Sheikh Uthaymeen said: Whenever people increase in luxuriousness, evil gains access to them. When a person fixes his sight on luxuriousness & becomes preoccupied in physical pleasures; he becomes heedless of softening his heart.
Source: Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen Cassette number 17
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Reminder to the advisers
Firstly, advice should be accompanied with sincerity – free from all ulterior motives. Imaam As-Sadi [rahimahullaah] said: ”Among the benefits of Naseehah (sincere advice) is that it is a safeguard against deceit, for indeed whoever deceives the Muslims in their Religious and Worldly Affairs is not from them. Deceit is among the most repugnant of traits in relation to (fulfilling) the rights of a relative, a non-relative, the person who opposes you and the one in agreement. The Great Qur’aan calls to this quality (i.e. sincere advice), which is from the best of qualities. Indeed, giving sincere advice to every individual is praiseworthy in the divine Islamic Law and it is something in agreement with (sound) intellect and natural disposition. And what is in opposition to it is regarded repulsive in the divine Islamic Law and in opposition to (sound) intellect and natural disposition. [Ref 1]
Secondly, do not be opinionated when you give advice or make requests on behalf of others. Ibn Hazm [rahimahullaah] said: Offer not advice only on condition that it will be accepted nor intercede [on behalf of someone] only on the condition that [your intercession] should be accepted. Do not give a gift on the condition that [you will] receive something in return; rather do so only due to seeking after virtue and to fulfil that which is obligated on you that you should give advice, intercede [on behalf of someone] and to do good. [Ref 2]
Reminder to those who receive the advice – Be Humble When Advice Reaches You
Fudayl Ibn Iyaad [rahimahullaah] said: ”Humility is that you humble yourself to the truth and accept it from the one who says it. Humility is that you accept truth, even if heard from a child or the most Jaahil person. [Ref 3]
Muhammad Ibn Seereen said: “I do not envy anyone for some worldly thing; for if he is going to be amongst the people of paradise, then how can I envy him for something of the worldly life, whilst he is destined for Paradise?! And if he is going to be amongst the people of the hell fire, then how can I envy him for something of the worldly life, whilst he is destined for the Hellfire?!”
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Narrated Sa’id bin Al-Musaiyab: ‘Umar came to the mosque while Hassaan was reciting a poem. (‘Umar disapproved of that). On that Hassaan said, “I used to recite poetry in this very mosque in the presence of one (i.e. the Prophet ) who was better than you.” Then he turned towards Abu Hurairah and said (to him), “I ask you by Allah, did you hear Allah’s Messenger saying (to me), ‘Retort on my behalf. O Allah! Support him (i.e., Hassaan) with the Ruh Al-Qudus[i.e. Jibril (Gabrael)]?” Abu Hurairah said, “Yes.” [Bukhaari 4/3212]
Imaam Abu Haatim [rahimahullaah] said: There is evidence in this narration similar to the command to disparage the du’afaa [weak narrators]. That is because the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said to Hassaan [radiyallaahu-anhu], ‘’Retort on my behalf.’’ He [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] commanded [Hassaan (radiyallaahu-anhu)] to defend him against the lies that the idol worshippers uttered about him. And when it is the case that the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] commanded [Hassaan] to defend him against the lies of the idol worshippers, even though neither did their lies harm the Muslims nor make what is Haraam to be Halaal and vice versa; then it is more appropriate that he [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] is defended against those Muslims who lie about him [sallal-laahu-alahu-wasallam] through their [weak, fabricated] narrations and thus declare Haraam as Halaal and vice versa. [1]
[Source: Muqaddimah Kitaab Al-Majrooheem Minal Muhadditheen of Imaam Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah). Page: 67-68. Slightly paraphrased]
Sheikh Uthaymeen: Competition for the dunyah has destroyed people-as if they were created for that reason and as if it was created for them for that reason.
Source: Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen Cassette number 17
Sheikh Uthaymeen: When a person increases in luxuriousness, his greatest concern is to [indulge] his body in luxuriousness- a body whose final state will be worms and rot. It is as if the human being was not created for a great purpose- the enjoyable things of the dunya are only a means[of fulfilling needs]
Ibn Taymiyyah said: It is befitting that a person utilises wealth in the manner he utilises his donkey for riding [i.e. when he needs it].
Source: Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen Cassette number 17
Sheikh Uthaymeen: Competition for the Dunyah has destroyed people-as if they were created for that reason and as if it was created for them for that reason.
Source: Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen Cassette number 17
