Thursday, August 19, 2010

Preparing for the Day of Judgement JUMMAH


Preparing for the Day of Judgement: a brilliant slender volume, brimming with wisdom, has so generously been added to my library. A huge JazakumuLlahu khairan to the giver.

Penned by ‘Abul Fadl Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Ali al-Kannani al-Asqalani, better known by the name of Imam Ibn Hajar, who was born in Cairo in 773/1372.

‘This book is a compilation of some of the wise sayings of the Prophet (pbuh), the companions, and of the pious predecessors and ascetics.

Reflecting on these wise sayings and heeding these counsels will assist in infusing us with the requisite awareness and fervour to prepare for the Day of Judgement.

We are all in need of such counsel, for our Day of Judgement begins not when the world ends, but when our life comes to an end - which is indeed imminent - as the Prophet (pbuh) stated.’

The nine chapters are divided into ‘counsels’ according to the number of advises included in each counsel: from Counsel in Twos to Counsel in Tens. The link above shares a selection from Threes, while I will share some that have pierced my heart, from Counsel in Fives. Insha’Allah in the future I will post others that may ripple responses for us to be more serious with our preparation.

“The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “There will come a time for my ummah when they will love five things and forget five things. They will love this life (dunya) and forget the life to come; they will love property and forget the grave; they will love wealth and forget the [Day of] Judgement; they will love their children and forget the truth; and they will love themselves and forget Allah. They have nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them.”

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Allah does not give someone five things until He has prepared another five things for them. He does not give him gratitude except that He has prepared for him an increase [in provision and sustenance], He does not give him supplication (du’a) except that He has prepared its award; He does not give him the asking for forgiveness (istighfar) except that He has prepared for him forgiveness; He does not give him the asking for repentance except that He has prepared for him acceptance; and He does not give him charity except that He has prepared for him its reward.”

Abu Bakr as-Saddiq Radhiallahu anhu said, “Darkness is of five types and its lamps are five. Love of the dunya is a darkness and its lamp is God-consciousness; sins are a darkness and their lamp is repentance; the grave is a darkness and its lamp is: ‘There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’; the Hereafter is a darkness and its lamp is right actions; and the path is a darkness and its lamp is certitude.”

Umar Radhiallahu anhu said, “If it were not claiming to know the unseen, I would bear witness that these five types of people will surely be from the people of Paradise. The poor man who has to support a large family; the wife whose husband is please with her; the woman who gives her dowry to her husband, considering it an act of charity; the one whose parents are pleased with him; and the one who repents from sins.”

Ali Radhiallahu anhu said, “Were it not for five things all of mankind would have been righteous. Contentment with ignorance, covetousness over this world (dunya), miserliness over what is surplus, insincerity in actions, and conceit over one’s opinion.”

Yahya ibn Mu’ath al-Razi said, “He whose appetite increases, his corpulence will increase; he whose corpulence increases, his desires will increase; he whose desires increase his sins will increase; he whose sins increase, the hardness of his heart will increase; and he whose heart becomes hard will drown in the pitfalls of the dunya and its attractions.”

Sufyan al-Thawri said, “The poor have chosen five things and the rich have chosen five others. The poor have chosen sincerity of the soul, freedom from worries, worship of the Lord, ease of accountability, and the highest position. The rich have chosen weariness of the soul, preoccupation with worries, worship of the dunya, severity in accountability, and the lowest position.”

A sage said, “There are five obstacles to attaining God-consciousness (taqwa), and only the one who overcomes these five will attain it. Choosing hardship over ease, exertion over rest, lowliness over pride, silence over idle talk, and death over life.”

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “In the gathering of wealth there are five [blameworthy] things, wearing oneself out in gathering it; neglecting the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah in preserving it; fear of robbers and thieves; being labeled a miser on account of it; and leaving the company of the righteous due to it. In distributing one’s wealth to the poor there are five [praiseworthy] things, ease of mind due to abandoning its amassing; having time to remember Allah rather than the worrying about preserving it; safety from robbers and thieves; gaining the title of ‘generous’; and accompanying the righteous due to leaving it behind.”

Sufyan al-Thawri said, “No one in this age amasses wealth except that he has five traits, the delusion that his lifespan will be long, overpowering greed, intense miserliness, lack of piety, and forgetfulness of the Hereafter.”

Muhammad ibn al-Duri said, “The damnation of Iblis was due to five things, he did not acknowledge his sin, he did not regret it, he did not blame himself, he did not resolve to repent, and he lost hope in the mercy of Allah. The salvation of Adam was due to five things, he acknowledged his sins, he regretted it, he blamed himself, he hastened to repent, and he did not lose hope in the mercy of Allah.”

Shaqiq al-Balkhi said, “Five precepts are obligatory upon you, so practice them: worship Allah to the extent that you need Him; take from the dunya to the extent of your stay in it; disobey Allah to the extent you can bear His punishment; prepare provisions during the dunya to the extent of your stay in the grave; and work for Paradise to the extent of your desired rank in it.”

Umar Radhiallahu anhu said, “I have seen all types of friends but I have never found a better friend than safeguarding the tongue; I have seen all types of clothes but I have never found clothes better than God-consciousness; I have seen all types of wealth but I have never found wealth better than contentment; I have seen all types of good deeds but I have never found a good deed better than giving good advice; I have seen all types of food and I never found food more delicious than patience.”

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “There will come a time for my ummah when they will love five things and forget five others, they will love this dunya and forget the next world; they will love life and forget death; they will love palaces and forget the grave; they will love wealth and forget the [Day of] Account; and they will love creatures and forget the Creator.”

Yahya ibn Mu’ath al-Razi said in his entreaties and supplication, “O my Lord! The night is only pleasant to me when I supplicate to You; the day is only pleasant to me when I obey You; this world is only pleasant to me when I remember You; the Hereafter will only be pleasant to me if I receive Your pardon; and Paradise will only be pleasant to me if I see You.”

PREPARED??

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

PREPARED??

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.

No comments: