. J '-Ɵ  (cont.)

People leave their lands, culture, family, friends and way of life behind just to get ahead in this worldand many times they do not even achieve that. When this occurs at the expense of one's religion, then what little one may gain of this dunya cannot be compared to what one has lost in both this life and the Hereafter. If the dunya can have such an effect that it makes a person leave his family and homeland for its sake, one can imagine how many other deeds are performed simply for the sake of this dunya. The true believer should set his aspirations on the Hereafter. He should use this world as a tool for gaining Allah's pleasure and bounties in the Hereafter. When he works, he should work with a view towards the Hereafter. If, instead, he works for this life, he will be gaining something fleeting and, in the long run, meaningless. On the Day of Judgment, he will blame himself for not having worked more for the Hereafter instead of for this dunya. Mention of Woman after Mention of Dun ya In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) specifically mentioned making hijrah for the sake of marrying a woman after mentioning making hijrah for a portion of this dunya. Obviously, marrying a woman is part of this dunya. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was making a general statement and then emphasized an important specific aspect of that general 1 See al-Mudaabaghi, p. 33. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi statement. This is a sign that womanor the opposite sex in generalcan have a great effect on the acts of an individual. Even great and noble deeds, such as making hijrah, may be performed for the sake of a woman instead of for the sake of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned his Nation about this world and, in particular, about women. He once again combined these two aspects together when he said, "Verily, the world is sweet and alluring. Verily, Allah is going to make you successors in it. So look to see how you behave. Beware of this world and beware of women. Verily, the first trial that afflicted the Tribes of Israel was concerning women." (Recorded by Muslim.) In particular, he stated about women, Ìt:)J1 9 J৓) Js. >f ৔ ீு J'} ৻ , , "I have not left anything after me that is a more harmful trial for men than women." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) The effect of the opposite sex on a person, even persons who are generally pious, can be readily seen today. In many cases, a man has made a decision to marry a particular sister. He, in fact, falls "in love" with that sister. Although the rest of their lives are ruled by Islam and their intention is to live by Islam, many times they get to the point that they must get married. They even get to the point that they do not even seem to care what the shareeah has to say about their marriage. If the woman's guardian, for example, does not accept the marriage, even if he has proper grounds, they will find any means to circumvent the guardian and get married at all cost. This is an example of how the opposite sex can have a very strong effect on an individual. This is, Allah knows best, probably why the Prophet (peace be upon him) specifically mentioned women in this important hadith about the place of intention in Islam. The enemies of Islam today know very well how influential women can be. For the past century, they have been trying their best to take the Muslim woman out of her home and display in her public, in all her physical beauty. If the Muslim woman can be taken away from her Islam, she will then oppose her father, husband and other men. Such will be a very difficult battle and many men will not be up to that task. Furthermore, she will use her influence over her children, who are the next generation of Muslims. Hadith #1 : All Actions are but by Intentions . . . "This was related by the two Imams of the scholars of hadith, Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismaaeel ibn lbraaheem ibn al-Mugheerah ibn Bardizbah al­ Bukhari and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaaj ibn Muslim al-Qushairi al-Naisaboori in their collections of authentic hadith which are the most authentic works compiled." Imam al-Bukhari 1 Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismaaeel ibn lbraaheem al-Bukhari al­ Ju'fi was born in 194 A.H. (810 C.E.) in the city of Bukhaara, part of modern­ day Uzbekistan. His father was a well-respected scholar and was one of the students of Hammaad ibn Zaid and Imam Malik. Unfortunately, he died when his son Muhammad was still quite young. Al-Bukhari was attracted to the study of hadith at a very young age. By the age of sixteen, he had memorized the works of Wakee and Abdullah ibn al­ Mubaarak. He was well-known for his ability to memorize.