The Bitter Consequences of Sins

By Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah [1]

It is essential to know that sins and acts of disobedience are, necessarily, very harmful. Their harm effects upon the heart are akin to the harmful effects of poison upon the body, though the effects vary in their levels and intensities. So is there any evil or harm in this world, or in the Hereafter, except that it is due to sins and disobedience?

So what was it that expelled the two parents [i.e. Adam and Eve] from Paradise; the home of delight, bliss, splendor and joy; to the home of pain, sorrow and misfortune?

What was it that expelled Iblees [i.e. Satan] from the heavenly realms, causing him to be rejected and cursed; transforming him both inwardly and outwardly, so that his form became ugly and hideous – his inner form more hideous than his outer – replacing his nearness with remoteness, mercy with curse, his beauty with ugliness, from being in Paradise to being in the blazing Fire, from having faith to being an unbeliever, from having the patronage and friendship of Allaah, the Praiseworthy Guardian, to being the greatest enemy and opponent, from glorifying and praising Him to committing acts of unbelief, shirk, lies, deception and shamelessness, from being adorned with faith to being clothed in the garment of unbelief, sinfulness and disobedience, causing him to reach the deepest depths of despicability, plunging down in the sight of Allaah as far as it is possible to plunge; causing the anger of Allaah the Exalted to be upon him, making him an outcast – despised and humiliated – so that he became a leader for every sinner and criminal, becoming pleased with leadership for himself, after having reached the station of worship and nobility?

0 Allaah, we seek refuge in You from opposing Your command and falling into what You have forbidden. What was it that caused the people of the earth to drown, to the extent that the water rose above even the mountaintops? What was it that caused the violent winds to overcome the people of ‘Aad, such that it flung them down dead upon the face of the earth – as if they were lopped-off palm trunks – and it destroyed whatever dwellings and crops it came across, thus making them an example for nations until the Day of Resurrection?

What was it that caused the piercing shrieks to be set loose upon the Thamood people, such that their hearts were severed within their very bodies, by which they all perished? What was it that caused the town of the homosexuals to be raised* up and turned upside down, such that they were all destroyed? Then stones from the sky pelted down upon them so that they suffered a combined punishment, the like of which was not given to any other nation! And for their brothers will be its like; and it is not far off from the transgressors! What was it that caused the clouds of punishment to overcome the people of Shu’ayb, such that when these clouds were above their heads it rained scorching fire upon them? What was it that caused the Pharaoh and his people to be drowned in the ocean, and caused their souls to be transported to the Hellfire, so their bodies drowned and their souls burned?

What was it that caused Qaaroon, his dwelling, wealth and family to sink down into the earth? What was it that caused the destruction of those generations after Noah, and how they were afflicted with various punishments that caused their annihilation? What was it that caused the destruction of the companions of Yaa Seen, with the clamorous shout, which destroyed them?

What caused there to be sent against the Children of Israa’eel enemies of great strength and might, plundering their homes, killing their men, enslaving their women and children, burning their dwellings, seizing their wealth, and then returning again a second time, destroying what was rebuilt after the first onslaught? What was it that caused the various types of punishments to be set loose upon the Children of Israa’eel?

Killing them, enslaving them, destroying their land and at times causing them to be oppressed by kings, whilst at another time causing them to be transformed into apes and swines – and finally the Lord took an oath that: “He would certainly keep on sending against them, until the Day of Resurrection, those who will inflict them with a humiliating torment.” [Soorah al-A’raaf 7:167]

Imam Ahmad said: al-Waleed ibn Muslim related to us; that Safwaan ibn ’Amr related to us; that ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Jubayr ibn Nufayr related; from his father, who said: “When Cyprus was conquered and its people were dispersed and they started weeping to each other, I saw Abud-Dardaa sitting alone and weeping. So I said to him: 0 Abud-Dardaa! What makes you weep on this day that Allaah has granted strength and honor to Islaam and its people?

