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Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
07/28/03 at 09:31:26
It is reported from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab: "He (The Angel Jibril) said (to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), 'Then tell me about Ihsan.' He said, 'it is to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him. Even though you do not see Him, He sees you.'" In the end the Prophet informed them that it was Jibril (Gabriel) who had come to teach them their religion (deen). So what is Ihsan? The inward path which amounts to recognition of what the self is, its position in the cosmos and how it can be purified. The Stages of the Self: An-Nafs al-'Amara: the insinuating self The insinuating self which is wholly evil and totally under the control of passions and bent only on self- gratification. It is totally blind to any higher reality. [color=blue] "The lower self of man commands to evil acts." ( 12:53) [/color] An-Nafs al-Lawwama:the self-reproaching self The reproachful self which is indecisive in choosing between good and evil and is constantly embroiled in an inner struggle. It is unable to overcome the impulses of the lower self while it nonetheless recognises the higher one. [color=blue] "No, I swear by the self-reproaching self." (75:2) [/color] An-Nafs al-Mulhama: the inspired self The self which recognises its faults and strives to correct them. [color=blue] "By the self and what proportioned it and inspired it with depravity or godliness!" (91:7-8) [/color] An-Nafs al-Mutma'inna: the self at peace Finally there is the self at peace which is illuminated and acts according to the good and is therefore liberated [color=blue] "O self at peace, return to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing. Enter among My servants. Enter My Garden." (89:27) [/color] So basically I wanted to quote some wisdom from the scholars who teach Ihsan.  As you have experts in fiqh, Aqidah, hadith, you also have experts in the field of Ihsan.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
07/28/03 at 09:33:32
My First Quote: Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad said, "The face of the one who sincerely loves Allah glows with spiritual radiance of Love.  When some of the rulers from the Successors (Tabi'in) sent a delegation to collect the jizya (tax) from the disbelievers, the latter refused to pay.  The officials asked, "Why do you refuse to pay us when you used to pay our forefather?" the disbelievers replied, [color=blue]"When your forefathers used to come, their clothes were old and torn, their hair was disheveld, and their eyes were streaked with red due to worshipping throughout the night.  Yet their faces were so awe-inspiring that we were able to raise our eyes toward them.  Your characteristics are not like theirs, nor will be as just.  Be Gone, we will not give you anything."[/color]

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
07/29/03 at 05:18:21
Imaam Al Haddad said, "Adhere to the good manners of the sunnah outwardly; make them habitual to you and you will have perfected your following and emulation of the Messenger of Mercy, the Prophet of Guidance[saw]. If it would be pleasing to you to become one of the True saints (siddiqun), then do not habituate yourself to any kind of behaviour until you study it and ascertain whether the Messenger of Allah [saw], any of his companions or any of the leaders thus behaved. If you find that they did not, while able to, then refrain, even if it be something licit, for they refrained from it only because of their knowledge that to do so was better. If you find out how they did it, then find out how they did it, and then follow suit. A certain scholar who refrained from eating watermelons explained his behaviour by saying that he had been informed that the Prophet [saw],had eaten them, but not how he had done so, and this was why he abstained from them."
07/29/03 at 05:19:24
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
07/30/03 at 11:22:18
Shaykh Ad Darqawi said, Faqir, safety lies in fleeing from all people except those who state is uplifting and whose words direct a person to Allah because people are ignorant of the Sunna of their Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and ignorant of their ignorance. We seek refuge with Allah! [color=blue]This ignorance is so great and immense that whenever they see someone who abuses his nafs, demeans it, humbles and humiliates, who is not concerned with it, and turns away from this world and its people,[/color][color=red] they look down on him, belittle him, are repulsed by him, and despise him, and declare themselves far from him.[/color] They hate him because they do not think that he is acting according to the Sunna. They think that he has innovation. They do not know that the door of the Sunna of Muhammad is that which he is following, may Allah be pleased with him, and that what they have is actually the innovation. The reason behind this state of theirs is that the sensory has overwhelmed them and taken possession of their hearts and limbs. It has left them deaf, dumb and blind. [color=red]They have no intellect.  [/color]How extraordinary! The realities have been turned upside down so that the [color=blue]Sunna becomes innovation and innovation becomes the Sunna![/color] The blind man starts describing the Path to the one who is just like him. "We belong to Allah and to Him we return." There is no power nor strength except by Allah, the High, the Immense.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/01/03 at 06:04:28
Shaykh Ahmad Zarruq(RA), said, 'The roots of blameworthy behaviour are three, 1.  To be pleased with the Self. 2.  To fear creation. 3.  To be concerned about provision. From the first comes desire, forgetfulness and disobedience.  From the second come anger, rancor and jealousy.  From the third comes greed and expectation and avarice. To hold onto one thing will eliminate all of these and that is not to be pleased with the self in any state, and to beware of it at all times.'

