This is for you: The joy of my eye

Since 2012-11-26

For you my son I am writing these words, which throb with compassion and advice? truth and sincerity... hoping that you will find the right path that would direct you to righteousness and shows you guidance.

 

 
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
 
Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon him after whom there is no other prophet.
 
For you my son I am writing these words, which throb with compassion and advice… truth and sincerity... hoping that you will find the right path that would direct you to righteousness and shows you guidance.
 
What prompts me to advise you is my fear for you and my deep feelings of responsibility towards you. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "Every one of you is a guardian, and is responsible for what is in his custody." [Agreed upon].
 
«ألا كلكم راع وكلكم مسؤول عن رعيته» متفق عليه
 
As man has no say in choosing his sons… he has nothing to do with them except for directing them to righteousness and guiding them to the way of the right conduct… and this… only this is what prompts me to urge you in this message to follow the means of salvation and righteousness… and to remind you of what Allah has obligated upon you… what He has entrusted you of worship… obedience and monotheism. My son, here is the text of the message…
 
Oh my son, do not!
 
Oh my son… do not forget Allah! You have not been created in negligence (without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by your Lord Allah on you)… and you have not been presented to this life in play (without any purpose); but you have been placed a successor on the earth where you have been assigned to bear the trust… the trust which was offered to those who are bigger in creation than you, but they were afraid of bearing it.
 
{Truly, We did offer Al-Amânah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allâh has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allâh’s Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results)}. [Surat Al-Ahzâb: 72].
 
{إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُوماً جَهُولاً} الأحزاب: 72
 
 

 

Transliteration: Inna AAaradna alamanata AAalaalssamawati waalardi waaljibali faabayna an yahmilnaha waashfaqna minha wahamalaha alinsanu innahu kanathalooman jahoolan
 
 
So, have you known what this trust is?
 
It is the worship of Allah.
 
{And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).} [Surat Az-Zâriyât: 56].
 
{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} الذاريات: 56
 
 

 

Transliteration: Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illaliyaAAbudooni
 
So, have you worshipped Allah as He has ordered you?
 
My son, worship is: all apparent and hidden words and deeds, which Allah has chosen for His servants! So where is your share from them?
 
My son, know that whoever thinks about this worldly life before his existence, he sees it a long period and if he thinks about it after leaving it, he sees it a short period.
 
Know that staying in the graves will be for a long time, and when one thinks about the Day of Resurrection, he will know that it is Fifty thousand years. If he thinks about staying in Paradise and Hellfire, he will know that it is endless. Therefore, if he rethinks about the time he would last in this worldly life - sixty years, for example - he will see that he spends thirty years of them sleeping and about fifteen years in youth. Then if he counted the rest of the sixty years he would find most of them full of desires, greed and gains, so if he counted what is left for the Hereafter, he will find most of it is hypocrisy.
 
Hence, wherewith will you buy the eternal life, though its price is these few hours!
 
Oh my son, do not waste your life following the forbidden wishes, because they are transient; they are evanescent pleasures that end but their consequences last. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "on the Day of Judgment the son of Adam will not step away until he is asked about his life and how he has spent it, his deeds and how he has acted according to them, his money and how he has earned it, and in what he has spent it, and his body and how he has wore it out." [At-Tirmidhi, Hasan Sahih (good authentic)].
 
«لا تزول قدما عبد حتى يسأل عن عمره فيما أفناه، وعن علمه فيما فعل، وعن ماله من أين اكتسبه وفيما أنفقه، وعن جسمه فيما أبلاه» الترمذي، حسن صحيح
 
My son, persist in everything
That has good to you
What we are in is a pleasure
It is days which are borrowed and then taken back
 
Yahya ibn Mu'âz said: "the loser is the one who suspends his days by making the vanities, familiarizes his organs to destructive things and who has died before awakening from performing crimes".
 
No my son… do not waste your fresh vital energy… and your vivid youth on the curves of your road… lower your gaze from everything that Allah has forbidden whether you are in the market place or alone by yourself… and know that Allah watches you… and that there is nothing hidden to Him, the Exalted.
 
