3. We should know that Allaah has created us to live an

eternal life with no death, a life of pride and ease with no humiliation, a life of security with no fear, a life of richness with no poverty, a life of joy with no pain, a life of perfection with no flaws. Allaah is testing us in this world with a life that will end in death, a life of pride that is accompanied by humiliation and degradation, a life that is tainted by fear, where joy and ease are mixed with sorrow and pain. So many people are mistakenly seeking an easy life of power and pleasure in this world, but most of them never manage to achieve it, and those who do, enjoy it only for a brief time before it vanishes. The Prophets called people to an eternal life of plenty, and whoever answers their call will have the best life in this world, better than the life of kings and their followers, for Zuhd in this life is true richness. This is something which the Shaytan greatly envies the believers.

Think of the loss of Eemaan: We should think of what the person who commits wrong action has to lose, in this world and the next. It should be sufficient to think of the loss of Eemaan (Faith), of which the smallest amount is worth more than everything in this world. How can anyone be willing to lose his Eemaan in return for some brief moment of pleasure the consequences of which might last forever? In a Saheeh Hadeeth, the Prophet ~ said: t i-' ,-', ·~ ' -: ·1Z:I\ .•. , --j ~Y' ~ j '-1,.r.. 0:?:" '-1- ..r '-1,.r.. "No adulterer is a believer at the time when he is committing adultery."!601 [60] AI-Bukhaaree.

Merely knowing the facts that we have outlined above is not enough. We have to strive and do our utmost to achieve our aim and attain perfection. The best way to do so is to put a stop to the bad habits that are controlling our lives, as these are the main obstacles which prevent us from succeeding. We should avoid places of Fitnah and temptation and seek companies of righteousness. "O you who believe!

Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)." [At-Tawbah (9):119] The best way to protect ourselves from wrong is to keep away from anything that could lead to it. One of the favourite tricks of the Shaytan, which deceives everyone except those who are clever enough to see it, is to show a person some goodness in a wrong thing, and call him to go towards what is good; when the person gets close to it, he falls into the trap) 61 l [61] The Prophet ~ said: J:_;. ~ljl5 ·rl~I J ~J 9l+~ll J ~J ~J -~~J :H •~ - ~ ~ / "1<1 01µ/ '11 •.w I..)',- <·/ 01 .ii~/ Y..' ~ /•/ t::_J!. ~-i1 J·y>-/ ~~~~I~ 0µ '"Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are Patience and loving Allaah Patience is one of the most important qualities demanded of those who claim to love Allaah, as the degree of patience determines those who are sincere in their claim and those who are not. The degree of patience needed to endure hardship and difficu lties in order to please the Beloved proves the sincerity of one's love. Many claim to love Allaah, but when Allaah tests them with hardship, they forget the true essence of love. No one can adhere to the love of Allaah except those who are patient and persevering (As-Sabirun) in His obedience.

Allaah ~ commanded the Prophet ~ thus: "Say (O Muhammad ,, to mankind): "If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you of yo r s1'1s And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" [Aal-lmraan (3):31] If it were not for the test of hardship and sincerity, there would be no proof of the sincerity of a person's love for Allaah. The one doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honour. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes {his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware!

Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal {forbidden) things." (AI-Bukhaaree) . 85 whose love of Allaah is greater, has a greater degree of patience. Therefore, Allaah has attributed the quality of patience to His close friends (Awliyaa) and most beloved. He said about His beloved slave Ayyub ~\ ,,i_ ~n 1.i31 b1 ~ . !J ~ . ~ h~ i'Y;.~ t~,, ti ~ .:J ~r " ... Truly We found him full of patience and constancy, How excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!" [As-Saad {38) :44] Allaah instructed the most beloved to Him of everything He created to have patience in accepting His decree.

May Allaah imbue us with patience and make us one of the As-Saabirun (the patient ones) and make us taste the fruit of patience. (Aameen). ...End ... A woman approaches in the (tempting) fo rm of a devil, and moves away 64 A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the so Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch 18 Among those who were before you a (believer) used to be seized and 45 Avoid the seven great destructive sins 48 Be like the better one of the two sons of Adam 39 Be like the slave of Allaah who was killed, and not like the one who 39 Be like the two sons of Adam 39 Be mindful of Allaah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allaah 30 Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are 68 Do (good) deeds which is within your capacity (without being overtaxed 46 He is not one of us who strikes himself on the cheeks 51 He who cannot afford to marry is advised to fast, as fasting 63 If I had anything I would not keep it away from you 13 If You are not angry with me, then I do not care what happens to me 17 If you wish, be patient and Paradise will be yours 14 If you wish, be patient and Paradise will be yours; and if you wish 22 If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise 54 Indeed, Allaah has spoken the truth when He said: "... among your wives 57 It does not matter whether you cry or not, the angels kept shading 52 Know that help comes with patience and ease comes with suffering 30 No adulterer is a believer at the time when he is committing adultery 68 Patience should be displayed at the beginning of the affliction 28 Patience, family of Yasir, for your rendezvous is Paradise 46 Supplication (Duaa') is itself the worship 49 The deceased person suffers because of the wailing of the living 52 The religion is (Naseehah) [sincere advice) 10 There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who 55 There would be bounties which the eye has not seen, the ear has 40 Verily the most truthful speech is the Word of Allaah and the best 8 Verily, the patience is at the first stroke of a calamity so We are very sad for your death, 0 lbraheem 52 Whoever abstains from asking others, Alla ah will make him contented 21 Whoever tries to be patient, then Allaah will help him to be patient 61 You have asked me about a matter (which ostensibly appears to be) 47 You will be responded to as long as you are not hasty, meaning that 49 You will listen to the Amir {leader) and carry out his orders 56 Bibliography AI-Jawziyyah, I bn Qayyim, UddatAs-Saabireen Wa DhakhiratAshShakirin (Patience and Gratitude). London: TA-HA Publishers .

AI-Jibaly, Muhammad, Sickness: Regulations & Exhortations AIKitaab & Sunnah Publishing, 1998. Al-Mansura, Sayed Noah, Aafaat 'Alaa At-Tareeq (Obstacles on the Path of Dawah) by, Egypt: Dar AI-Yaqeen, 1421/2000. AI-Munajjid Muhammad Saalih, I Want To Repent But ... ! www.lslamga.com Fawzan, Saalih AI-Fawzan, An explanation on the Excellence of Patience (Khutub AI-Minbariyya), www. TheRighteousPath.com Ta/seer lbn Katheer, Riyadh: DARUSSALAM, lnt'I Publishers & Distributors, 2000 CE/1420 AH.