So he said: Woe be to you 0 Jubayr! How insignificant the creation becomes to Allaah when they turn away from His command. In front of us is a nation who were evidently powerful and who had dominion, yet they abandoned Allaah’s command, so look what has become of them.” [2]

‘Alee ibn al-Ja’d said: Shu’bah ibn ‘Amr ibn Murrah informed us; I heard Abul-Bukhtaree say: I was informed by someone, who heard the Prophet (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) saying: “The people will not perish, until they have no excuse left for themselves.”[3]

Imaam Ahmad reports in his Musnad, from the hadeeth of Umm Salamah, who said: I heard Allaah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saying: “When acts of disobedience become widespread in my ummah, then Allaah may send punishment upon them all from Himself” So I said: 0 Allaah’s Messenger! Even if there are righteous people amongst them that day? So he replied: “Indeed!” So I said: How will that be? He replied: “They will be afflicted with what afflicts the people, then they will move on to the forgiveness of Allaah and His good pleasure.” [4]

FOOTNOTES

[1] Ad-Daa’ wad-Dawaa’ (pp.65-67).

[2] Reported by Imaam Ahmad in az-Zuhd (i/86) with an authentic (saheeh) chain of narration

[3] Reported by Ahmad (4/260) and Abu Daawood (no.4347) with an authentic chain of narration.

[4] Reported by Ahmad (6/304) and one of its narrators is Layth ibn Abee Sulaym, who is weak. However the hadeeth is established due to further supporting narrations. Consult Silsilatul-Ahaadeethus-Saheehah (no.1372) of Shaykh al-Albaanee

-Source-

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Rights of the Prophet ..
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-`Uthaymeen

Rights of the Prophet are the most important, after the rights of Allah. There is no human who has more rights than the Prophet. Allah said, what translated means: “Verily, We have sent you (O Muhammad) as a witness, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner. In order that you (O mankind) may believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you assist and honor him (Muhammad)…” [48:8-9]

Therefore, love for the Prophet should be more than one’s love for himself, his children, family and worldly possessions. The Prophet said, what translated means: “None of you will reach belief till I become dearer to him than his children, parents and all humans.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].

The Prophet has many rights. Respect and appreciation for him should be practised in the best manner. Respecting the Prophet includes respect of and adherence to his Sunnah after his death. Due rights should be given to the Prophet without exaggeration. When one reads how the companions used to love and respect the Prophet, one knows the importance of this matter. When Quraish (the Prophet’s tribe) sent Orwa Ibn Masud to negotiate with the Prophet in the Hudaibia area, he was greatly impressed by how the companions treated the Prophet. He said, “I have visited the kings of Persia, Rome and Abysinia, but I have not seen any leader more revered and respected by his people than Muhammad. If he ordered them to do anything, they do it without delay. If he performs Wudu` (washing up for prayer) they all seek the remainder of the water he used. They never look at him in the eye, out of respect.” This is how the Prophet was treated by his companions. He was Allah’s Messenger who possessed great qualities and the best of conduct ever.

The rights of the Prophet include believing him in matters of religion and the past, present and future happenings he told us about. Adherence and submission to his orders are some of his rights. When a Muslim believes in the Prophet and wants to follow his religion, he must do so believing that he Prophet’s way is the best way. Believing in the Prophet includes the affirmation that his religion is the best religion. Allah said, what translated means: “But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission” [4:65], and, “Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you love Allah then you follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [3:31]

To defend the religion of the Prophet is one of his rights upon believers. Defending the religion can be done by using arms, the tongue and writings. To ignore attacks on the Prophet or on his religion is impermissible to Muslims. Muslims must strive to reject, in the best manner, attacks on the Prophet’s character or on any aspect of his religion, the best religion sent to mankind.

~

..In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent the Most Merciful..

..typed out something from the ‘Don’t Be Sad’ book some time ago.., the book is by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni, we could maybe reflect on this especially as bad times from the past haunt our present times..a reminder to myself before anyone else insha’Allah …

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“By brooding over the past and its tragedies, one exhibits a form of insanity – a kind of sickness that destroys resolve to live for the present moment” (tis true ) “Those who have a firm purpose have filed away and forgotten occurrences of the past, which will never again see light, since they occupy such a dark place in the recesses of the mind. Episodes of the past are finished with; sadness cannot retrieve them, melancholy cannot make things right, and depression will never bring the past back to life. This is because the past is non-existent.