If you are alone suspiciously in darkness
And your soul is calling you to disobedience
Be shy that Allah watches you
And tell it that, He who has created darkness watches me.
 
O my son, how wretched I will be when I see you audacious in performing sins… in accompanying the sinners… and in promulgating performing them.
 
How miserable I will be when I see that you have deviated from righteousness… and have followed the way of error and deviation… lost…confused that you do not know what you want!
 
And how happy I will be when I see you turning to Allah… seeking to perform righteous deeds... keeping your time in praying… mentioning Allah… reading the Holly Quran… accompanying the righteous… and your fellow brothers are guided by you... When you persist in the above you are the apple of my eye… and a benefit for me in the Hereafter… have you not heard the words of Allah Almighty: {And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the Muttaqûn (the pious)}. [Surat Al-Furqân: 74]
 
{رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَاماً} الفرقان: 74
 
 

 

Transliteration: rabbana hab lana min azwajina wathurriyyatinaqurrata aAAyunin waijAAalnalilmuttaqeena imaman
 
Al-Hassan Albasry said: "a man sees his wife and sons obeying Allah Glorified and Exalted; and what is more satisfying for a man than to see his wife and sons obeying Allah Glorified and Exalted".
 
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "When the son of Adam dies, his work ends except for three: charity that is ongoing, knowledge that is beneficial and a righteous son who will pray for him." [Reported by Muslim].
 
«إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له» رواه مسلم
 
My son: be sure that your righteousness is the completeness of your dutifulness to your parents in their life and after their death, it is obvious that they benefit from your righteousness in their life… and after their death, the grace and reward of your invocation and asking Allah forgiveness for them will reach them in their graves.
 
 
My son, why do you not pray?
 
My son, why do you not pray? Do you not know that quitting praying is an infidelity of Allah, Glory be to Him… and that it is the Covenant of Islam; any Muslim who violates it is an infidel, according to the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: "the pledge between us and them is prayer, whosoever quits it; has disbelieved" [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفر» صححه الألباني
 
Don't you know that it is a separation between the servant and disbelief… and that it is the shield which if violated by any Muslim he becomes an infidel, according to the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: "the thing that separates between the slave and disbelief is quitting prayers." [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«بين العبد وبين الكفر ترك الصلاة» صححه الألباني
 
O my son… you have filled my heart with sorrow while I am watching you deserting the House of Allah… dissociating yourself from your Lord… and abandoning the second pillar of Islam.
 
How could my mind be at rest while I am hearing and reading the stern warning against you and against others like you? Don't you notice that I am afraid that the mischief afflicts you, and if this happens I will never feel comfortable, so how can I become untroubled while I see you one of the prayer deserters, who Allah has revealed a warning concerning them which if the mountains heard, they would collapse because they fear that this warning afflicts them. How can I become untroubled while Allah Glorified and Exalted has said: {Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salât (the prayers) [i.e. made their Salât (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell}. [Surat Maryam: 59].
 
{فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيّاً} مريم: 59
 
 

 

Transliteration: Fakhalafa min baAAdihim khalfun adaAAoo alssalata waittabaAAoo alshshahawati fasawfa yalqawna ghayyan
 
Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah bless them both, said: "the meaning of they 'have given up prayers', it is not that they have deserted it totally, but that they have delayed it after its due times"
 
Sa'îd ibn Almusayyib, the leader of the Followers said: "It is that he does not perform the noon prayer till the time of the afternoon prayer is due, he does not perform the afternoon prayer till the time of the sunset prayer is due, he does not perform the sunset prayer till the time of the night prayer is due, and he does not pray the dawn prayer till the sun rises. So whoever dies, insisting on this state and does not repent, Allah promises him a ghayye; which is a valley in Hell, its bottom is very deep and its taste is obnoxious".
 
My son: this is the condition of him who delayed performing the prayer from its fixed times, so what about he who has given it up totally... or he who quits it for some time and returns to it other times… there is no doubt that his torment will be sterner and bitterer… greater and fuller.
 
