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"At times our path to success is only through their plan for our downfall." - Mufti Ismail Menk
Powerful words. Subhan'Allah, sometimes we find that at times, despite our personal efforts to do good or get on with our life and personal decisions, there is always someone trying to bring about our downfall. They might say hurtful things, get on our back and hassle us all the time, etc. But you know what? Allah `azza wa jall will often create your success from this pursuit of the envier. Be patient and continue to do good, because in the end you'll be the last one standing successfully. This reminds me of the words of the Alchemist:
"And anyone who interferes with the destiny of another thing never will discover his own." - The Alchemist
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If we knew just how much the weight of a deed is tied to its intention, we would never act without purifying that intention. I'm sure we've all had experience of this; sometimes you do something small and minor, but you know that you did it with Iman (faith) and felt close to Allah at that point, so the small act benefitted you and others so much and you felt the barakah of it. And vice versa with big deeds performed with a heedless heart and zero thought for intention. Subhan'Allah, this reminds me of Ibn al-Mubarak's statement: "Many a big deed becomes small due to its intention, and many a small deed becomes big due to its intention."
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Make time for Allah even if you're busy, and Allah will bless your time for you. Give in charity even if you're in financial constraints, and Allah will increase your wealth. Help someone who is troubled even if you're shouldering burdens of your own, and Allah will remove your troubles. Give and likewise you will get. This is a rule that can sound absurd to the people of the world, especially in a world driven by ulterior motives, greed and selfishness, but the reality is; it's not a rule of this world. It's a rule tied to faith, which is tied to the belief in the Unseen and the Hereafter. Only a believer will make time, give of their wealth, help others etc, despite being in dire need of that themselves. Only the believer knows real sacrifice.
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The nafs (soul) is like a wild, untamed horse and Ramadan is just another training ground where we are given the tools and opportunity to tame this wild horse within us. Every act of 'ibadah (worship) is in fact a training session that our souls need in order for us to bring them under total submission to Allah 'azza wa jall (the essence of Islam). Don't let your nafs overpower you this Ramadan and thus make you fall into so much sin. Train it, break it, and allow Allah 'azza wa jall to rebuild it upon taqwa (God-consciousness).
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ome translated excerpts from the Diwan of Imam al-Shafi’i…
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يا سميع الدعاء كن عند ظني *** واكفني مَن كفيتهُ الشَّر منّي
وأعنّي على رضاك وخِرْ لي *** في أموري وعافني واعفُ عني
O Hearer of supplications, fulfil my expectations,
And protect me from the evil of he whom You have power over.
And aid me in attaining Your Pleasure, and choose for me
In all my affairs, and grant me well-being, and forgive me.
§-§
يا من تعزز بالدنيا وزينتها *** الدهر يأتي على المبني والباني
ومن يكن عزه الدنيا وزينتها *** فعزه عن قليل زائل فاني
واعلم بأن كنوز الأرض من ذهب *** فاجعل كنوزك من بر وإيمان
O you who seeks glory and strength in this world and its glitter,
Know that time comes over every building and builder.
And whoever’s glory comes from this world and its glitter,
Then soon his glory will fade and will be no longer.
Know that the treasures of the earth lie in riches and gold,
So make your treasure lie in piety and faith.
§-§
لا تأس في الدنيا على فائت *** وعندك الإسلام والعافية
إن فات أمر كنت تسعى له *** ففيهما من فائت كافيه
Never be saddened by what you lose in this world,
When you have Islam and good health with you.
If you lose something that you were rushing towards,
Then the fact that you lost it is sufficient (as a lesson).
§-§
فيا عجبي كيف يعصى الإله *** أم كيف يجحـده الجاحـد
وللـه في كــل تحريكةٍ *** وتسكــينة أبــداً شاهد
وفي كـل شيء لـه آيـة *** تـدل على أنـه واحــد
How surprising that God can be disobeyed!
Or that the unbeliever can deny Him so
When there is a witness for God in every single thing
That moves about or is rested at peace.
And in everything there is truly a Sign
That shows He is indeed One (God).
§-§
إني صحبت أناسا ما لهم عدد *** وكنت أحسب أني قد ملأت يدي
لما بلوت أخلائي وجدتهم *** كالدهر في الغدر لم يبقوا علي أحد
إن غبت عنهم فشر الناس يشتمني *** وإن مرضت فخير الناس لم يعد
وإن رأوني بخير ساءهم فرحي *** وإن رأوني بشر سرهم نكدي
I have accompanied a countless number of people,
And I thought I had more than my share (of them),
But when I tested my friends I found that,
They were treacherous like Time which spares no-one.
If I were absent from them, the worst of them would insult me,
And if I fell ill, the best of them would not visit me.
And if they saw me in a good state, my delight hurt them,
And if they saw me in a bad state, my hardship delighted them.
§-§
قالوا يزورك أحمد وتزوره *** قلت الفصائل لا تفارق منزله
إن زارني فبفضله أو زرته *** فلفضله فالفضل في الحالين له
They said, ‘Ahmad (ibn Hanbal) visits you and you visit him!’
I said, ‘Virtue cannot be separated from his home!
If he visits me, then it’s because of his virtue, and if I visit him
Then it’s due to his virtue, so in both cases virtue belongs to him.’
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If we knew just how much the weight of a deed is tied to its intention, we would never act without purifying that intention. I'm sure we've all had experience of this; sometimes you do something small and minor, but you know that you did it with Iman (faith) and felt close to Allah at that point, so the small act benefitted you and others so much and you felt the barakah of it. And vice versa with big deeds performed with a heedless heart and zero thought for intention. Subhan'Allah, this reminds me of Ibn al-Mubarak's statement: "Many a big deed becomes small due to its intention, and many a small deed becomes big due to its intention."
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"If the heart radiates with the light of obedience (to Allah), the clouds of goodness come to him from every direction, and he goes from one act of obedience to another. But if the heart darkens with sin, the clouds of tribulation and evil come to him from every direction, and he goes from one act of disobedience to another. So he becomes like a blind person struck down by the dark night."
- Ibn al-Qayyim
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