.::::::::.

“If you do not taste
the sweetness of
an action in
your heart,
suspect it,
for the Lord,
Exalted is He,
is the Appreciative.”

(Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah)

Sources for Icons:
.:Fa Firroo Ila-llaah:.

,

“This Dunya is like a Shadow. If you try to catch it, you will never be able to do so. If you turn your back towards it, it has no choice but to follow you.”

(Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah)

Three Distinctions Often Confused

Ibn al-Qayyim

There are certain things that the soul often confuses and mixes up, and only those with deep insight and wisdom are able to properly distinguish them. Ibn al-Qayyim points out some of these fine details and distinctions that should be made.

.:: :: :: ::.

i) Self-Respect vs. Vanity

“Self-respect is to make your soul rise above the petty and insignificant things that cause people to bend their necks pursuing. So, he prevents himself from this.

This is different from arrogance, which is a characteristic that is born from two things: being impressed with oneself and belittling others. So, arrogance is born from these two things, and the first (i.e. self-respect) is born from two things: honoring oneself and making it noble…

The basis for all of this is to prepare and condition the soul, and to place preference for its Owner over it. So, if one fails in his preparation and conditioning, he has failed in everything.”

.:: :: :: ::.

ii) Protection of Self vs. Arrogance

“The one who protects himself is like the man who puts on some new clothes, pure and white, and expensive. So, he enters upon the kings and those below them in these clothes. He strives to protect these clothes from any stains or dirt that could affect its whiteness and purity. So, you see him looking noble and constantly escaping from the places where he fears could make his clothes dirty. He does not allow any stain or speck of dirt to come onto his clothes.

This is the likeness of the one who strengthens and builds his heart and religion: you see him avoiding any stains of sin, as they stain the heart and dirty it more than any blot of dirt can dirty a pure, white garment. However, the eyes are covered from seeing these stains. So, you see him running from any potential stain, being cautious around the people, seldom mixing with them out of fear that the same thing would occur to his heart that occurred to his white clothing when he was around the butchers and cooks.

This is different from the one who elevates himself, as even if he is similar to the above in his avoidance of these things, he intends with this to step over the people’s necks and to put them under his feet. So, this is a color, and that is another color.”

.:: :: :: ::.

iii) Humility vs. Humiliation

“Humility is born from a) knowledge of Allah, His Names, His Attributes, and His Loftiness, as well as loving and elevating Him, and b) knowing himself and his faults well.

So, from these two comes the characteristic of humility, and it is the subduing of the heart to Allah and lowering the wing of submission and mercy to His servants. So, he does not see any virtue that he has over others, and he sees no rights of his over others. Rather, he sees the virtue of others over him, and he sees their rights before his own. This is a characteristic that Allah gives to those He Loves and wishes to make noble and close to Him.

As for humiliation, it is lowliness and exertion of the soul in acquiring what it desires, like the humility of the low ones in fulfilling their desires, the humility of the victim to his oppressor, and the humility of anyone who seeks something from someone else to that person. This is all lowliness and inferiority, and has nothing to do with true humility. Allah Loves humility, and He hates lowliness and humiliation. It is reported in the ‘Sahih’ that the Messenger of Allah said:

“It was revealed to me that you should be humble such that none should boast over others, and none should transgress against others.”“
['ar-Ruh'; p. 313-317]

Courtesy of Iskandrani . WordPress. Com
Images Courtesy of sis .: Anna :.
Source: http://fafirrooelaallaah.wordpress.com/

`Ibaadah and Levels of Love

.::::::::.

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah

Al-’Ibaadah which we are commanded to perform includes the meaning of humility and love, it contains extreme humility before Allah () together with the extreme love for Him (AWJ). The uppermost level of love is the extreme adoration (Tatayum) and its lowermost level is the interest, because the heart is first interested in the beloved. After the interest comes the affection, then the love, and finally the extreme adoration. In Arabic “Taym-u-Allah” (the adorer of Allah) is used to mean “Abd-u-Allah” (the worshiper of Allah) because the adorer is the one who yields completely to his lover.

