turning to
him in times of need, and seeking tranquility with His remembrance. And he who
loses this life has lost all good. Even if he attempts to substitute (this
loss) with all that is in the world. For verily not even all of the world
together would be able to replace this life. And verily for everything that a
slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allah will never find
anything to replace Him" [8]
So take these two sayings, read them, understand them, and
implement them to the best of your ability, and know, without a doubt, that
Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) is the one who grants success.
- The
statement of Fudayl bin `Iyyad (Rahimahullah), "Man's fear of Allah
is equal to his knowledge of Him and his renunciation of worldly pleasures
is equal to his desire in the Hereafter." [9]
- Secondly,
the advice of Sufyan ath-Thawree (Rahimahullah), "Work for the sake
of this life within the extent of your stay in it, and for the Hereafter
within the extent of your stay therein." [10]
And Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) knows best.
May Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) make us of those people
who benefit from admonition and of those who when they are given are thankful,
when tested are patient, and when sin are repentful (as these are the keys to
success in this dunya and the aakhirah). Aameen.
Completed on the 3rd day of Safar 1424 A.H.
By the Slave of Allah, the one most in need of His mercy
Abu ‘Abdir Rahman Mohammad Al Kanadi
Al Madeenah An-Nabaweeyah
Footnotes:
[1] Related by Abu Nu’aym in Al Hilyah (2/135-136)
[1] Related by Abu Nu’aym in Al Hilyah (2/135-136)
[2] Related by
Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah, and Bayhaqi. The wording is taken from Shaikh
al-Albaani’s Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (1/34).
[3] Related by
Ibn ul-Qayyim in Ad Daa’ wad-Dawaa- Fasl 15.
[4] Surah Al-Baqarah
(2), Ayah 197.
[5] Surah An-Nabaa
(78), Ayah 31
[6] Surah Al-Mumi’noon
(23), Ayah 1.
[7] Surah Al-Kahf
(18), Ayah 107.
[8] Related in Ibn
ul-Qayyim’s Ad Daa’ wad-Dawaa- Fasl 49.
[9] Related in
Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim’s Life is a Fading Shadow, (Dar-us-Salam).
[10] Ibid.
Courtesy of:
kalamullah.com
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