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/05/03 at 20:54:24
Shaykh Abu Madyan al-Ghawth, The pleasure of life is only in the company of the fuqara. They are the sultans, the masters, the princes. Therefore keep their company and have adab in their assemblies. Leave your portion behind you whenever they send you forward.
08/05/03 at 20:55:43
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/09/03 at 10:32:08
Shaykh Darqawi said, Faqir, the great sickness is love of this world which strikes at the hearts. It is not the love which strikes the bodies since this world is a cause for our distance from our Lord. Had it not been for the love which fills our hearts, we would always be in the presence of our Lord. All that veils us from Him is the love of it which dwells in our hearts. Intention is the elixir. If intention is present with anyone, then good must inevitably be present with him. If it is absent, the good is absent from him. No one was greater than our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, among all creatures, but in spite of the majesty of his value and the immensity of his affair, whoever does not have a good intention towards him does not profit. Whoever does have it gains great profit.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/10/03 at 12:02:11
Shaykh Abu Madyan al-Ghawth, Cling to silence unless you are questioned. Then say, 'I have no knowledge' and be concealed by ignorance. Do not look at fault unless you see a clear fault appear in you, but it is concealed. 'You will not find any flaw in the creation of the Merciful.' Lower your head and ask for forgiveness without cause. Stand apologising in just treatment. If a fault appears from you, then apologise and lift the face of your apology for what has flowed in you from you. Say, 'Your insignificant slave is more entitled to your pardon. Act kindly in forgiveness and adhere to gentleness, O fuqara!' They are not entitled to condescension, and it is their practice. Fear neither overtaking nor harm from them.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/12/03 at 21:02:53
Imaam Al Ghazali said, "There are two kinds of Riyaa "Showing off-Ostentation" ie pure ostentation and adulterated ostention. In pure ostentation "Riyaa" a man does a good deed only for worldly benefit. In Adulterated ostentation, a man does a good deed with the intention of reaping the benefits of the world as well as of the Hereafter."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/14/03 at 11:29:27
Shaykh Al Junaid said, "We did not acquire this level of Ihsan just by talking about it; but rather, we acquired it through spending the nights awake in prayer, experiencing hunger from fasting the days, and going against our worldly desires." Ibn Taymiyyah said, [color=blue]“Indeed al-Junaid, May Allah sanctify his soul, was from the Imaams of true guidiance, "[/color] (The Friends of Allah and the Friends of Shaytaan)
08/15/03 at 06:14:39
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/15/03 at 08:30:01
Imaam Abdullah ibn Alawi Al Haddad, says, "Someone who seeks to travel the path of Allah should begin with a sound repentance from all his sins." Imaam Abdullah ibn Alawi Al Haddad should not be mistaken for GF Haddad or Habib Ahmad Mashhur Al Haddad.