One who submits to someone with hatred is not worshiping him. And one who loves someone without submitting to him is likewise not worshiping him; this is like a man who loves his son and friends. Therefore, neither love nor submission alone are sufficient in worshiping Allah (). Allah (AWJ) must be loved most by Al-’Abd and He () must be the greatest of all in his sight. Nothing deserves complete love and submission except Allah (AWJ). It is a futile love when anything has been loved for other than the sake of Allah (). And whatever has been highly regarded without it being by the Command of Allah, its glorification is rejected.

The love for Allah () and Ar-Rasool () should override any other love.

Allah () said:

“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and Fighting in His Cause; then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the rebellious folk.”
[At-Tawbah:24]

Thus, the essence of love should be due to Allah and His Messenger, so too with the obedience. For the obedience is due to Allah (AWJ) and His Messenger, and pleasing is due to Allah and His Messenger,

“But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ) if they are (true) believers.”
[At-Tawbah:62]

Courtesy Of: Islaam.com
Sources for Images:
.:Fa Firroo Ila-llaah:.

by Imâm Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

:: ::
Courtesy of Sis .: Anna :.

Salmân al-Fârsî (RA) said:

“There was a man who was given many of the luxuries of this world, and then they were taken away from him. But he continued to praise and thank Allâh until everything had been taken from him, even his bed. And then he still praised and thanked Allâh. Another man, who had also been given many of the luxuries of this world asked him, ‘What are you praising and thanking Allâh for?’ The man said, ‘I am praising and thanking Him for blessings which, if others asked me to give them to them in return for all that they have, I would never give them up.’ ‘What can they be?’ asked the second man. ‘Can’t you see?’ asked the first man. ‘I have my eyesight, my tongue, my hands, my feet…’”

Layth ibn Abî Burdah said:

‘When Allâh gathers people on the Day of Judgement, He will remind them of His blessings. One of His slaves will say: “Remind me of something,” and Allâh will say: “Remember when you faced such-and-such adversity, and you prayed to Me, so I relieved you of it. Remember when you were travelling in such and-such a place, and you asked Me to give you a travelling companion, and I did so… Remember when you asked for the hand of so-and-so the daughter of so-and-so, and others also asked for her hand, so I gave her to you to marry; and kept the others away.” His slave will be standing before his Lord, Who will remind him of His many blessings.’” Then the narrator of this story (Layth) wept and said, “I hope that no one will stand before his Lord in this way, because the one who does so will be punished.” (i.e. if Allâh has to point out that which should be obvious, this is a sign of a person’s ingratitude, and he will be punished.)
A man of knowledge said:

“The blessing of Allâh to us in keeping the luxuries of this world away from us is greater than the blessing of that which he has given us, because Allah did not like His Prophet to have the luxuries of this world. So I prefer to live in the manner which Allâh preferred for His Prophet than to live a life which He disliked for him.”

Ibn Abi’d-Dunyâ said:

“It was narrated to me that some scholars said: ‘The scholar should praise Allâh for having deprived him of the luxuries of this life, in the same way that he should praise Him for what He has bestowed upon him. How can you compare the blessings and luxuries for which he will be accountable to the deprivation of luxuries which is a relief from being tested, and which keeps his mind free to worship and remember Allâh? So he should give thanks to Allâh for all of that.’”

A man said to Abû Hâzim:

“What is the gratitude of the eyes?” He said, “If you see good things, you speak about them, and if you see bad things, you keep quiet about it.” He asked, “What is the gratitude of the ears?” He said, “If you hear something good, you accept it, and if you hear something bad, you reject it.” Then he asked, “What is the gratitude of the hands?” He said, “Do not take what which does not belong to you, and do not hold back from paying the dues of Allâh (zakât).” Then he asked, “What is the gratitude of the head?” He said: “To have knowledge in it.” Then he asked, “What is the gratitude of one’s private parts?”

