Shyness

Aḥmad and ibn Ḥibbān record on the authority of ʿAbdullāh b. al-Mughaffal (RA) that a man met a woman who used to be a prostitute in the Days of Ignorance. While flirting with her, he extended his hand towards her upon which she said, ‘Stop, Allāh has removed shirk and brought Islām,’ so he removed […]

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Moderation

The Prophet (SAW) said, “Moderation, moderation! Through this will you attain your goal!”This statement encourages us to be moderate in worship in a way that avoids both extremes of excess and deficiency. It is for this reason that he (SAW) repeated it twice. al-Bazzār records the ḥadīth on the authority of Ḥudhayfah (RA) that the […]

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Beneficial Knowledge

Whoever suffices with knowledge of the Qurʾān and Sunnah, confining himself to what is reported from the Companions and Successors (in matters of the religion), makes his intention sincere – seeking Allāh’s face – and turns to Him for help, He will aid him, guide him, grant him divine accord, make him firm, grant him […]

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The Blessing of Gratitude

A person who has worked many, great deeds must not become complacent; rather he must busy himself with showing gratitude. The ability to be grateful is one of Allāh’s greatest blessings that He confers on His servant. It is obligatory upon him to return the deeds he has done with gratitude and realise his deficiency […]

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The Protection of Allaah

In His Book, Allāh, Most High, has informed us that He is the Protector of the believers and that He protects the righteous; subsumed by this is the fact that He safeguards what is good for them both in this life and the Hereafter, and that He will not abandon them to another. Allāh, Most […]

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Shakwa

It is truly an ignorant person who complains about Allāh to people. Such a person has displayed the deepest depths of ignorance concerning both Allāh and people: if he truly knew Allāh, he would never complain about Him; if he truly understood people, he would never complain to them.One of the pious predecessors saw a […]

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Sabr

Allāh, Glorious and Most High, made patience a race horse that never falters or stumbles, a sword that never loses its sharpness, a vanquishing army that is never defeated, a fortress that does not dilapidate and is never taken by force. Patience and divine help are like two blood brothers that never separate.Divine help comes […]

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The Prophet’s Heart

While describing the Prophet (SAW), ʿAlī (RA) said, “He had the most giving of hearts.” [Tirmidhī #3637]Ibn al-Qayyim, Jalaʾ al-Afhām, pg. 199, commented, “because of its righteousness and the immense good that it contained. His heart was bursting with every fine, beautiful moral and quality and goodness would pour out of it. Some of the […]

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Ibn al-Qayyim: Imprisonment!

The journey of a person who seeks Allāh and the Last Day can only ever be put in order through incarceration.He must put his heart in jail: confining its goals to the object of pursuit, and barring it from turning away.He must put his tongue in jail: preventing it from speaking words of no benefit […]

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How to Benefit from the Qurʾān

If you truly want to benefit from the Qurʾān, your heart must be attentive and alert when reciting it or listening to it. Listen to it carefully with presence of mind, paying attention to it as if Allāh Himself was speaking to you directly. Understand that this Qur’ān is addressed to you from Allāh, Most […]

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