Do not live in the nightmares of former times or under the shade of what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past. Do you think that you can return the sun to its place of rising, the baby to its mother’s womb, milk to the udder, or tears to the eye?

By constantly dwelling on the past and its happenings, you place yourself in a very frightful and tragic state of mind.

Reading too much into the past is a waste of the present. When Allah mentioned the affairs of the previous nations, He, the Exalted, said:

“That was a nation who has passed away.” – (2:134)

Former days are gone and done with, and you benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy over them, by turning back the wheels of history.

The person who lives in the past is like someone who ties to saw sawdust. Of old, they used to say: “Do not remove the dead from their graves.“

Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present: neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. If every man and every jinn were to try jointly to bring back the past, they would most certainly fail. Everything on earth marches forward, preparing for a new season – and so should you!

may Allah give us the strength to recover from the past and its occurrences and may our futures be enriched with prosperity and Allah’s Mercy! Aameeen!!

xX WaSsalaamu’Alaykum Xx

“He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good,” [Baqarah :269]

Allaah Ta’aala has given numerous blessings to His Messenger, and has given him excellence. Allaah Ta’aala has made the greatest blessing that He gave to him the Book and Hikmah (wisdom).

The Blessing of knowledge obligates thankfulness to Allaah

Al-Hasan said regarding “the saying of Allaah Ta’aala “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good!”, [Baqarah: 201]

Dhikrullah Presents:

Praise be to Allaah.

May Allaah accept all our righteous words and deeds, and help us to be sincere in secret and in public.

There follows a suggested program for the Muslim during this blessed month

The Muslim starts his day with suhoor before Fajr prayer. It is better to delay suhoor until the latest possible time of the night.

Then after that the Muslim gets ready for Fajr prayer before the adhaan. So he does wudoo’ at home and goes out to the mosque before the adhaan.

When he enters the mosque, he prays two rak’ahs (tahiyyat al-masjid – greeting the mosque). Then he sits and keeps busy making du’aa’, or reading Qur’aan, or reciting dhikr, until the muezzin gives the call to prayer. He repeats what the muezzin says, and says the du’aa’ narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to be said after the adhaan ends. Then after that he prays two rak’ahs (the regular Sunnah of Fajr), then he occupies himself with du’aa’ and reading Qur’aan until the iqaamah for prayer is given. He is in a state of prayer so long as he is waiting for the prayer.

After offering the prayer in congregation, he recites the dhikrs that are prescribed following the salaam at the end of the prayer. After that if he wants to sit in the mosque until the sun has risen, reciting dhikr and reading Qur’aan, that is preferable, and that is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do after Fajr prayer.

.: In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent the Most Merciful :.

…Abu Hurayrah, radi Allahu ‘anhu, narrates: I heard Allah’s
Messenger saying,

“My example and the example of the people is
that of a man who made a fire, and when it lighted what was
around it, moths and other insects started diving into the
fire.

The man tried to prevent them, (from diving in to the fire) but
they overpowered him and rushed into the fire. The Prophet
added: Now, similarly, I take hold of the knots at your (belts)
to prevent you from falling into the Fire, but you insist on
falling into it.”

[Lessons from this Hadith]

There are so many things in the Qur’an and Sunnah to protect us
from falling into sin. Let’s stop making excuses and just do
it: turn back to Allah and desist from the Haraam in our lives now.
No excuses, only results.

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef

may Allah () give us the tawfeeq to adhere to the Qur’an and Sunnah, and tread firmly on the road to Jannah – Aameeeeeen

& May Allah () forever keep you all smiling and in the highest state of peace and happiness..
Aameeen

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّيْ عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

Allahumma a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibadatika

O Allah! Assist me in remembering You, in thanking You, and in worshipping You in the best of manners.

[Sahih Ahmad 5:245, Sahih abu Dawud 2:86, an-Nasa’i]

One day he (Prophet Muhammad ) took Mu’adh ibn Jabal (radiAllahu anhu) by the hand and said,

‘O Mu’adh, by Allah () I love you, and I advise you, O Mu’adh, never forget to recite (this dua), after every prayer (the above).’

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“A kind word is charity.” Al-Bukhari & Muslim