DO NOT THINK…

 

Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

"Do not think that the statement of Allah the most High: “Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure. And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire.” [Soorah Al-Infitaar: 13-14] is restricted to the Day of Recompense alone. Rather, the first category will be in delight in their three abodes while the second category will dwell in the blazing Fire in their three abodes. Which pleasure and delight in this world is more pleasant than righteousness of the heart, soundness of the chest, knowledge of Allah the most High, loving Him and acting based on His approval?

Source: Al-Jawaab al-Kaafee Liman Sa’ala ‘an ad-Dawaa’ ash-Shaafee, by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah; transl by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam

The Head and Pillar of All Affairs

 

Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah said:

Intention is the head and pillar of any affair, and its foundation and basis upon which it is built. Indeed, it is the spirit of an action, its leader and its driver. Action is dependent on it and built upon it; it is sound with his soundness, and it will be invalid with its invalidity. Through sincere intention, success is achieved and lack of it brings about disappointment; and the disparity of levels in this world and the Hereafter is in accordance with it.

Source: I’laam al-Muwaqqi‘een ‘an Rabb al-‘Aalameen by Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. Transl. by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam

 

The Gates of Showing off

 

Shaykh Saleem bin ‘Eed al-Hilaalee said: “Know O obedient slave – may Allaah illuminate your heart with sincerity – that ar-Riyaa’ (showing off) has a number of gates and they vary because Riyaa’ is of levels.

[First Gate of Riyaa’]: This is when the intention of a slave [to do a deed] is for other than Allaah; rather, he wants people to know that he did the deed, like the one who only prays in front the people and in their midst; but if he is alone, he doesn’t pray. This is a class of hypocrisy and doubt in Eemaan. Allaah the most High said: “Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allâh, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salât (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allâh but little.” [Soorah An-Nisaa’: 142] The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “This is how the hypocrite prays: he sits watching the sun, and when it is between the horns of the devil, he rises and strikes the ground four times (in haste) mentioning Allaah a little during it.” [Recorded by Muslim and others from Anas]

[Second Gate of Riyaa’]: This is when a slave starts an act of worship for the sake of Allaah, but when people see him doing the deed, he becomes energetic in the act of worship and beautifies it. Mahmood bin Labeed (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) came out and said: “O people! Beware of hidden shirk.” They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what is hidden shirk?’ He said: “A man stands up to perform prayer then he beautifies his prayer and exerts effort in it because he noticed that people were looking at him. This is hidden shirk.” [Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (1/17)]. This is showing off with the distinguishing marks of the worship and not with the act of worship itself. It is among the prohibited form of showing off, because it constitutes veneration of the creatures.

[Third Gate of Riyaa’]: This is when a servant of Allaah begins an act of worship for the sake of Allaah and finishes it for His sake. Then he becomes known (to people) for his ibaadah and receives praises from them. As a result, he feels comfortable and happy, and his heart begins to endure more the hardship of the ibaadah and he expects people to praise and respect him, and to get what he wants from them.  So, this happiness indicates hidden Riyaa’, because his heart was overwhelmed with joy when people became aware of him; had it been the heart did not pay attention to the people, it wouldn’t have expressed happiness when people became aware of him.

Source: Ar-Riyaa: Dhammu wa Atharuhus-Sayyi’u fil-Ummah, p. 13-15, by Shaykh Saleem bin ‘Eed al-Hilaalee. Translated by Abdus-Samee’ Abdus-Salaam.