Verily, the one who is steadfast upon Allah’s Religion is the one who is persistent upon the obedience of Allah throughout his life. As is in the narration, “They are those who don’t swerve/dodge like the swerving/dodging of the foxes.”
The one who is steadfast upon Allah’s Religion is the one who preserves and carries out what Allah has obligated and stays far away from the affairs Allah has prohibited.
Take from the authentic texts (Quran and Sunnah), and leave the opinions of men, however if you do this you will become strange among the people, be patient! Be patient upon your religion, upon the statement of truth, even if what may occur to you of opposition occurs.
It is narrated that Mu’adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ on a donkey and he said to me “O Mu’adh, do you know what is the right of Allah on his slaves and what is the right of the slaves upon Allah?”
I responded: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He continued, “The Right of Allah upon His slaves is to… ”
“So on the Mountain of Abe Qubais (in Mecca) he ﷺ called his people so they congregated around him, then he ﷺ said: ‘’What if I informed you that behind this mountain there is an enemy that wants to conduct an attack upon
you, would you believe me?’’They said: ‘’We have never ever experienced from you a lie.’’ He replied: ‘’Verily, I am a warner to you of an approaching punishment’’ so his uncle Abu Lahb said: ‘’May your hands perish, is this why you have gathered us?’’
The noble Shaykh, explains how a person needs to be patient when calling to Allah, because the caller will face much opposition, even from those close to him.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا
إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا
And give to the kindred his due and to the Miskin (poor) and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayaateen (devils), and the Shaitan (Devil – Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord. [17:26-27]
Imaam As-Sa’di [rahimahullaah] said: Shaytaan does not call the person except to every blameworthy habit. So he calls him to miserliness and to refrain from spending, but when the person refuses to obey him, he calls him to overspending and extravagance; but Allaah calls to the most just and balance of affairs and He praises the person for that, as He [The One free from all imperfections] stated about His faithful slaves:
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا
And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes).'[Surah Furqaan; Ayah: 67] [1]
Imaam Ibn Qudaamah [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’The most severe type of miserliness is that a person is miserly towards himself despite being in need; for how many a miser has wealth and falls ill, but he does not seek medication. He yearns for something but miserliness prevents him from [getting it]’’. [2]
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said: The Waleemah is a Prophetic Sunnah intended for the purpose of announcing a marriage and manifesting joy and happiness during this noble occasion. However, it has to be carried out within the boundaries of the Islamic rules and regulations, and neither being wasteful nor extravagant. To reduce spending and not being extravagant and wasteful is an obligation during marriage ceremonies and other than it. Those squanderers who waste meat and food, and dispose of it in waste bins should be reminded that there are hungry people hoping for a mouth full of (food) and a scrap of bread. [They should be reminded] to fear Allaah and to fear Him in their gatherings, and that they do not become the cause of Allaah’s blessings being stopped.
[1]: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan]
[2] An Excerpt from ‘[Mukhtasar Minhaaj Al-Qaasideen’ page 218]
[3] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Bayaan Li-Akhtaa’i Badil Kuttaab 1/27’]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Ana’s Bin Maalik [radiyallaahu anhu] reported that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said – during his illness [i.e. the illness through which he passed away], “Your Arhaam! Your Arhaam!”. [i.e. relatives of the womb]
Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah] said:
This hadeeth contains a precious advice [or command] from the noble Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] whose Lord described him in His statement: [لَقَدۡ جَآءَڪُمۡ رَسُولٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِڪُمۡ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيۡهِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيۡڪُم بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ – Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful]. [Surah At-tawbah. Aayah 128]
It is an advice [or a command] about maintaining the ties of kinship, and indeed the command regarding it has been stated in the noble Qur’aan and in the [authentic] Prophetic Sunnah. As for in the Qur’aan, then indeed Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] said:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ وَخَلَقَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡہُمَا رِجَالاً۬ كَثِيرً۬ا وَنِسَآءً۬ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡحَامَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ رَقِيبً۬ا
O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship) . Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 1]
The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] advised [or commanded one] to maintain the ties of kinship and promised reward – in this life and the next – for it. These are upright exhortations [or commands].
The intent behind the word Ar-Rahim – [relation of the womb] – are one’s relatives on the father’s and mother’s side, and they are of different levels [or categories]. Maintaining ties with them aids a person in his worldly affairs to fulfil his needs and makes his affairs easy by the permission of Allaah. And with regards to [deeds related to the] afterlife, it is one of the best deeds through which a servant seeks to get close to Allaah [i.e. to receive the love of Allaah and reward, and repel punishment].
An Excerpt from At-taleeqaat al-maleehah Alaa silsilah al-ahaadeeth As-Saheehah vol 1. Page 62. Slightly paraphrased.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Question: The questioner asks: What is the status of patience and what is the reward for those who exercise patience?
Answer: Patience has a great status in the sight of Allah (The Most High). The Eemaan of a slave (i.e. a male or female Muslim) cannot be perfect without patience. Patience is from the best of deeds and its reward has no limits. When it is the case that one good deed is written as ten good deeds and can multiply until it reaches seven hundred or more, then indeed the reward for exercising patience has no limits, for indeed Allaah ( Glorified and Exalted be He) said:
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without Hisaab (without limit, calculation and estimation) [a] [39:10]
Patience is of three types:
[1] The first type patience is when a person exercises patience (whilst striving) to obey Allaah: A Muslim is commanded to exercise patience (whilst striving) to obey Allaah (The Most High), especially the when fulfilling obligations. And the first of those obligations is the prayer, for it is obligatory to establish it at its fixed time together with all its conditions and obligatory acts. [b] Therefore, patience is required in seeking to fulfill the five daily prayers. When a sleeping person hears the Adhaan of Fajr, he strives against his soul and wakes up, and then he performs Wudhu and goes to the Masjid. This is patience whilst seeking to obey Allaah. One also exercises patience in striving to treat his (or her) parents kindly, dealing with them in a beautiful manner and patiently bearing whatever occurs from that. Allaah (The Most High):
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. [17:23]
وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.”[17:24]
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي نُفُوسِكُمْ ۚ إِن تَكُونُوا صَالِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّابِينَ غَفُورًا
Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance. [17:25]
A person should also exercise patience in seeking to nurture his (or her) children and teaching them good manners and behaviour.
