Part 11

Fudhayl ibn “Iyaad iimnmn uséd to say to the mujahidoon (fighters purely in the cause of Allaah) before they left for jihaad, "Do tawbah because it pushes away from you what swords can-

"Umar ibn-ul-Khattab eaiainmniw used to say, “Sit with those

who repent frequently as they have the softest hearts."

Realise this brother and for as long as you are in this world increase in asking forgiveness as it extinguishes the anger of alJabbaar. Do not think that if you do the deeds that wipe away sins that your sins indeed have been forgiven, because those deeds could have preconditions which you have not performed. Understand that a believer does not become truly content until he enters Paradise. All praise be to Allaah the Lord of the worlds.

Enjoining good and forbidding evil:

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would enjoin the good and forbid the evil even if they did not do all good or refrain from ail evil. Some people imagine that this is only for the one free from sins, but this is a wrong view. If everyone refrained from enjoining and forbidding only until he had controlled himself first, then no one would be left to do this task!

One of the Salaf said, "If the sinners cannot rectify the disobedient, then who after Muhammad (.teusu awe sum Can correct the disobedient?"

Allaah said, "Let there arise out of you a group of people calling to goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil. They are the successful." [surah Aali-‘Imraan (3) : 104] "You are the best nation brought forth for mankind. You order the good and forbid the people and you believe in Allaah."!

The Messenger of Allaah (ainsi ssw wim) Said, "Whoever sees an evil then let him change it with his hand. If it is not possible for him then with his tongue. If he is unable to do that then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith (imaan)."”

1. Soorab Aali-’ Imraan (3):110 112

Hudhaifah ibn-ul-Yaman gaimn on Said, "There will come a time when gatherings will be like the corpse of an ass. which will be more preferable to them than sitting with a believer who or-

ders and forbids them."

Sufyaan ath-Thawri (aimonn Was asked, "Should a person order the good if he knows that the other person will reject it?" He replied, "Yes, so that he is pardoned in the sight of Allaah (for doing his duty)".

Maalik ibn Deenar (ousinain Said, "Goodness has left weeping and evil has come laughing." Then he would say: The people who were led by the desire to do good have gone; The correctors of every single wrong; I’ve remairied among’a later generation who praise one another;

So one blind man doesn’t say to another that "You are blind."

Parade these qualities in front of yourself and see if you are one of those who condemn the bad or not, or if you truly love Allaah. Have you defended the Sharee'ah of our Messenger Muhammad utters stun x amy OF have you forsaken it? Most of the people today have given up defending the Sharee’ah through

their words, deeds and by silence over the evil. There is no

2. Reported by Muslim (2/22-25) in al-Imaan, Al-Tirmidhi (9/18, 19) in alFitan, Abu Dawood (1128) in Salaatul-’Bidain, an-Nisaa‘i (8/111, 112) in al-Imaan and ibn Maajah (4013) inal-Fitan.

strength nor movement except with Allaah.

Not to be proud of own deeds: From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would not be proud of their own actions but they would see de-

Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdullaah (amon Said, "It is more beloved to me to spend the night sleeping and wake up regretful than to spend the night standing in prayer and wake up proud of my-

Hasan al-Basri (aumhuun) USEd to say, "If the actions of the son of Aadam were good he would have destroyed himself through pride, but Allaah tries him by showing him his deficiencies."

If the Salaf were praised they would say, "O Allah make me better than what they say and forgive me for what they do not know.”

"Umar (aaiamain’esny WOUld say, "O Allaah I seek your protection from the bad that they say and I seek your forgiveness for what they do not know."

Bishr al-Haafy (nmmnax Would say, "If you see a person who is

vain about his knowledge and proud about himself, then know that he has completed his failure."

‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Abee Rawaad iainnumny WOuld say, "If we remember the condition of the Salaf between ourselves then all of

us will be exposed."

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would prepare for standing in front of Allaah before every prayer from its beginning. One of them would gradually increase his awe of Allaah and feeling for His magnificence on hearing the adhaan (call to prayer) and by the time "Come to prayer" is uttered would reach the feeling that he is in the presence of Allaah.

It says in a hadith, “Five prayers have been decreed by Allaah upon His. worshippers, whoever brings them neither discarding any of them nor undermining their rights, he has a

promise with Allaah to enter him into Paradise."

‘Ali ibn Hussain umsiuna WOuld become pale on making ablution. He would be asked, “What is it that happens to you while you make wudhoo’?" He would reply, “Do you realise who is the

one in front of whom.I am going to stand?”

Hasan al-Basri pimnawny ONCE SAW a person praying whilst he played with his beard. He heard him say in his prostration, "O Allaah marry me in Paradise to its women such that it will be the sweetness of my eye.” Al-Hasan iaiamnan Said to him, “O so-and-

so! I never saw ariyone proposing for a lady from Paradise with

less modesty than you. You propose for a lady from. Paradise from Allaah the Most High while you are playing!"

Being careful with trade:

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would refrain from sitting in the markets for buying and selling except if they knew the rules of business. They would do this also because of their view that one should not be so preoccupied with business to be away from the actions of the Hereafter, since that was considered to be a misfortune in this world as well as the

next,.as was anything which preoccupied one from Allaah.

Imaam Maalik (nimmun WOuld order the leaders to gather the merchants so that he could see them. If he found someone who had not understood the rulings of business or what is lawful and forbidden, he would stop him from the market and say to him, "Learn the rules of buying and selling and then you can sit in the market, because the one who does not have deep knowledge

consumes usury willingly or unwillingly."

We have completed what we have been able to collect and arrange and all praise belongs to Allaah. Iask Allaah the Almighty and Sublime that He accepts this efforts and grants us on the Day of Arising goodness and provision from Him. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon Muhammad, his companions and follow-