Don’t let an opportunity pass you by..

“From the greatest of sins which are hidden – and widely practiced – is that the servant is enjoying a blessing that Allaah has blessed him with and chosen for him, then that servant becomes bored of it and seeks to exchange it for what he thinks – due to his ignorance – is better for him than it, and His Lord continues to be merciful to him and does not prevent him from this blessing, and He excuses him due to his ignorance and this bad choice that he has chosen for himself. When he reaches the limit in scorning this blessing and his boredom with it overcomes him, Allaah removes this blessing from him. So, if he is given what he sought in exchange for that blessing, and he sees the immense difference between what he was previously enjoying and and what he has now been given instead of it, his anxiety and regret increase and he requests a return to what he previously had. So, if Allaah desires good and guidance for His servant, He allows him to bear witness that what he had was a blessing from the blessings of Allaah upon him, and He causes him to become pleased with that blessing and to give thanks to Allaah for it. If his soul then whispers to him to again seek to exchange that blessing for something else, he makes istikharah to His Lord, the istikharah of the one who is ignorant of what is in his best interests and unable to attain them. He turns his affairs to Allaah, requesting of Him to help him make the best decision.

And there is nothing more harmful to the servant than to become bored of the blessings of Allaah, because he does not see it as a blessing, and he does not thank Allaah for it, and does not become happy because of it. Rather, he belittles it, complains about it and considers it to be a disaster – all this while it can well be from the greatest of Allaah’s blessings upon him.

Most people have a feeling of enmity towards Allaah’s blessings upon them, and they do not perceive that this opening that Allah has given them is actually a blessing, and they exert the utmost effort in repelling it and pushing it away out of ignorance and oppression. So, how many are those whom Allaah’s blessings comes to one of them, and they rise to repel and fight against it? And how many are those whom the blessing comes to one of them and he strives to push it away and brush it to the side out of ignorance and oppression?

Allaah – the Exalted – says: {“And this is because Allaah would not change a blessing that He has blessed a people with unless they change what is within themselves.”} [al-Anfaal; 53]

The one who is devoid of logic loses his chance *** Until the affair passes him by. Then, he blames predestination.”

[al-Fawaa’id; p. 248]

Advertisement

Like an unchaste woman..

A Precious Gem: This Life of Deception

This worldly life is like an unchaste woman, who is not satisfied with one husband. So! be satisfied with whatever Allah grants you from this worldly life.

Walking thereon is like walking in a land that is filled with beasts, and water that teams with crocodiles. That which causes delight, turns to be the source of grief. Pain is found in the midst of pleasures, and delights are derived from its sorrows. As a bird sees the wheat, so does one’s insight perceive polytheism, while vain desires render its holder blind. Lusts were granted in abundance to humans, but those who believed in the unseen turned away from them! while those who follow their lusts were caused to regret.

The first category, are those, in which Allah says,which means, ‘‘They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:5)

However, the other category, are those to whom Allah says which means, ”(O you disbelievers)! Eat and enjoy yourselves (in this worldly life) for a little while. Verily, you are the Mujrimun (polytheists, disbelievers, sinners, criminals, etc.).” (Al-Mursalat,77:46)

When the successful ones are aware of the reality of this worldly life being sure of the inferiority of its degree, they overcame their vain desires for the sake of the Hereafter. They have been awakened from their heedlessness to remember what their enemies took from them during their period of idleness. Whenever they perceive the distant journey they must undertake, they remember their aim, so it appears easy for them. Whenever life becomes bitter, they remember this verse, in which Allah says, which means, “This is your Day which you were promised” (Al-Anbiya’, 21:103).

Source: Al-Fawa’id – by Ibn al Qayyim

Chapter: “Pleasure depends upon Determination.”

The pleasure of each one of us depends upon his value, determination, and honor. The one who has the most honourable soul, the firmest determination, and is the most valuable among people is the one who finds his pleasure in knowing Allaah, loving Him, longing to meet Him, and pleasing Him by doing what He likes; his pleasure is in seeking Allaah and dedicating his determination to Him. Below that there are several ranks that only Allaah knows their numbers, until the ranks end with he whose pleasure is in seeking the most mean and low matters from among all kinds of indecencyL in speech, deeds, and works. If the pleasure of the first rank was offered to him, his soul would neither accept it nor pay any attention to it and maybe his soul would suffer from it, as whoever is in the first rank will neither accept the pleasure of that in the last rank nor pay attention to it.

Whoever experiences the most complete pleasure among people is the one who gathers the pleasures of the body, heart, and soul. He is enjoying lawful pleasures in a way that is neither decreasing his reward in the Hereafter nor depriving him from the pleasure of knowledge and being close to Allaah. Such a person is from among those about whom Allaah says,

“Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Taiyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) things] of food?” Say: “They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them).” Thus We explain the Ayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.”

{al-A`raaf : 32}

 

Whoever has the lowest share of pleasure is the one, who enjoys it in a way that deprives him of the pleasures of the Hereafter and is like those about whom Allaah says on the Day Resurrection:

 

“On the Day when those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) will be exposed to the Fire (it will be said): “You received your good things in the life of the world, and you took your pleasure therein. Now this Day you shall be recompensed with a torment of humiliation, because you were arrogant in the land without a right, and because you used to rebel and disobey (Allah).”

{al-Ahqaaf : 20}

Both parties enjoyed their pleasures but in different ways. Some enjoyed them in a way that is permissible, so they gathered the pleasures of this worldly life and the Hereafter. Others enjoyed them according to their desires and either they were permissible or not, so they were deprived of the pleasures of this worldly life and missed the pleasures of the Hereafter. Neither the pleasures of this worldly life lasted nor the pleasures of the Hereafter. Whoever wants pleasure, its continuance, and a good life, should use the pleasure of this worldly life to take him the pleasure of the Hereafter. That means to use it to dedicate his heart to Allaah, His orders, and to worship Him; to use this pleasure as an aid and power to help him fulfill his aim not just some desires. If he was among those who ever deprived of the pleasures of this worldly life, he should seek what he missed in the pleasures of the Hereafter and control himself during this life by abandoning in order to gain them all in the Hereafter. The pleasures of this worldly life are the best supporters and helpers for whoever truly seeks Allaah and there Hereafter and dedicates his determination to what is in the Hereafter. Missing the pleasures of this life is the best helpers for he who seeks Allaah and the Hereafter, and whoever enjoys the benefits of life in a way that will not decrease his share of pleasures in the Hereafter, he will enjoy both pleasures but if he does not he will lose everything.