Steer clear of pessimists and dangerous discouraging voices
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Devote attention to what empowers one’s journey in articulating truth, steering clear of pessimists and dangerous discouraging voices
Allah, The Exalted, said:
فَٱصۡبِرۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ۖ وَلَا يَسۡتَخِفَّنَّكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ
So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is true. And let not those who have no certainty of faith, discourage you from conveying Allah’s Message (which you are obliged to convey)]. [Al-Rum. 60]
[فَٱصۡبِ– So be patient]- Meaning, obligatory is that which you have been commanded and in calling them to the (path of) Allah. Even if you see them turning away, this should not turn you away from the call. [إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ۖ – Indeed, the promise of Allah is true]- Meaning, there is no doubt about that. This is from that which aids a person to exercise patience because when a servant (of Allah) knows that his deeds will not be in vain and will find full reward for it (in the afterlife), then what he faces of hardship will become trivial, and it will become much easy for him to bear every difficulty.
[وَلَا يَسۡتَخِفَّنَّكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ – And let not those who have no certainty of faith, discourage you]- Meaning, their Iman is weak and their certainty is little, so, their forbearance becomes lacking as a result of that. Thus, beware out of fear of being discouraged by these people because unless you are not careful about their affair, they will discourage and lead you to not being firm in holding fast to the commands and prohibitions, and the soul may assist them in this affair – seeking to be similar and to be in agreement with them. [1]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Unlike the person upon certainty, the person who has no certainty in faith (or lacks certainty) does not remain firm, instead he acts carelessly, whereas certainty is firm Iman in the heart based on knowledge and action. It maybe that a person has sound knowledge, but does not exercise patience during calamities; instead he is swayed by emotion. Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, ‘If you wish to see someone with insight but has no patience, you will see him; and if you wish to see someone who has patience but not insight, you will see him; but if you see a person who has insight as well as patience, he is the one mentioned by Allah in the verse:
[وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَہۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْۖ وَڪَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ – And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)]. [Surah As-Sajdah. 24] [2]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
There are two strengths within the soul: the strength of abstinence and the strength of courage. The reality of patience is that one makes the strength of courageousness a means of action in what benefits him and the strength of abstinence a means of action in refraining from what is harmful to him. Among the people, there is one whose patience in carrying out what benefits him and being firm upon it is stronger than his patience in refraining from what is harmful to him; so he exercises patience in facing difficulty whilst carrying out acts of obedience, but he does not exercise patience in refraining from urges towards what he is forbidden. And among them, there is one whose patience in refraining from things that are in opposition to the religion is stronger than his patience in carrying out acts of obedience, and among them there is one who does not exercise patience in both affairs. The best of people are those who fulfil both affairs. Many people patiently bear the hardship of praying Tahajjud during hot and cold nights, and the difficulty in fasting; but they do not exercise patience in refraining from looking at forbidden things. Many people exercise patience in refraining from looking at the forbidden things and inclination towards [forbidden] images, but they do not exercise patience in commanding good and forbidding evil. [3]
Consult With The Appropriate Individuals – Avoid Pessimists, Discouragers, and Those Who Are Swift to Condemn Those Who Speak Truth and Exhibit Vulnerability in the Presence of Relentless Offenders
Imam Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy upon him, said,
By Allah! Never have a people sought advice except that they were guided to the best of what was available to them.” Then he recited [the statement of Allaah]: [وَأَمۡرُهُمۡ شُورَىٰ بَيۡنَہُمۡ – And (the Believers) who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation] [42:38] [4]
Allamah Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, commanded His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] to consult his companions in some affairs. Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] said: [وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ – and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah] [Surah Aal Imran. Verse 159]
He [i.e. the Prophet] is the example to be followed by the Ummah, therefore when it is the case that Allah commanded him to consult his companions, tthus,there is even a greater reason that the Muslims are in need of consultation amongst themselves. When a difficulty that is related to a Muslim’s religious and worldly affairs occurs, it is fitting that he consults someone whom he considers reliable, wise, truthful and sincere. He examines (the advice) given by that person, then he makes a choice – either to take that advice or decides not to take it based on what he is satisfied with, in relation to his personal affairs.
