In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
NB: There is a mistake in the title: It should be “The Effect of The Acts of Worship On a Muslim’s Life”.
Few weeks ago, while heading home after work with our Salafi brother, close friend, confidant, and colleague, Ustadh Abu Tasneem, Mushaf Al-Banghali, may Allah preserve him, we discussed the passing of the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah. He brought up Al-Allamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbad, highlighting him as one of the senior scholars who deserves constant mention due to his extensive knowledge and years dedicated to teaching and guiding the Ummah. We remembered that we had previously purchased a small risaalah by the Shaikh at a bookstore in Birmingham, which I had paraphrased and summarised several times on this website.
Upon returning home, we resolved to restart a full translation of it for Salaficentre once more. After doing our best to translate, we sought the help of Ustadh Zaid Khalid, may Allah preserve him, who kindly listened to our reading of the English translation while comparing it with the Arabic version and provided invaluable edits. May Allah bless him and increase him in beneficial knowledge and righteous actions.
Additionally, we ask Allah to bless our beloved younger brother and friend, Abdul Haqq Shabir, may Allah preserve him, for taking time outside of his work hours to format the treatise. Furthermore, may Allah bless our beloved brother and colleague Mubin Zaher for assisting with the proofreading. Last but not least, may Allah bless everyone, especially those specific brothers in Stoke-On-Trent and Manchester, and they would hate to be mentioned, who generously donated funds to Salaficentre for the printing of the first 500 copies of this treatise. We ask Allah to bless their wealth and grant them success in all their endeavours. InshaAllah, this treatise titled “The Effect of The Acts of Worship On a Muslim’s Life” will be available in two weeks InShaaAllah.
In the treatise, we included some details as footnotes from Imām Muḥammad bin Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn’s explanation of the three fundamental principles, and the explanation of the same book by al-ʿAllāmah ʿUbaid bin ʿAbdillāh al-Jābirī. We also took some footnotes from at- Tawassul of Imām Al-Albānī, notes from al-ʿAllāmah Ṣāliḥ Āl Al-Shaikh, Imām ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz Bin Bāz’s website, Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī, and notes from Zād al-Maʿād of Imām Ibn al-Qayyim, along with some links to Shaikh Abū Khadeejah’s website.
Furthermore, we included the Arabic text of al-ʿAllāmah ʿAbdul-Muḥsin’s speech so that readers can point out any errors in the English translation compared to the Arabic, which we will correct in future editions InShaAllah. We remember Shaikh Abū Talḥah, may Allah have mercy upon him and his wife, telling us in 2006: “Whenever I review one of my translations, I always notice that there are ways I could improve them.” If this is the perspective of such a skilled translator, an upright and bonafide student of knowledge, what can we say thereafter?
With regards to the text of the treatise itself, it discusses the purpose of life, which is to worship Allāh alone, along with some fundamentals of Islām. The Shaikh starts by defining al-ʿIbādah (worship) comprehensively and outlining some of its various types. He then highlights the two essential conditions of worship: Al-Ikhlāṣ (sincerity) and al-Mutābaʿah (following the path of the Messenger), linking them to the declaration of faith: ‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh and Muḥammad is Allāh’s Messenger.’
Next, the Shaikh cites Sharīʿah texts that emphasise the importance of worship, fear of Allāh, and repentance, along with some of their great effects in this life and the hereafter. He then discusses specific acts of worship, such as Prayer, which help Muslims avoid evil and immorality, and help them to maintain a constant awareness of their Lord throughout the day. He mentioned Zakāt, which purifies the believer’s soul and aids the poor in society. He further elaborates on fasting, its powerful effects in controlling desires, and the Prophet’s advice for the youth.
Lastly, he covers Ḥajj, some of its most important rituals, and its connections to the afterlife, including reflections on the day of ʿArafah, and the wearing of ihrām. The Shaikh also emphasises the bonds of brotherhood formed during Ḥajj and the opportunity to meet Muslims from various parts of the world. Most importantly, he clearly explains aspects of pure Islamic monotheism found in Ḥajj and its contrary. This treatise serves as a vital reminder of some of the core principles of our faith; and, by Allāh’s will, helps Muslims understand some of the effects of worship, making them more aware and prepared before engaging in worship. May Allāh preserve the Shaikh, the erudite scholar, the muḥaddith, ʿAbdul-Muhḥsin al-ʿAbbād al-Badr for this insightful treatise, and may He preserve the major scholars who are beacons of light, the likes of the Muftī; ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz Āl al-Shaikh, ʿAllāmah Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān, ʿAllāmah Ṣāliḥ Āl al-Shaikh — and have mercy upon those who have passed away, from the likes of: ʿAllāmah Rabīʿ bin Hādī, ʿAllāmah Ubaid al-Jābirī, and ʿAllāmah Ṣāliḥ al-Luhaidān, their contemporaries and students.
NB: This treatise has been translated for Dawah purposes. Neither the translator nor anyone else involved holds any rights or royalties concerning its publication; it is exclusively owned by Salaficentre for the aim of Dawah.