08/15/03 at 08:36:17
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/19/03 at 10:08:38
Ibn Hazm said, The wise man knows the only fitting price for his soul is a place in Paradise. My Comment: In other words, the Akira is more important the dunya. If Dunya is your worry, then strive to become one of the awilya. The Awilya are taken care of in this life and in the hereafter. Becoming one of the awilya entails that one have taqwa. Taqwa entails that one seeks knowledge and applying what one knows.. may Allah give us all success and tawfiyq.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/21/03 at 15:18:26
Shaykh As Salmi,may Allah have mercy on him, said, "The Faqir does not travel just to make an excursion or to be arrogant among people, or to seek this world, or to persevere in following his desire." My Comment: the General meaning of this statement from the Shaikh is that one travels for the sake of Allah only.  If you do something make sure it is for the sake of Allah.  In other words, make sure your intentions is correct.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/22/03 at 11:26:57
Al-Junaid said, "The noblest of gatherings is sitting with reflection in the arenas of tawhid." Ibn Taymiyyah said, [color=blue]"Whoever follows [u]al-Junaid [/u]is firmly upon the Straight Path but whosoever opposes him has been misguided."[/color]  (Friends of Allah and the Friends of Shaytan)
08/22/03 at 11:27:51
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/23/03 at 12:47:21
Abu Muhammad Bin Hayyan narrated that[color=blue] Abu Tharr[/color], May Allah be pleaed with him, once described the people of the world, says, "They breed what will they ultimately bury, they build what will eventually be destroy, they hold firm to what is emphemeral, and they forsake what is everlasting.  Hence, blessed are the two cries(1) people abominate most: Death and poverty." 1(Arabic Mootan, The two bad conditions people hate) My Comment: First and foremost, I wanted to introduce the who Abu Tharr is.   Abu Tharr Al Ghafari was one of the Companions of Rasullah Muhammad  [saw].   He was one of the people of Zudh, He was a Devoted Ascetic, the oft-imploring at night, the one who lived a monastic life, who was the fourth to embramce Islam, and who refused to concede to the arts of divination, or the practices of occult science, even before the laws of Islam were revealed. He is an amazing companion.  Who departed alot of Wisdom to this Ummah which he had learned from the Prophet [saw] himself. Pondering over what he said This is another saying which advocates the importance of the Akirah over the Dunya.  There is so much that can be said in regards to this.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/24/03 at 05:05:01
Ibn Masud said, "Nothing is worthier of a stay in prison than the tongue."
08/29/03 at 21:55:31
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/24/03 at 13:37:51
Imaam Ash Shafi said, "Only someone who is sincere recognizes what showing off is." Imaam Nawawi says, [u]"This means that no one is clearly able to recognize the reality of showing off and the knowledge of its hidden  aspects except someone who desires sincerity.  He excerts himself time after investigating, refelcting and examining untill he recognizes some of it.  Not every one can obtain it.  The elite are the one who obtain it. As for individuals who claim to recognize showing-off, this is only ignorance on  their part.  A great deal is said about the severity of hidden showing-off in the Risala of Abu'l Qasim Al Qushayri."[/u] (An Nawawi- Bustan Ul Arifeen)

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/25/03 at 09:15:24
Darqawi said, "I strongly advise you to [u]follow the Sunnah of Muhammad[/u], may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and to remember your Lord whenever your state is constricted and whenever it is expansive. You should say the prayer on your Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This is because if you are like this, then you will truly be the slaves of Allah. Whoever is truly the slave of Allah is not the slave of his passion (Hawaa). He is a wali of Allah."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/26/03 at 06:46:28
Imaam Al Ghazali said, "There are two kinds of Riyaa "Showing off-Ostentation" ie pure ostentation and adulterated ostention. In pure ostentation "Riyaa" a man does a good deed only for worldly benefit. In Adulterated ostentation, a man does a good deed with the intention of reaping the benefits of the world as well as of the Hereafter."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/27/03 at 14:00:37
