Part 31

Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) #4 said: “Tonight I will go round one hundred women (my wives) everyone of whom will deliver a male child who will fight in Allah’s Cause”. On that an Angel said to him: ‘Say if Allah wills’. But Sulayman #4 did not say it and forgot to say it. So none of the women delivered any child, except one who delivered a halfperson. The Prophet 3 said: “If Sulayman had said, ‘If Allah wills’, Allah would have fulfilled his desire (all his wives would have brought forth boys), and they would have fought in Allah’s Cause.”!

There are some people who are conceited about their intellect and insight in religious and worldly matters, but the outcome of their vanity is their obstinacy in sticking to their opinion, while disregarding those of others, and even refusing to hear their opinions. Such people should reflect that if Allah 3€ should afflict them with a brain disease, their intellect would be ineffective. So, they should thank Allah 3€ for His Blessings and good health which He has bestowed upon them.

Some people are conceited about their lineage, and so think that they are safe from any punishment, simply because they are related to alHassan or al-Hussain! Such people should understand that only their good deeds will save them, and they should know that the Prophet 3 called his most close person: “O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, ask for what you wish from my property, but I cannot save you from Allah’s punishment (if you disobey Him).”?

Some people feel conceited because of their large tribe, family and numerous children. They simply should remember that Allah # has said: (The Day a man will flee from his brother and his mother and his father, and his wife and his children. On that Day everyman among them will have concerns enough of his own)’.

Some people are conceited with their wealth, so they should know that Allah 8 has said: (Mankind, you are poor, in need of Allah, whereas Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy)‘, and

' Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. ? Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. 3 Surat ‘Abasa, verse 34.

“ Surat Fatir, verse 15.

the Prophet 4 said: “A man was walking, clad in a two-piece garment, and proud of himself, with his hair well-combed, then suddenly Allah made him sink into the earth; and he will go on sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection!”'

Some people feel conceited with their acts of worship, and they are simply ignorant and foolish, because they do not know, in fact, whether their worship has been accepted or not!

Masruq, may Allah bless him, said: “It should be enough for a man with knowledge to fear Allah 4%; and for an ignorant man to feel conceited about an action.”

“Umar ibn al-Khattab 2 said: “Your repentance is right when you know your sin, and your deed is right when you reject any feeling of conceit, and your gratefulness is right when you know your negligence.”

Mutraf ibn ‘Abdillah said: “Tt is dearer to me to spend the night asleep, waking up regretful (for not having spent it in night prayer) than spending it in worship and waking up feeling conceited.”

A man asked ‘Aishah 4: “When do I know that I am a beneficent?” She replied: “When you know that you are offensive”. He said: “And when do I know that I am offensive?” She replied: “When you know that you are beneficent”.

Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn abi Maleeka said: “There were thirty of the Prophet’s Companions in my time, and they were all wary of not being conceited.”*

Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi said: “He who wants to break al-‘ujb, should consider four things:

‘ Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

? Recorded by al-Darimi.

> Recorded by al-Bukhari: The book of Jman; chapter: ‘The faithful’s fear that his deeds come to failure, without being aware of it.’

First: To acknowledge that (every) success is from Allah 3%; for if he sees it this way, then he would devote his time to thanking Allah 3% and not feeling conceited.

Second: To reflect on the Blessings that Allah %% has bestowed upon him; this will make him thank his Lord for all these, and so he will not feel conceited about his deeds.

Third: He should dread the fact that his deeds may not be accepted from him by Allah 3, and so he will never feel self-conceited.

Fourth: To reflect on the sins that he has previously committed; so if he fears the fact that his sins could replace his good deeds, then his ‘ujb would diminish.

How can a man feel conceited about his deeds when he does not even know what will come out from his book on the Day of Resurrection? Rather, his conceit or his happiness will be displayed only after reading his Book.”!

11. Anxiety and restlessness

Anxiety is one of the vehicles in which Satan transports man through ‘seas of illusion and imagination’, until he drops him in the ocean of confusion and depression.

As for the mu ‘min (faithful), he/she boards the ‘carriage of patience’, and travels across the ‘seas of submission’ to his/her Lord, until he/she reaches the ‘ocean of relief’ and a happy ending; and there he/she will meet the Kindness and Clemency of the Lord.