The hadith places emphasis on the fact that consultation guides to the best outcomes, and due to this it is said, “The one who consults does not regret and the one who performs Istikhaarah will not fail”. Both Istikharah and consultation are legislated and a lot of good is achieved by way of them, as opposed to when affairs are pursued in a rigid and haphazard manner, for indeed this might lead to regret and harm. [5]
The Honest Advisors Will Never Disappoint You
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The consultee is in a position of trust”. [6]
The consultee is the one whose opinion is sought after regarding an affair of Maslahah (i.e. an affair that will bring about benefit and repel harm). He is in a position of trust with regards to what he is asked and it is not permissible for him to deceive the one who consults him, by concealing the matter that would bring about benefit. [7]
This hadith is an evidence, showing that the consultee has to (advise) with the course of action and opinion -in relation to the consultation – that which he would do for himself. It is not permissible that he directs his Muslim brother to something he would not be pleased with for himself. [8]
We ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ
وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ
O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if life is good for me, and let me die if death is good for me; O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public, and I ask You (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger, and I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty, and I ask you for blessings that never ceases, and I ask You for the coolness of my eye that never ends, and I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree; and I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity, etc) after death; I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me). O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Iman, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). [9]
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي
وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ
وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ
O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return; and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [Sahih Muslim Number: 2720] [10]
اللّهُـمَّ رَبَّ جِـبْرائيل ، وَميكـائيل ، وَإِسْـرافيل، فاطِـرَ السَّمواتِ وَالأَرْض ، عالـِمَ الغَيْـبِ وَالشَّهـادَةِ أَنْـتَ تَحْـكمُ بَيْـنَ عِبـادِكَ فيـما كانوا فيهِ يَخْتَلِفـون. اهدِنـي لِمـا اخْتُـلِفَ فيـهِ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ بِإِذْنِك ، إِنَّـكَ تَهْـدي مَنْ تَشـاءُ إِلى صِراطٍ مُسْتَقـيم
O Allah! Lord of Jibraa’eel, Meekaa’eel and Israafeel, Creator of the heavens and the Earth, The Knower of the seen and the unseen. You judge between Your slaves regarding in that which they differ. Guide me to the truth regarding that in which there is differing, by Your Will. Verily, You guide whomever you will to the straight path. [11]
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الْأَمْرِ، وَالْعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ
O Allah! Indeed, I ask You for steadfastness in this affair (regarding sound adherence to the religion) and firm resolve to adhere to the path of guidance. [12]
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَتَرْكَ الْمُنْكَرَاتِ وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي وَتَرْحَمَنِي وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ فِتْنَةَ قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنِي غَيْرَ مَفْتُونٍ أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى حُبِّكَ
O Allah! I ask of you the doing of the good deeds, avoiding the evil deeds, loving the Masakin, and that You forgive me, and have mercy upon me. And when You have willed trial among the people, then cause me to die without being put to trial. And I ask You for Your love, the love of whomever You love, and the love of the deeds that bring one nearer to Your love.’” Allah’s Messenger said: “Indeed it is true, so study it and learn it.” [Sahih at-Tirmidhi 3235] [13]
[1] Tafsir As-Sadi
[2] An Excerpt from Al-Fawa’id 293-300
[3] An Excerpt from Uddah As-Saabireen. page 37
[4] Sahih Adab Al-Mufrad no.258
[5] An Excerpt from ‘Awnul Ahadis Samad Sharh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad’ 1/285]
[6] Saheeh Sunan Abee Dawud. Number 5128
[7] Mirqaat Al-Mafaateeh Sharh Mishkaat Al-Masaabeeh. 4/259. Hadith 5062
[8] Awnul Ahadis Samadi, Sharhu Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. 1/283. Hadith Number 256
[9]https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2021/01/01/o-allaah-let-me-live-if-life-is-good-for-me-and-let-me-die-if-death-is-good-for-me/
[10]https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2020/12/29/o-allaah-rectify-my-religion-for-me-which-the-safeguard-of-my-affairs-a-tremendous-supplication/
[11]https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2025/03/25/guide-us-to-the-straight-path-an-overarching-need-of-a-lifetime/
[12] Irwaa al-Ghaleel 1/115
[13] https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2025/03/26/the-goal-is-to-leave-this-world-free-from-fitan/