Sincerity is Costly and Scarce Today

 

Sincerity is very important in rectifying the conditions, which we are living in. This is because most people live in internal conflicts. Callers and students of knowledge all suffer from these internal conflicts. They pass through things that cause the deprivation of blessing and success except one whom Allaah the most High showers His mercy on.

So how will the religion be established if not through sincere armies? How will the religion be taught if not through sincere students of knowledge? Sincerity is very important in delivering us from the situation we are living in. How will the religion be victorious if not through sincere armies? Therefore, the issue of sincerity is very important in delivering us from the condition we are living today. Today, the Ummah is living in backwardness and defeat; it is been dominated from the east and west. What is the cause?

The causes are numerous. The most important among them is lack of the most important element, which is sincerity. It has become costly, scarce and rare. Were there to be sincerity, the situation would have been different. Further, there are many projects that were established and aborted and da’wahs contaminated with show-off; there are large Islamic groups with thousands of people all of whom have been crushed, disintegrated and lost as a result of lack of sincerity, and their goals became desire for worldly gains, leadership, status and wealth…

Source: Silsilah A’maal al-Quloob, p. 14-15, transl. by Abdus-Samee’ Abdus-Salaam.

By Allaah I will never drink alcohol again

 

There was a Muslim, Aboo Mihjan Ath-Thaqafee (may Allaah be pleased with him) who was an alcoholic. He was punished several times for it but he still went back to it. In fact, due to his serious addiction to alcohol, he willed to his son saying:

“If I die, bury me by the side of a grapevine so that its root will water my bones after my death. And do not bury in the desert for I fear to have to taste it if I die.”

When the Muslims were summoned to go out to fight the Persians in the battle of al-Qaadisiyyah, Aboo Mihjan went out with them carrying his provisions and belongings. He did not forget to carry along wine with him! He inserted it between his belongings. When they got to Al-Qaadisiyyah, Rustum requested to face Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas, the commander of the Muslims.

The exchange of fire commenced between the two armies. Then the devil whispered to Aboo Mihjan, so he concealed himself in a distant place and drank the wine. When Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him) knew about it, he was angry with him and forbade him from entering into the battle, and gave instruction that Aboo Mihjan should be chained and locked up in the tent. When the battle started and Aboo Mihjan heard the whining of the horses and shouting of warriors, he could not bear to remain in chains. Rather, he yearned for martyrdom; he yearned to serve this religion and to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allaah, the Most High, even if he was a sinner and even if he was addicted to alcohol. But he was a Muslim who loves Allaah and His Messenger. So he began to be regretful over his condition and began to chant moving poetic stanzas mentioning his strong desire to partake in the battle.

He began to call out with a loud voice. So the wife of Sa’d answered him: “What do you want?” He said: “Untie the chain from my legs, and give me Balqaa’ (Sa’d’s horse) to fight. If Allaah grant me martyrdom, and that is what I want (then good); but if I live, I promise you, by Allaah, that I will return so that you will put the chains back on my legs. He was pleading and begging her till she unchained him and gave him the horse. He put on his coat of mail and covered his face with armour. Then he mounted the horse like a lion and threw himself in the midst of the disbelievers, defending and protecting this religion. He attached his soul to the hereafter and the devil did not succeed in discouraging him from rendering service to this religion. He pounced on the people playing with their necks between the two rows with his spear and weapons, people were amazed about him since they did not see him during the day. Aboo Mihjan went forth fighting and risking his life cheap for the sake of Allaah. Indeed Aboo Mihjan went forth!

Meanwhile Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas, had been injured in his thigh and was not in the battle field. However, he was watching the battle from afar. When he saw Aboo Mihjan, he was surprised about the strength of the fight and said: “Fight, Aboo Mihjan fight and attack, al-Balqaa’, attack!’ When the battle was over, Aboo Mihjan returned to his prison and chains. Sa’d came down and found his horse sweating and said: “What is this?” Then they narrated the story of Aboo Mihjan to him and he was pleased with him.  He released him and said: “By Allaah, I will never flog you because of alcohol.” So Aboo Mihjan said: “By Allaah, I will never drink alcohol again.”  

Source: Refer to Ibn Abee Shaybah (33746) and Sa’eed bin Mansoor in his Sunan (2502). The chain of narrators is authentic as mentioned by Ibn Hajar is al-Isaabah. See also Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb (8/127). Transl. by Abdus-Samee’ Abdus-Salaam.

