Eight Things to Learn

Since 2012-12-05

Shaqiq Al-Balkhi advice to Hatim [Al-Assam, his student]

It was narrated that Shaqiq [Ibn Ibrahim] Al-Balkhi said to Hatim [Al-Assam, his student]:

 
“You have accompanied me for a long period of time, so what have you learnt?”
 
Hatim replied: “Eight things”
 
The First: I looked at the creation and found that every person has something that is beloved to him, but when that person reaches his grave, his beloved would be separated from him. So I made the most beloved thing to me my righteous deeds, so that they may be with me in my grave.
 
The Second: I looked at the saying of Allah the Elevated:
 
{...and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts.} [An-Nazi’at 79:40]
 
{...وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ} النازعات: 40
 
 
 
Transliteration: wanaha alnnafsa AAani alhawa
 
So I strove against myself, repelling desires and lusts from it until it settled upon obedience to Allah.
 
The Third: I saw that whoever possessed something valuable would keep it in a safe and secure place, I then looked at the saying of Allah the Glorified:
 
{Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with Allah (of good deeds) will remain.} [An-Nahl 16:96]
 
{مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّـهِ بَاقٍ} سورة
 
Transliteration: Ma AAindakum yanfadu wama AAinda Allahi baqin
 
So whenever something of value came into my possession, I directed it to Him, so that it may remain for me with Him.
 
The Fourth: I saw that people return to wealth, lineage and nobility, and they are all worthless, so I looked at the saying of Allah the Glorified:
 
{Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious).} [Al-Hujurat 49:13]
 
{إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ} الحجرات: 13
 
Transliteration: inna akramakum AAinda Allahi atqakum
 
So I worked on attaining Taqwa so that I may be honorable with Allah.
 
The Fifth: I saw that people envy each other, so I looked at the saying of the Elevated:
 
{It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood} [Az-Zukhruf 43:32]
 
{نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ} الزخرف: 32
 
Transliteration: nahnu qasamna baynahum maAAeeshatahum
 
So I forsook envy and jealousy.
 
The Sixth: I saw them taking each other as enemies, so I looked at the saying of the Glorified:
 
{Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy} [Fatir 35:6]
 
{إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا} فاطر: 35
 
Transliteration: Inna alshshaytana lakum AAaduwwun faittakhithoohu AAaduwwan
 
So I left their enmity and took Shaytan as my only enemy.
 
The Seventh: I saw that they humiliate themselves in pursuing provision, so I looked at the saying of Allah the Glorified:
 
{And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah.} [Hud 11:6]
 
{وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّـهِ رِزْقُهَا} هود: 6
 
Transliteration: Wama min dabbatin fee alardi illa AAalaAllahi rizquha 
 
So I concentrated on what was due to Him from me, and left what was due to me to Him.
 
The Eighth: I saw them dependent upon their trades, professions and health, so I depended upon Allah the Glorified.
 
 
Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin
 
 


 

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