Do Not Be Surprised If, In Our Times, The Voice Of Delusion Is Loud While The Voice Of Truth Seems Quiet.

Life is a constant struggle, and a feeling of weariness never departs your side, sometimes that of your body and at times of things that reside in your heart and refuse to go away. You have to strive either way, whether it’s for dunya or Akhirah, so why not direct all of your endeavours for the sake of Allaah?

«reviving the heart»

‎Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

‎ "The Qur'ān revives the heart the way water gives life to the Earth."

‎مفتاح دار السعادة–٢٥٠

I heard someone last night crying, but it wasn’t a normal type of cry. This person was crying in the tashahhud, weeping at “كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم”

This is not to assume someone’s inner state, but a cry like this is from the tightness of the dunyā…

It brought back memories سبحان الله, when I used to cry like this too… my eyes were constantly extremely swollen and I’d cry everywhere, and make no exception of my salāh.

In a way, I wish I cried out of fear for Allāh, the way the righteous do, and their genuine longing to Allāh, not out of the pressure of some dunyā matter. I did long for Allāh in those days, a lot, but did I long for Him during my times of ease in the same way? At the same time, these type of tears taught me that I really had none but Allāh, among many other lessons, and forced me back to Allāh to rectify my affairs between me and Him.

Though, there’s a difference between ورجل ذكر الله خاليًا ففاضت عيناه (or as Rasūlullāh said) and someone who tears up due to a dunyā matter and then redirects that pain to Allāh.

It’s not wrong at all, and actually the servant finds immense sweetness in constantly returning to Allāh, and in times of hardship it has a special sweetness to it. But I say this to remind myself and to keep it in check, my nafs needs to distinguish between the fine line of sincerity and true inābah (in times of ease and other than it) and simply feeling dunyawi pain.

It’s the same thing for wishing for shaهـādah, when do we long for it most? When we’ve got all we want out of this dunyā and have every want and need of ours? Or is it when we’ve been afflicted and want a way out of this dunyā completely? Again, I’m not saying wrong or right or shaming anyone (but myself), but remember that the only condition to be granted the level of shaهـādah even if one dies upon their bed (as in the Hadīth) is: sincerity. Do you think asking for it in the latter situation is more sincere than the former?

May Allāh grant us sincerity and make us among the truthful. May Allāh make us among those who truly enjoy His company in all times.

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

“(By fasting) one narrows the passageways of Shayṭān within the servant (of Allāh), by narrowing the passageways of food and drink. As well, it restrains the force of the limbs from giving way to its dominating nature of that which is harmful to it in this world and the hereafter.

And, (fasting) subdues every limb and might of the soul from (following its) whims, and harnesses it by its bridle.

For, surely (the fast) is the bridle of the muttaqūn [the righteous, those having taqwá] and the shield of the warriors [a shield between them and the Hell-fire].”

[Zaad al-Maʿad | 2/28-29]

I am weary of life.

If death were sold, I would buy it,

longing for Allah, yearning to meet him.

They asked, are you sure of your deeds?

No, not at all.

But I love Him, and I think well of Him.

Would He punish me while I love Him?

قَالَ: قَرِيباً أَجَلِي، بَعِيداً أَمَلِي ، سَيِّئاً عَمَلِي

My death is near, my hopes are far, and my deeds are bad.

As we welcome Ramadan, many of our brothers and sisters will be breaking their fast in chains or behind bars....alone, oppressed and forgotten. Their only comfort is their yaqin upon Allah's Promise. And their only strength is in their patience.

O Allah, free the imprisoned, have mercy on their suffering, and grant them victory over their oppressors. Return them to their loved ones, strengthen their hearts, and let their pain be a means of elevation in Your sight.

امين

وكلُّ شيءٍ حُرمتَ منهُ؛ رُحمتَ مِن شرّه.

And everything you were deprived of, you were spared from its harm.

The path of Tawhīd is not always an easy path:

People distance them self from you, because they hear something new, they see that not a lot of people agree with you, they think 'how can this be the truth when most people don't follow it?'... So al-Ghurbah (strangeness) is the result: From brothers being refused in marriage because of their ʿAqīdah to brothers being physically attacked, to brothers losing all their friends and maybe even family, to sisters being isolated in families who have fallen into disbelief, to sisters not finding a Muwahhid husband to protect them... again, it is not an easy path, but wallāh, all of this is nothing, for it is the best Path. It is a sweet path, a clear path and a straight path: the Path of the Prophets. So, hold onto the Path of Ibrāhīm and the Āthār, and smile, for wallāh, you have the best you can get in this world!