Means of Attaining Beneficial Knowledge

 

Beneficial knowledge has certain ways and means by which it is obtained, and certain paths that are taken in its acquisition and memorization. Amongst the most important of them are:

Firstly: That the servant asks his Lord for the beneficial knowledge and that he seeks assistance from Him, the Exalted, and shows his need to Him. Allaah ordered His Prophet, Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to ask Him that He increases him in knowledge, in addition to his knowledge. He, the Exalted said: “And say, ‘O Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” [Soorah Taa Haa (21):114]. The Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to say, “O Allaah, benefit me with what you have taught me and teach me that which will benefit me and increase me in knowledge.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhee (5/578) and Ibn Maajah (1/92). Also refer to Saheeh Ibn Maajah (1/47)].

Secondly: This is the greatest and the essence of them all – sincerity in seeking the knowledge. The Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever learnt knowledge by which the Face of Allaah is to be sought, but does not do so except for attaining a goal of this world, (he) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.” [Reported by Aboo Daawood with his wording in Kitaabul-Ilm and Ibn Maajah in his introduction (1/93). Refer also to Saheeh Ibn Maajah (1/48)].

Thirdly: Striving and exerting oneself in seeking knowledge, having keen interest for it, having a true desire in which the pleasure of Allaah, the Most High, is sought and adopting all of the ways and means in seeking knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah. A man came to Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) and said, “I desire to learn the knowledge but I fear that I may waste it.” So, Aboo Hurayrah replied to him, “Your abandonment of learning it is sufficient in wasting it.” [Refer to Tafseer As-Sa’dee (5/194)]. Imaam ash Shaafi’ee (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in this regard: “My brother! You will not acquire knowledge except by six matters, I will inform you of their detail with an explanation: Intelligence, zeal, striving, competence/proficiency. The companionship of a teacher… and a long time!”

Fourthly: Avoiding all disobedience by having taqwaa of Allaah, the Most High, for that is the greatest of means of acquiring knowledge, as He, the most High, has said: “Have taqwaa of Allaah and Allaah will teach you, and Allaah has knowledge of every single thing.” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):282]. And He, the most High, also said: “O you who believe! If you have taqwaa of Allaah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between truth and falsehood). [Soorah al-Anfaal (8): 29].

This is a clear and manifest proof that the one who has taqwaa of Allaah, He will grant him knowledge by which he will distinguish between truth and falsehood. Consequently, ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, “Indeed, I consider that a man loses knowledge which he once had, due to a sin which he committed.” [Jaami’ Bayaanul-‘Ilm wa Fadlilihi of Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr (1/196)].

Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, “I complained to Wakee’ about the poorness of my memory. So he directed me to abandon disobedience, and informed me that the knowledge of Allaah is light. And that the light of Allaah is not given to the disobedient.” [Deewaanush-Shaafi’ee (p.88). Refer also to Al-Jawaab al-Kaafee of Ibn al-Qayyim (p.104)]. Imaam Maalik said to Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee (may Allaah have mercy on them both), “I see that Allaah has placed light in your heart, so do not extinguish it with the darkness of disobedience.” [Al-Jawaab al-Kaafee of Ibn al-Qayyim (p.104)].

Fifthly: Not being shy or arrogant in seeking knowledge, and this is why ‘Aa’ishah, (may Allaah be pleased with her), said, “How excellent are the women of the Ansaar, shyness/modesty does not prevent them from understanding the religion.” [Reported by Bukhaaree in Kitaabul-Ilm]. Umm Sulaym, (may Allaah be pleased with her), said, “O Messenger of Allaah! Allaah is not ashamed of the truth, so is it necessary for a woman to make ghusl when she has a wet dream?” The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “If she sees the fluid.” [Reported by Bukhaaree in Kitaabul-Ilm]. Mujaahid said, “The shy person and the arrogant one will not learn the knowledge.” [Reported by Bukhaaree in Kitaabul-Ilm].

Finally: Acting upon the knowledge. The Messenger of Allaah (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “A servant’s two feet will not move on the Day of Judgement until he is questioned about four (things): His youth, how he spent it; his knowledge - how he acted upon it; his wealth - how he earned it and how he spent it and his body - how he used it.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhee (2417) and see Saheehut-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (1/126)].

Source: Al-Hikmah fid-Da’wah Ilallaah (pp. 50-53) of Sa’eed Ibn Alee bin Wahf al-Qahtaanee, with modifications and additions.