Stories & lessons 2nd batch of 7
Story & lesson # 8
Lying Blacken the heart
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise; a person remains truthful until he is written as a Siddeeq (truthful person) with Allah. Lying leads to sin and sin leads to the Fire; a person keeps lying until he is written as a Kadhdhab (liar) with Allah.” [Bukhari, Muslim]
Imam Malik records that Abdullah ibn Masud would say, “Each time someone lies a black spot appears on his heart until his whole heart becomes black and he is written with Allah as a Kadhdhab.” He also records that it was asked of Luqman, “How have you reached this level in excellence?” He replied, “By being true in speech, fulfilling trusts and leaving what does not concern me.”
Such is the importance of remaining truthful that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that a Momin could at any one time perform one sin or the other but he could never be a liar. Shaitan incites us to lie, saying it is only one lie. But that is how the habit develops and before a person knows it, each black dot has had its cumulative effect of blackening the whole heart. The complete blackening of the heart is the proof a person presents to Allah to have him or her written down as a kadhdhab — a confirmed liar.
Story & lesson # 9
Ask your heart
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Ask yourself for a decision, ask your heart for a decision (saying it three times.) Righteousness is that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin is that which rouses suspicion in the soul and is perplexing in the breast, even if people give you a decision in its favour.” [Mishkat]
Everybody has within them the sense to distinguish right from wrong. And each person will be held accountable for using this sense. It is possible to twist facts and get people to give the decision that you want to hear, but if your heart is not at peace with the decision then know that it is most likely sinful for you to act on it. Unfortunately, if a person sins enough then the heart becomes dead and the ability to feel disquiet dies.
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.” [Tirmidhi]
This hadith is one of the ahadith around which the whole religion revolves: it is the foundation of scrupulousness (wara) around which revolves certainty; and it brings relief from the dark oppressiveness of doubts and speculation.
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise; a person remains truthful until he is written as a Siddeeq (truthful person) with Allah. Lying leads to sin and sin leads to the Fire; a person keeps lying until he is written as a Kadhdhab (liar) with Allah.” [Bukhari, Muslim]
Imam Malik records that Abdullah ibn Masud would say, “Each time someone lies a black spot appears on his heart until his whole heart becomes black and he is written with Allah as a Kadhdhab.” He also records that it was asked of Luqman, “How have you reached this level in excellence?” He replied, “By being true in speech, fulfilling trusts and leaving what does not concern me.”
Such is the importance of remaining truthful that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that a Momin could at any one time perform one sin or the other but he could never be a liar. Shaitan incites us to lie, saying it is only one lie. But that is how the habit develops and before a person knows it, each black dot has had its cumulative effect of blackening the whole heart. The complete blackening of the heart is the proof a person presents to Allah to have him or her written down as a kadhdhab — a confirmed liar.
Story & lesson # 10
What is your legacy
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Verily, what reaches the momin of his good works and good acts, after his death, is the knowledge (benefitted from)… and a righteous child which he has left (behind him), or a book which he has given to inherit, or a place of worship which he has built, or a house for the homeless which he has built, or a canal which he has caused to be dug, or an act of charity which he has done out of his wealth while in his health and life. (The good effects thereof) reach him (even) after his death.” [Bayhaqi, Ibn Majah]
Ask yourself what legacy you are leaving behind.
Have you made an effort to leave behind any sadaqa jaariya?
Did you do it for the sake of Allah’s pleasure?
Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) only rewards our efforts when we do deeds for His pleasure alone. Did you do good deeds so people would recognize you, praise you or reward you? To the extent that your motive is other than Allah’s pleasure, your reward in the akhirah is diminished. For why should Allah reward you for something you didn’t do for Him in the first place? Try to do good deeds secretly in order to preserve the benefit of your good deeds for the akhirah, when you will really need it.
