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

“Don’t patronise him, Akhi! He was Salafi before you. He has been around for some time. He knows better than you. He is a clever person. He has a recommendation from so and so, praised by so and so, very close to this or that important personality. His tweets are retweeted by this or that influential personality. Do you know better than them? He has many lessons, makes a lot of effort etc”.

We gently say to all of this, “No one is infallible; and everyone — regardless of their knowledge, status, or personal achievements — can become forgetful, lackadaisical, or overwhelmed by Fitan. Thus, reminders must be presented to all of us.”

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 (maintained) firmness upon 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.

Then Allah said in verse 17:

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death! Indeed We have made clear the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to you, so that may understand.

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

فإن الآيات تدل العقول على العلم بالمطالب الإلهية، والذي أحيا الأرض بعد موتها قادر على أن يحيي الأموات بعد موتهم، فيجازيهم بأعمالهم، والذي أحيا الأرض بعد موتها بماء المطر قادر على أن يحيي القلوب الميتة بما أنزله من الحق على رسوله، وهذه الآية تدل على أنه لا عقل لمن لم يهتد بآيات الله و[لم] ينقد لشرائع الله

For indeed, the Ayat direct the (sound) intellects to الطالب الالهية (the knowledge regarding Tawhid, Prophethood, the Hereafter and other matters related to sound creed). And the One who revives the earth after its death is able to resurrect the dead after their death, so as to reward them for their deeds. And the One who revives the earth through rainwater is able to revive the dead hearts through the truth He has revealed to His Messenger. This verse demonstrates that there is no (sound) intellect for the one who is neither guided through Allah’s Ayat nor submits to the divine ordainments. (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)

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

Whoever wants to follow a path, let him follow the path of one who has passed away, for indeed the living are not safe from trial, and those (who have passed away) are the Companions of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. They were the most virtuous of this Ummah, the purest in heart, the most profound in knowledge and the least the sophisticated. Allah chose them to accompany His Prophet and to establish His religion, so recognise their status and follow in their footsteps and adhere as much as you can to their manners and conduct, for they were upon upright guidance”.(6)

Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Whoever becomes acquainted with the path of truth, it has been made easy for him to follow. And there is no proof for adhering to the path of Allah except through emulating the Messenger, peace be upon him, in his conduct, statements, and deeds.” (7)

We ask Allah:

اللهمَّ إني أعوذُ بكَ من العجزِ والكسلِ والجُبنِ والبُخلِ والهمِّ وعذابِ القبرِ وفتنةِ الدجَّالِ اللهم آتِ نفسي تقواها أنت خيرُ مَن زكَّاها أنت وليُّها ومولاها أعوذُ بك من قلبٍ لا يخشعُ وعلمٍ لا ينفعُ ودعوةٍ لا يُستجابُ لها

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity, laziness, cowardice, miserliness, stress, the punishment of the grave, and the fitna of Dajjal. O Allah! Grant my soul its piety, because You are the Best to purify it. You are its Protector and Guardian. I seek refuge in You from a heart that does not fear (You), the knowledge which does not benefit, and the supplication that is not responded to.” (8)

[1]: An Excerpt from “Badaa’i at-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim’ 3/129. Publisher: Dar Ibn Al-Jawziyyah 2nd ed 1431AH.

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

[3] Sahih Al-Jami 2152

[4] Sahih At-Targheem 57

[5] Tuhfah Al-Ahwadahi 7/126

[6] Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm Wa Fadlihi 2/947 Madarij As-Salikin 2/486

[8] Sahih Muslim 2722