Part 14

Therefore, that which Allah wills happens and that which He does not ordain, will never happen even if all the creatures agree upon it.

Monotheism Prevents Misfortunes Monotheism is the refuge of its enemies and its supporters:

It saves its enemies from the distress and misfortunes of the life of this world:

we 1S) GE CB GATT eee ST ges willl 4 iftens Sp > re id 5 ree ur ae geo 3 p=) rm

which means, “And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others.” (Al-‘Ankabit, 29:65)

82 * AL-FAWA'ID: A Collection of Wise Sayings

Itsaves its supporters from the distress and misfortunes of this world and the Hereafter. That is why YGnus resorted to it, and Alah saved him from the darkness of the whale’s belly.

In the same way, the followers of the Prophets resorted to it and by it they were saved from that which the polytheists were tortured with in this world and that which is prepared for them in the Hereafter.

A Precious Gem: Knowledge is Followed by Love

Love is followed by pleasure. It is either strong or weak according to the degree of love. Whenever the desire for the

Ge ke Gf ER IY AHS of lb g cost le 58 Tol Sab Cat ah os 53 Which means “And (remember) Dhan-NGn (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamites which had befallen him)! But ne cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and

Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, | have been of the wrong-doers.” (Al-Anbiya’, 21: 87)

AL-FAWA'ID : A Collection of Wise Syaings * 83

cherished one is stronger, there is perfect pleasure. Love and yearning follow knowing Allah and appreciating His greatness. Whenever our knowledge of Allah is perfect, we will love Him more perfectly. Therefore, the perfection of blessing and pleasure in the Hereafter can be traced back to knowledge and love.

Whoever believes in Allah, His Names and Attributes, and knows them well, would love Him a great deal, and his feeling of pleasure, his being close to Him, looking at His Face and hearing His words would be complete when meeting Him on the Day of Judgment. Every pleasure, blessing, joy and delight would be like a drop of water compared to the sea. So how is it that an intelligent person can prefer weak and shortlived pleasure that is mixed with pain, to great, complete and eternal pleasure? The perfection of man is based on these two abilities: Knowledge and love. And the best knowledge is the knowledge about Allah, and the highest love is the love for His Sake. Surely, it is Allah’s help that should be sought.

A Rule: Two Restraints that Rescue

Whoever performs a deed for the sake of Allah and the Hereafter, can only stay on the straight path by having two restraints: to let his heart continually seek Allah’s Pleasure and the Hereafter, and restrain it from turning to anything other than that. And to restrain his tongue from that which is not beneficial, and constantly remember Allah and that which increases its faith and knowledge, and restrain his body from committing sins and indulging in lusts, and adhering to religious duties and recommendations. He should maintain these restraints until he meets his Lord to free him from restraint to enter the widest and best of places. And if he did not endure these two restraints, and indulges in lusts and desires, he will be punished with a horrible restraint while leaving this world. Therefore, all those who leave this world are either freed from

84 * AL-FAWA'ID: A Collection of Wise Sayings

this worldly restraint or are going to another kind of restraint in the Hereafter. And it is Allah Who Grants success.

Sulaiman bin Dawid said, “We have been given the same as that which people have been given as well as_ that which they have not been given. And we have been taught the same as that which people have been taught and that which they have not. However, we have not found anything better than the fear of Allah secretly and openly, and justice whether one is angry or pleased, and temperance whether one is rich or poor. In the book Az-Zuhud, by Imam Ahmad, he mentions a divine saying that goes as follows “If someone holds fast to someone

*! He is ‘Abdullah bin ‘Aun bin Artaban Al-Mazniy. He was one of the memorizers of hadith. He was the sheikh of Al-Basra. Ath-Thawry and Yahya Al-Qattan learnt from him. Adopted from: Tahdhib At-Tahdhib (5\346), Tarikh Al-Bukhary Alkabir (5\163), Aj-Jarh wat-Ta’dil (1\145), (5\605) and Siyar A’lamu-Nubala’ (6\364).

2 He is Zaid bin Aslam Al-‘Adawy Al-‘Amriy, Abu Usamah. He was an Islamic jurist and an interpreter of the Qur'an from the people of Al-Madinah. He was an excelient memorizer, and had a group of students who used to attend his lectures in the Prophet’s Mosque. He died (may Allah have mercy upon him) in 136 A. H. Adopted from Tahdhib At-Tahdhib (3\395), Tarikh Al-Bukhary Alkabir (3\387), Aj-Jarh wat-Ta'dil (3\2509).

AL-FAWA'ID : A Collection of Wise Syaings * 85

else other than Me, | would leave the person without any help. If he asks Me for anything | would not give it to him, and if the person supplicates Me, ! would not answer him, and if he asks My Forgiveness, | would not forgive him. And if someone holds fast to Me without anything in My creation, | would guarantee his provision. If he asks Me for anything, | would give it to him, and if he supplicates Me, | would answer him, and if he asks My Forgiveness, | would forgive him.”

A Precious Gem: Good Character is a Part of Piety

The Prophet (peace be upon him) established a relationship between the fear of Allah and good character, becausefearing Allah improves the relation between the servant and Allah, and good character improves the relation between a person and others. Therefore, fearing Allah makes it possible for Allah to love him, and good manners makes it possible for people to love that person.

A Precious Gem: Examples and Lessons

In order to be close to Allah and Paradise, the servant has to observe two important things: one concerning himself, and the other concerning people. That is to say he should pardon that which is between him and the people, and should not let people come between him and Allah. Therefore, he should not turn to anyone other than the person who guided him to Allah and the way that leads to Him.

O servant of Allah! The Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are great examples.

4D Ope At ae gpg ELS WU OZl >

which means, “Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while they turn away in heedlessness.” (Al-Anbiya’, 21:1)

86 * AL-FAWA'ID: A Collection of Wise Sayings

Their hearts were restless with fear, and tears ran down their cheeks due to fear of Allah just like water flows through the valleys according to their measure.

which means, “And the valleys flow according to their measure.”

This worldly life adorned itself for ‘Aly bin Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said to it, “I have divorced you three times and | will never return to you again.” (using an allegory). One divorce was enough for him, as he followed the Sunnah, but he made it three to make it clear that he has not the slightest intention to return to it, for his good faith and good nature despise A/-Muhalil (One who marries a woman divorced thrice, with the intention of divorcing her so that the first husband may remarry her). And what is more, he is one of the narrators of the hadith, “Allah has damned Al-Muhalil.” =

Make a private place for yourself in this world, because fascinating things will be presented to you. Know them and be on your guard, and do not be harmed by withdrawing from preoccupations while you are among them.

The light of the truth is greater and brighter than that of the sun, therefore, there is no problem if those having insight are dim-sighted.

The road to Allah is free from those who have doubt, and those who give in to their lusts. It is full of those having certainty and patience. They are like guideposts along the road:

** Recorded by Abu Dawdd in his Sunan. The book of marriage, the section of At-Tahlil, no. (2076), and Ibn Majah. The book of marriage, the section of AlMuhaiil wal-Muhalil lahu, no. (1936).

AL-FAWA'ID : A Collection of Wise Syaings * 87

By byt ash [ideg Iyee Ae Resrcaeeipee tere

which means, “And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.).” (As-Sajdah, 32:24)