Abu al-Hasan al-Mawridi said, regarding the reasons for severe anxiety: “One of these is the constant remembrance of a calamity or grievous misfortune such that he never forgets it, which leads to strong regret about theis personal loss. Allah a said: (That is so that you will not be grieved about the things that pass you by, nor exult over the things that come to you)’. Some other reasons for anxiety

! Tanbih al-ghafilin (252). ? Surat al-Hadid, verse 23.

Anxiety and fear are part of man’s innate nature; so Allah 4 directs us to a way to overcome them: (Truly, man was created headstrong — desperate when bad things happen, begrudging when good things come — except for those who do salah and are constant in it; those in whose wealth there is a known share for beggars and the destitute; those who affirm the Day of Judgment, those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord, as no oné is safe from the punishment of his Lord; those who guard their private parts except from their wives and any slaves they own, in which case they incur no blame, but if anyone desires any more than that, they have overstepped the limits; those who honour their trusts and contracts; those who stand by their testimony; those who safeguard their salah; such people will be in Gardens, highly honoured)’.

So whoever displays these nine characteristics has indeed assumed the reasons to overcome anxiety and fear. These characteristics are:

First: Submissiveness in salah, and this is in the verse as: (those who do salah and are constant in it).

Second: To pay the obligatory zakah (alms tax) willingly.

Third: Having a firm belief in the Day of Resurrection; the belief that entices one to perform good deeds.

Fourth: Fear and concern about the Punishment of Allah; a fear that keeps a person away from anything that might unleash the Anger of Allah &, and anything that will lead to His Punishment.

Fifth: Guarding the private parts from the unlawful.

* Surat al-Ma‘arij, verse 5. ? Surat al-Ma‘arij, verses 19-35.

Sixth: Honouring one’s commitments and settling them fully. Seventh: Honouring one’s contracts, and never violating them. Eight: Giving full and correct testimonies, and not withholding any.

Ninth: Safeguarding salah; its time, basic structural elements, obligations and recommendations.

Abu Hurayrah 2 said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘What is evil in a man are alarming niggardliness and _ unrestrained cowardice’”!.

When a person overcomes anxiety and fear, he/she then opens the door of patience and relief for him-/herself. The Prophet # said: “Patience is brightness”; i.e. Patience brightens up a person’s situation when one is amidst the darkness of confusion; so that one only sees a good ending ahead, and no more grief.

There are many aspects of patience

First: Patience for misfortunes and afflictions; whether in the body, the family, or in property, etc. Abu Hurayrah < reported that the Prophet % said: “Allah 4 says: ‘My Faithful Servant’s Reward from Me, if I have taken up to Me, his best friend among the inhabitants of the world, and he has then borne it patiently for My Sake, shall be nothing less than Paradise.’”?

Anas ibn Malik .4 reported that he heard the Prophet 4 say: “Allah #€ says: ‘If I put My Servant on trial by taking away his eyesight and he shows patience, I will compensate him (for his loss of sight) with Paradise.”

Both Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah 4 reported that the Prophet 3 said: “No fatigue, disease, sorrow, sadness, hurt, nor

' Recorded by Ahmad and Abu Dawud. ? Recorded by Muslim.

3 Hadith Qudsi recorded by al-Bukhari. * Hadith Qudsi recorded by al-Bukhari.

distress befall a Muslim, even if it were the prick of a thom, except that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”!

But the reward and the compensation are for the patient people and not for others, therefore, it is clear that any trial from Allah 4 brings goodness and grace; the Prophet # said: “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials’; and he 4 also said: “The magnitude of the reward (given) matches the magnitude of the affliction. When Allah 4 loves people, He afflicts them with hardships, so those who accept this gladly receive Allah’s Good Pleasure, but those who are displeased with it receive Allah’s Displeasure.”?

Abu Hurayrah 2 reported that the Prophet 4 said: “A believing man or woman continues to face afflictions in (terms of) persons, property and children, so that they may finally meet Allah, free from sin.”

Second: Patience to observe the Commands of Allah 4%, because religious obligations require a great deal of patience to implement, and patience in fighting off Satan and one’s desires, as the Prophet # said: “A muhajir (emigrant) is the one who abandons evil, and a mujahid (a fighter) is the one who repels his own desires.”*

Third: Be patient with regards to desires and sins.

Allah 3% said: (But for those who fear the Station of his Lord and forbade the lower self its appetite, the Garden will be his refuge)’,