Ibn Khafif said, "The sign of renunciation (Zudh)is that ease exists when wealth departs." He also said, "When the heart has forgotten apparent causes and the hands have withdrawn themselves from wealth, it is renunciation(Zudh)." My Comment: I received a PM saying that they never heard of some of the Shuyukh that i am quoting.  So if I know, I will try and post something about the Shaykh.   Ibn Khafif is Muhammad bin Khafif bin Asfaksad.  He died 371. He studied fiqh with Ibn Surayy who was Shafi In fiqh.  He studied Aqidah with Imaam Abu Hasan Al Ashari himself.  He studied the science of Ihsan with Ruwaym, Al Jarir, And Abu Al Abbas ibn Ata. Al Dhahabi said of him. "He is at the same time one of the most knowledgeable Shaykhs in the external sciences." Ibn Taymiyyah said, The great Shaikhs mentioned by Abu Abdur Rahman Al Sulami in Tabaqat As ******* and Abu al Qasim Al Qushayri in Ar Risala were adherents of the school of Ahlus Sunnah and the school of Ahlul Hadith such as.......Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Khafif ash Shirazi............. and their speech is found in the Sunnah and they composed books about the Sunnah. (Ibn Taymiyyah Al Risala al Safadiyya (1:267)

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/29/03 at 22:21:45
Ibn al-Mubarak used to say, "The beginning of knowledge is the intention, then listening, then understanding, then action, then preservation, and then spreading it." My Comment: Ibn Al Mubarak is 'Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (118/736 - 181/797), a famous Khorasani scholar .  he was one of the Salafus saleh. He was the client of the Banu Tamim, then the Banu Hanifa. His kunya was Abu 'Abdu'r-Rahman. He listened to Ibn Abi Layla, Hisham ibn 'Urwa, al-A'mash, Sulayman at-Tamimi, Humayd at-Tawil, Yahya ibn Sa'id, Ibn 'Awn, Musa ibn 'Uqba, the two Sufyans, al-Awza'i, Ibn Abi Dhib, Malik, Ma'mar, Shu'ba, and Haywa ibn Shurayh, and he studied with Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala', al-Layth and others. Ibn Mahdi, 'Abdu'r-Razzaq, Yahya ibn al-Qattan, Ibn Wahb and others related from him. Ibn Wahb said, "Ibn al-Mubarak listened to all our shaykhs except 'Amr ibn al-Harith." Ash-Shirazi said, "He learned fiqh with Malik and ath-Thawri, and he was the first of Abu Hanifa's companions. Then he left him and abandoned his madhhab." Ibn Waddah said, "In the end, he avoided mentioning Abu Hanifa in his books, and he did not read his work to people."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/30/03 at 17:45:30
Junaid, questioned about renunciation(Zudh), said, "It is that the hand be free of property and the heart of pursuing it." Shibli was asked about renunciation(Zudh) and said, "It is to abstain from what is other than Allah Most High." Shibli was the student of Al Junaid. Junaid name is also spelt Junayd
08/30/03 at 17:49:33
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/01/03 at 05:17:48
Ibn al-Mubarak said, "I studied adab for thirty years and I studied knowledge for twenty years." My comment: I know when one reads this, this may seem something very insignificant. Here you have a scholar who says, he studied Adab for 30 and knowledge for 20. It is obvious Adab is more important than knowledge. Knowledge without adab is unless knowledge. Adab is usually translated as manners.  However adab really means the proper way to go about something. What is the proper adab after one acquires knowledge. To apply it in ones life. However how to apply it in ones life properly is another thing.  To apply it properly is adab. The science of Ihsan evolves around adab. People talk about enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong.  You may have the knowledge, but if lack the proper adab, you wouldn't be enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong.  Your appraoch with enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong has to be effective.  it cannot be counter productive. If you see somebody doing the haraam, and you walk up to him and correct him, because you lack the proper adab in enjoining the right and forbidding the wrojg, you cause him to leave Islam, it was better for you be silent. Adab the proper way to go about something, the proper way to do things. Manners. Everything in Islam is adab. i want to get marriage?  The proper adab is to seek knowledge on how to get marriage, and than apply whatone knows. I need to know if such and such is permissible?  The proper adab is to find a shaykh who is knowledgeable on this subject, or go to a reliable source. I want practice Islam correct?  The proper adab is to seek knowledge. In the spiritual path, everything is adab. So the wisdom behind what the Shaykh said, is that adab is more important than knowledge, however without knowledge one cannot have adab or without knowledge one cannot do things properly. And Allah knows best.
