The Danger of Procrastination and Overconfidence

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, said:

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah’s Reminder (this Qur’an), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [Al-Hadid.16]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

When it is the case that Iman necessitates and demands humility, they were called from the station of Iman to the station of Ihsan, which means, “Has the time not come for them to reach Ihsan through Iman and actualise that through submission to Allah’s Reminder, which Allah sent down to them?”

Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

“There were only four years between (the period when we accepted) Islam and (the revelation of this) admonition to us”. (1)

وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened.

Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Meaning, do not be like those to whom Allah revealed the book, which obligates on the hearts humility and complete submission, but they neither preserved (the scripture) nor firm on it; rather, the term was prolonged for them while they continued on heedlessness, thus, their Iman dwindled and their certainty ceased. Therefore, the hearts require constant reminders of what Allah has revealed and discourse about its wisdom. It is not permitted to become heedless of this, as it is a cause of hardening the hearts. (2)

The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Indeed, every deed has enthusiasm, and every enthusiasm has a time limit (or period of inactivity). Whoever’s time of enthusiasm is for my Sunnah has been guided and he is ruined if upon other than that.(3)

In another narration, the Prophet said, “So, if the doer behaves in an upright manner and is moderate, then have hope for him (i.e. success)”. (4)

“If its doer behaves in an upright manner and is moderate”.

Al-Allamah Al-Mubaarakrufee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said,

“Meaning, the doer becomes moderate (i.e. within the boundaries of the Shariah) and avoids the two extremes- excess at the time of enthusiasm and negligence at the time of inactivity. (5)

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah preserve him, said:

If you sense that your soul is inclined towards showing off to the people and bragging about knowledge, turn to Allah, lower and humble yourself in His presence, ask Him to grant you sincerity and to save you from shaytaan – to save you from his whispers and plots. One of the scholars said, “Indeed, it is very difficult (for the one) whose enemy can see him, but he cannot see him.” He (i.e. this scholar) said this when he explained the statement of Allah about shaytaan and his armies:

إِنَّهُ ۥ يَرَٮٰكُمۡ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ ۥ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَہُمۡ‌ۗ

Verily, he and (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them]. [Al-A’raaf’ 27]

He [i.e. that scholar] said, ‘’By Allah! Indeed, it’s a bitter feud and extreme difficulty (for the one) whose enemy can see him, but he cannot see him, except for the one whom Allah safeguards’’- Meaning, this enemy is more dangerous than the army you can see that has troops and strength. (6)

The Shaikh also said:

If the (desire for pride or haughtiness) comes to him, whilst he is on the path of (knowledge), then it is obligated to him to place his Nafs under the feet (i.e. humble himself). It is obligatory to humble this arrogant Nafs while one is on the path of seeking knowledge. Allah hates the haughty people.

إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ

Truly, He (Allah) likes not the proud]. [An-Nahl’ 23] (7)

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; Aand 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 Eemaan, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). (8)

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. (9)

[1]: An Excerpt from ‘Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim’ page 129. Vol 3. Publisher: Daar Ibn Al-Jawziyyah 2nd ed 1431AH.

[2] An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’.

[3] Saheeh Al-Jaami 2152

[4] Saheeh At-Targheem 57

[5] Tuhfah Al-Ahwadahi 7/126

[6] Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ pages 55-57

[7] Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm. page 219

[8] Sunan An-Nasaa’ee’ Number 1305 & declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Saheehah Number 1301

[9] Saheeh Muslim.Number: 2720