My son, do not forget that the prayer is the greatest key for the greatest good.
 
Allah has not obligated the prayer upon his servants but as a mercy from Him for them…He has not threatened them of torment if they quit it but for the good they will miss by quitting it… and the harm they will have by giving it up.
 
Do not be arrogant concerning worshipping your Creator... praying to Allah is a connection to Him… and whoever is connected to Allah… evil cannot afflict him… and good cannot miss him.
 
The prayer is an ease in your chest… a light in your heart… a peace in your soul… a comfort and health for your body… a key for sustenance… it is good for you, a shield against malignancies and perils… it is forbidding you from committing sins, abominations and acts of disobedience.
 
Allah Almighty has said :{Verily, As-Salât (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahshâ’ (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed) and the remembering (praising) of (you by) Allâh (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising) of Allâh in prayers.}. [Surat Al-'Ankabût: 45].
 
{إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَر} العنكبوت: 45
 
Transliteration: inna alssalata tanhaAAani alfahshai waalmunkari walathikru Allahi akbaru
 
So my son, seek help from prayers in both your religious and worldly affairs because it is the greatest thing which removes worry, sorrow and debts.
 
 
Do not accompany anyone except a believer.
 
My son: do not accompany anyone except the believer… and do not let anyone eat your food but the pious... People are of many types and every type has different spirits and natures… Some of them have the spirit whose tendency to good is overwhelming… others have an overwhelming tendency to evil… So whoever accompanies any of them is accompanying either good or evil!
 
This does not mean to avoid people… or falling short in friendship or in treating them with good morals in deeds and words… No, the overwhelming tendency for evil does not call for estrangement or cruelty…There is no good in the one who dislikes others or who is disliked by others… and there is no good in the one who does not guide people to good… But people differ in their morals so the sane should accompany him whom he redeems a key to the good in the Hereafter, regardless of his state of poverty or richness, rank or lineage… This is acting according to the divine wisdom stated in the Holly Quran: {Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwâ [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqûn (the pious)}. [Surat Al-Hujurât: 13].
 
{إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ} الحجرات: 13
 
Transliteration: inna akramakum AAinda Allahi atqakum
 
The noble person whom one should be keen in accompanying is the one who is pious in both worshiping Allah and treating people… whose heart is pure from rancor. This is the one whom Allah has honored with piety; and He has made him through it a key to good and a blessing to whoever accompany him.
 
So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has divided the keys into two kinds; one of them is a key to the good and the second is a key to affliction and evil! He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "of mankind there are some people who are keys for good and locks for evil." [Declared Hasan (good) by Al-Albani].
 
«إن من الناس ناساً مفاتيح للخير مغاليق للشر» حسنه الألباني
 
My son, think deeply in the wise example which your Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has given to explain the benefits of sitting with and accompanying the good ones and the evil of accompanying the evil ones. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the musk seller you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the blacksmith's bellows would either burn your clothes, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof." [Narrated by Muslim].
 
«إنما مثل الجليس الصالح والجليس السوء، كحامل المسك ونافخ الكير. فحامل المسك، إما أن يحذيك، وإما أن تبتاع منه، وإما أن تجد منه ريحا طيبة. ونافخ الكير، إما أن يحرق ثيابك، وإما أن تجد ريحا خبيثة» رواه مسلم
 
This, my son, is a Prophetic advice which you should keep and cling to tightly... it will preserve your religious and worldly affairs for you.
 
The companion or the believer friend is like a brother to you in your religion and belief. He fears Allah during accompanying you... He either teaches you what benefits you in your religion and life, or gives you an advice, or he warns you against insisting on performing what may harm you. He urges you on Allah's obedience, dutifulness to your parents, keeping relationship with relatives. He opens your eyes to your evils, and invites to good moralities; by his speech and deed. The nature of Man is created on following companions and friends; as spirits are correlative soldiers.
 
The least thing you benefit from the good companion is quitting evils and sins; because of him and as a consideration to his company, as a competition in performing good, and being far from evil and that he would preserve you in your presence and absence.
This is some of the good that you gain from the good companion and the advising brother.
 