He quoted:

“‘Who guard their private parts, except from those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess – for (in their case) they are free from blame, but those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors’”

(al-Mu’minûn 23:5-7).


Ibn Abi’d-Dunyâ mentioned that Dâwûd (peace be upon Him) asked Allâh: “What is the least of Your blessings?” Allâh revealed to him: “O Dâwûd, take a breath.” Dâwûd did so, and Allâh told him: “This is the least of My blessings on you.”

Taken from “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat ash-Shâkireen”
source: http://www.islaam.net/

From the Wise Sayings of Luqman

Remember Allah () and Death;

Forget any good that you have done to another and any evil that was done to you by another.”

~

Source: http://fafirrooelaallaah.wordpress.com/
Courtesy of Sis .: Anna :.

sisters,

In the Name of Allah the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful

“Never lose Hope in the Mercy of Allah“

[Lessons from this verse]

We get very hard on ourselves sometimes. And while there is
benefit in taking ourselves to account, the sunshine comes from
never losing hope in Allah’s mercy. Allah’s mercy and
forgiveness is able to emcompass whatever you have done. So
knock on that door right now.

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
– Muhammad Alshareef

~

…just a reminder which I personally benefited from – May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala Bestow Upon Us His Favour n Infinite Mercy & May He (SWT) suffice our every Need, Want & Desire Aameeen!!

… …
]]> http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/keep-hope-alive/feed/ 0 ameeratulfirdaws Salams Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love In love Wink Smile In love Love http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/the-promise-of-allah-is-true/ http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/the-promise-of-allah-is-true/#comments Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:18:00 +0000 ameeratulfirdaws http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/the-promise-of-allah-is-true/ ]]> Those who believe and live doing righteous deeds, from then shall We blot out all evil in them, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds [29:7]



Men and women who have surrendered, believing men and believing women, obedient men and obedient women, truthful men and truthful women, men and women who are patient and steadfast, humble men and humble women, men and women who give in charity, men who fast and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity, men and women who are ever mindful of Allah – on them He will bestow forgiveness and a rich reward [33:35]



Whatever you receive on earth is but temporary and for the convenience of this life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting. Its is for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord; those who avoid the greater crimes and shameful deeds; those who even when they are angry, forgive; those who listen to their Lord, and establish regular prayers; who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for sustenance; and those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, help and defend themselves. The recompense of an injury is an injury equal to it (in degree); but if a person forgives and accepts reconcilliation, he (or she) will be rewarded by God; for Allah does not love those who do wrong. However if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong done to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only on those who oppress people with (various) wrongdoings, and insolently transgress beyond acceptable limits throughout the land, defying right and justice; for such there will be a grievious penalty. But if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be the exercise of a courageous will, and showing resoluteness in the conduct of affairs. [42:36-43]



And He provides for (those that reverence Him) from (sources) that person could never imagine. And if any one puts their trust in Allah, He will be sufficient for them. [65:3]


]]> http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/the-promise-of-allah-is-true/feed/ 0 ameeratulfirdaws http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/trust-in-the-promise-of-allah/ http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/trust-in-the-promise-of-allah/#comments Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:17:00 +0000 ameeratulfirdaws http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/trust-in-the-promise-of-allah/ ]]> ~*~**~*~

“So she watched out for him from a distance while they did not notice. We kept him from nursing at first, and so (his sister) said:“Shall I lead you to a family who will look afterhim for you? They will take good care of him…

Thus We returned him to his mother so that he might comfort her and she would not feel sad, and so that she would know that…
Allah’s promise is true,
….even though most of them do not realise it.”

(Surah AlQasas (28) : 12-13)

[Lessons from these verses]

Allah promised to protect and returnbaby Musa, alayhis salam,…and He fulfilled His promise. When Allah promises us something, it will happen. What has Allahpromised you, and is there any doubt in your Creatorfulfilling it?

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
– Muhammad Alshareef

]]> http://ameeratulfirdaws.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/trust-in-the-promise-of-allah/feed/ 0 ameeratulfirdaws :start Thumbs up Love Salams Love