Story & lesson # 11
Neighbours
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “He will not enter Paradise whose neighbour is not secure from his wrongful conduct.” [Muslim]
Make sure that a wedding, construction or other event at your house does not encroach upon the privacy, peacefulness or clean environment of your neighbours or neighbourhood. Does noise from your house disturb your neighbour? Did you park your car in such a way as to cause your neighbour inconvenience? Do you even know who your neighbour is? Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “If you are kind to your neighbour you will be a believer.” [Tirmidhi]
19/06/09
Story & lesson # 11
Ask & you shall be given
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Ask, and you shall be given it; and you shall be given it.” [Tirmidhi]
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Let everyone of you ask of His Lord all that He wants.” [Tirmidhi]
We were informed by our Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) fulfills everybody’s wishes so long as a person does not get impatient and say, ‘I asked Allah for so and so and I still haven’t received it.’ We are told never to despair of the mercy of Allah (subhan wa ta’ala).
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) informed us that there are several forms for the acceptance of dua. One is that you are given what you ask for. Another is that you are given better than what you asked for. A third is that some calamity that was about to befall you has been averted instead. The fourth is that the dua is saved up for you as sawaab/reward for the Day of Judgment. In all cases, asking Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for things is beneficial.
Story & lesson # 12
Stung twice
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A believer does not allow himself to be stung twice from one (and the same) hole.” [Bukhari]
A Muslim is required to learn from his or her mistakes, analyze their failures and if there is any shortcoming that he can avoid repeating, then he or she is required to avoid it. Once an individual or group has shown evil behaviour towards us, we are not to become victims again. It is not only our personal experience that we are required to learn from, but the experience of the Muslim Ummah and the guidance that we receive from Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in recognizing our friends and foes. Nobody knows better than Allah what is in a creatures heart: therefore, a sensible person will avoid harm by paying heed to the advice from the All Knower, Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).
23/06/09
Story & lesson # 13
Book of fate
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Bear in mind that if all the people combined together to grant you some benefit, they would not be able to do it unless Allah has determined it for you. And that if all of them combined together to do you harm, they would not be able to do it unless Allah has determined it for you. The pens have been set aside and writings of the Book of Fate have become dry.” [Tirmidhi]
The important lesson to understand from this hadith is that we must not fear death, loss or reproach in obeying the commands of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), for only that harm will come to us which is already destined to. A believer should not be frightened by the number or resources of the enemies of Allah. This should never determine whether they should obey Allah or not, as this hadith tells us that they can not do any harm unless Allah has destined it for them. And if that is the case that harm will come anyway, but the believer will be rewarded for obeying the commands of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).
Unfortunately, we find Muslims helping to hurt and kill other Muslims today, using as an excuse that harm would come to them otherwise. We need to develop our understanding of qada wal qadar to become righteous.
Story & lesson # 14
The doors of sadaqah
Abu Dhar al-Ghafari said: “The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘Sadaqah is prescribed for every person every day the sun rises.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, from what do we give sadaqah if we do not possess property?’ He said: ‘The doors of sadaqah are takbir (Allahu Akbar), Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La-ilaha-ilAllah, Astaghfirullah, enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing thorns, bones and stones from the paths of people, guiding the blind, listening to the deaf and dumb until you understand them, guiding a person to his object of need if you know where it is, hurrying with the strength of your legs to one in sorrow who is appealing for help, and supporting the weak with the strength of your arms. These are all the doors of sadaqah.” [Ahmad]
In other words one does not need to have financial resources to earn the reward of sadaqah. There are many deeds that qualify as sadaqah with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). In addition to those listed above the following ordinary courtesies are also sadaqah if we do them with the intention of pleasing Allah with them.
1. To administer justice between two people is sadaqah.
2. To assist a man upon his mount so that he may ride it is sadaqah.
3. To place his luggage on the animal is sadaqah.
4. A good word is sadaqah.
5. Every step taken toward prayer is sadaqah.
6. Your smile for your brother is sadaqah.
7. Planting anything from which a person, an animal or anything eats is sadaqah.
Suheilmy Ahmad ISA