My son: you should consider the condition of your companion, if you find him a righteous one you should hold fast to him to gain from his good. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "man follows the creed of his close friends, so you should consider whom to befriend." [Al-Albani reported it with a good chain of transmission]
 
«المرء على دين خليله فلينظر أحدكم من يخالل» الألباني، إسناده حسن
 
Test men if you want their friendship
Consider and think deeply in their affairs
If you find an honest and pious brother
You should, soundly, hold fast to him.
 
My son, consider those who accompany the evil ones and see what they are afflicted with and how their end was.
 
Someone is afflicted with smoking… the other is seduced till he fell in drug addiction… some in the molestation of women. Each one of them, if spoke would say: {Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a Khalîl (an intimate friend)!} [Surat Al-Furqân: 38].
 
{يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَاناً خَلِيلاً} الفرقان: 28
 

 

Transliteration:  Yawaylata laytanee lam attakhith fulanan khaleelan
 
Do not stay with the people of vices
Because evil morals infect others
 
My son: the most useful advice I recommend you, is the advice that Lukman has recommended his son and Allah Almighty has revealed it in His Holly Book to be a wisdom which every father can advise his son with.
 
Allah Almighty has said: {And (remember) when Luqmân said to his son when he was advising him: "O my son! Join not in worship others with Allâh. Verily joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed. (13). And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship}. [Surat Luqmân: 13-14].
 
{وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْناً عَلَى وَهْنٍ} لقمان: 13-14
 
 

 

Transliteration:  Waithqala luqmanu liibnihi wahuwa yaAAithuhu ya bunayya latushrik biAllahi inna alshshirka lathulmun AAatheemun (13) Wawassayna alinsana biwalidayhi hamalathu ommuhu wahnan AAala wahnin wafisaluhu fee AAamayni ani oshkur lee waliwalidayka ilayya almaseeru
 
This piece of advice has gathered the great bases which preserve you in this worldly life and the Hereafter, Allah willing. It has guided you to the right way by which you become a monotheist to Allah without associating partners to Him… It has guided to the right manner by which you should treat your parents… and being grateful for their favors by behaving with them in the world kindly and righteously even if they are disbelievers… thus you have no excuse in being undutiful to them. It has guided you to the bases of the acts of worship, which if kept by any Muslim, he gains the success in the two homes (worldly life and the Hereafter) and will be guided to success in other acts of worship.
 
These acts of worship are performing prayers, enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), patience... these values as well as faith, are the same values mentioned in Surat Al-Asr where Allah has said: {By Al-‘Asr (the time). (1). Verily, man is in loss, (2). Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma‘ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd).} [Surat Al-'Asr].
 
{وَٱلْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ} سورة العصر
 
Transliteration: WaalAAasri (1) Inna alinsana lafee khusrin (2) Illa allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati watawasaw bialhaqqi watawasaw bialssabri
 
This advice has guided you to the bases of treating people… by humbleness and good manners… kindness, mildness and avoiding wrath.
 
So act in accordance to it to gain the wisdom… and the greater good.
 
O my son: "Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you (have need to) ask, ask Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the Nation (or the whole community) were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."
 
Know that Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) as his provisions were good and he was mindful of Allah, so Allah has saved him from hardship. The Almighty has said: {Had he not been of them who glorify Allâh, (143). He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.} . [Surat As-Sâfât: 143-144].
 
{فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ (143) لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ} الصافات: 143-144
 
 

 

Transliteration: Falawlaannahu kana mina almusabbiheena (143) Lalabitha fee batnihi ila yawmi yubAAathoona
 
As the provisions of the pharaoh were not good, he did not find a rescuer to him in his hardship, so it has been said to him: {Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before}. [Surat Yûnus: 91].
 
{آلآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ} يونس: 91
 
Transliteration:  Alana waqad AAasayta qablu
 
So prepare a good provision of piety to find its influence! And perform good deeds in advance to find what makes you happy tomorrow, and be sure that Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers) to be lost."
 
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.
 
 
Prepared by the scientific section in Dar Ibn Khuzaymah