[2] The second type of patience is when a person exercises patience in seeking to restrain him (or herself) from disobeying Allaah: A person excises this patience in order to prevent him or (herself) from sins and (evil) desires. And among those sins a person should keep away from is that he refrains from violating the honour of the people.
[3] The third type of patience is when a person exercise patience when encountered with Allaah’s decree, which maybe something painful (i.e. a calamity): That is because that which afflicts a person, such as the death of a son (or daughter) or being afflicted with a sickness on a person’s the body, or his (or her) sanity, or what may afflict a relative of his (or hers), it is obligated on a person to exercise patience when these affairs are encountered and should hope for Allaah’s reward for being patient. He should know that all these affairs are from Allaah. Allah (the most high) said:
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ
No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart. [64:11]
Alqamah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: This (ayah) is about a person who is afflicted with a calamity and he knows that it is from Allaah. So he becomes pleased with what Allaah has decreed and submit to Allaah’s judgement, and he (or she) says: ‘’this is Allaah’s decree. I believe in Allaah and we are pleased with Allaah’s decree.” So Allaah fills his heart with Eemaan and tranquillity, and he (or she) receives a great reward (i.e. due to his patience).
We ask Allaah to include us and you amongst those who exercise patience.
[Source: Fadaa’il Al- A’maal’ pages 11-14’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah). Abridged and slightly paraphrased]
[a] Tayseerul Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseeri Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah)
[b]Conditions, pillars and obligations of the prayer, see link:
http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=10&Topic=8984
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
“Whoever has knowledge, then let him guide us to it. Whoever sees deviation, [something] incomplete [deficient] or wrong in our statement, then let him guide us to what is correct; we’ll thank him for his deed, accept what he says, comply, obey and submit”.
[Madaarij As-Saalikeen 3/1798-1799]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burgess [rahimahullaah] said: Just as it is obligated on a student to recant a mistake, then likewise it is obligated on a teacher [or scholar] to return to the truth when he errs. He is not to be prevented from returning to the truth after reviewing a statement he made and finds that it is in opposition to what is correct, for indeed that is a sign of equity and humbling [oneself] to the truth. Therefore, it is obligated that one follows what is correct, whether it was [conveyed] by a younger or older person. And it is blessing upon a teacher that he has amongst his students one who notifies him of his mistake and leads him to what is correct, so that he does not persist upon that ignorance. This requires that one shows gratitude to Allaah [The Exalted] and then being thankful to the person through whom one was guided [to what is correct], whether it was a student or other than him. [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Awā’iq at-Talab pg. 52 Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Most High] says in Surah Al-A’raaf Ayah 100-102:
[ أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَهۡلِهَآ أَن لَّوۡ نَشَآءُ أَصَبۡنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمۡۚ وَنَطۡبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ- Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth in succession from its (previous) possessors, that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not?]- Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] informs those who inherit the earth in succession from those who preceded them, that He [The Most High] destroyed their forefathers due to their sins, yet they commit the same sins that were committed by their forefathers! Do they not take heed that had Allaah willed He would punish them due to their sins, for this is the manner in which Allaah deals with mankind – both the previous nations and those who inherited the earth after them. Allaah [The Most High] warned those who inherited the earth from the previous nations, but they did not take heed; sent them reminders but they did not reflect; showed them guidance through signs, but they did not follow guidance, so Allaah punished them by sealing their hearts – neither did truth enter their hearts nor did good reach their hearts; nor did they give an attentive ear [to the truth]; rather they only heard that which established the proofs against them.
Then Allaah [The Most High] said:[تِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآٮِٕهَاۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا ڪَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِمَا ڪَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبۡلُۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَطۡبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ – Those were the towns whose story We relate unto you (O Muhammad). And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe in that which they had rejected before. Thus Allah does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers (from each and every kind of religious guidance)]-Meaning: Messengers came and called them to that which will lead to happiness [in the life and the next]. Those Messengers were given manifest signs and clear evidences to clarify the truth, but the people did not listen and thus were not benefited. And because they belied those manifest signs and clear proofs after being well aware of them, Allaah [The Most High] prevented them from accepting the sound and infallible creed ordained by Allaah. This was punishment on them because they rejected the truth, just as Allaah [The Most High] said in Surah Al-An’aam Ayah 110:
[وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفۡـِٔدَتَہُمۡ وَأَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ كَمَا لَمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَنَذَرُهُمۡ فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ – And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly].
Then Allaah [The Most High] says in Ayah 102 Surah Al-A’raaf: [وَمَا وَجَدۡنَا لِأَڪۡثَرِهِم مِّنۡ عَهۡدٍ۬ۖ وَإِن وَجَدۡنَآ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَفَـٰسِقِينَ – And most of them We found not (true) to their covenant, but most of them We found indeed Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)]-Meaning: The majority of the nations -to whom Allaah [The Most High] sent Messengers – were not true to their covenant. Neither were they steadfast nor did they adhere to the commands of Allaah, nor did they submit obediently to the commands of Allaah which the Messengers ordered them to obey; rather they followed their desires, except a very few of them. The majority of them turned away from guidance out of arrogance, so Allaah sent them various types of punishment.
[Source: An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]