09/01/03 at 05:19:01
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/02/03 at 06:42:42
Ibn al-Mubarak said,    Fight your tongue. The tongue is quick to kill a man.  The tongue is the posting of the heart. It shows man his intellect. My comment:  I think this is very clear.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/05/03 at 06:41:28
Aboo Bakr al-Kataanee said: A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah, during pilgrimage season. The Shaykhs who were present spoke about this topic, and al-Junayd being the youngest of them. They said to him: What do you say, O ’Iraaqee? So al-Junayd lowered his head and tears were gushing from his eyes, then he said: [color=blue]“A servant should overcome his soul, And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord, Establishing the rights of his Lord, Focusing upon Him with his heart, The light of fear setting ablaze his heart, Whilst drinking from the vessel of pure love, And certain hidden realities being unveiled for him. So when he talks, it is due to Allaah, When he speaks, it is from Allaah, When he moves, it is by the Command of Allaah, And when he is serene, then it is from Allaah, He belongs to Allaah, is for Allaah and is with Allaah.”[/color] Upon hearing, the Shaykhs all started weeping, and they said: There is nothing left to add to that, may Allaah reward you O Crown of the Knowledgeable Ones.”

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/07/03 at 10:48:37
Ibn Ajiba said,Dhikr is the reason for the life of the heart and leaving it is the reason for its death.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/08/03 at 22:36:41
One of the scholars said, Better to look at the defects hidden within you than to look for the unseen worlds that are veiled from you. Looking at something is being concerned about it and looking for it. Ibn Ajiba comments: O human being, your looking at the defects hidden in you, like envy, pride, love of rank and leadership, worry about provision, fear of poverty, seeking elitedom and other faults, and investigating them and striving to be free of them is better than your looking for the unseen worlds that are veiled from you, like learning the secrets of people, what destiny has decreed of future events, and like looking at the secrets of the enigmas of tawhid before being worthy of that because looking at hidden faults is someone which results in the life of your heart, and the life of your heart is a reason for eternal life and abiding bliss. Looking for the unseen worlds is excess and it can be a reason for the destruction of the self, as is its clinging to pride and seeking its prerogative over people. What the Shaykh said will come: "When someone perceives the secrets of the slaves and does not take on the character of divine mercy, his perception is a trial and brings him its bad results." Know that there are three types of defects: defects of the nafs, defects of the heart and defects of the ruh. The defects of the nafs are its attachment to physical appetites, like good food, drink, clothes, mounts, houses, wives, and the life of that. The defects of the heart are its attachment to appetites of the heart, like love of rank, leadership, might, pride, envy, rancour, love of position. elitedom, and the like of that which will come, Allah willing in the attributes of humanity. The defects of the ruh are its attachment to inward portions, like seeking karamat, stations, castles, houris and other things. So the traveller looking for any of that detracts from his slavedom and prevents him from undertaking the rights of lordship. Therefore his preoccupation with looking at the defects so his nafs, heart and ruh and his striving to purify himself from all that is better than his looking at the knowledge of the unseen worlds which is veiled from him, as was said. Success is by Allah. When he mentioned relinquishment, he mentioned its fruit, which is adornment with gnosis since he is only denied that by the nafs, heart or ruh looking for their imaginary portions.
09/08/03 at 22:38:29
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/09/03 at 11:19:15
Abu al-Fadl said, It is ignorance on the part of the one who is seeking the closeness of Allah, if he has bad adab to then say when the punishment is delayed, [u]"If this were really bad adab, He would have cut off help or sent me into exile." [/u]Help can be cut off while one is unaware of it  by stopping any increase or by letting you do what you like. My comment: Adab is the proper manners or the proper way to go about something. It is ignorant for the servant of Allah, if you think just because he has missed your salaat, and not see a quick punishment, that this means, then to say, it must be alright to miss your salaat since Allah did not send me a punishment right away.  Perhaps you have been cut off by the divine help of Allah in a way that you don't know, that you are unaware of. The simple fact you are not getting closer to Allah is a proof that you have been cut off.  If you are not in increase then you must be in decrease. You status with Allah is not how you see Allah, but how Allah sees you, and you know you are close to Allah when your actions conform to the ways of Shariah, and they do not conform to the ways of the Shariah you are in moving further away from Allah. And Allah knows best.
09/09/03 at 11:20:44
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/11/03 at 11:30:24
Abu Hasan said, "The inner eye is like the eye. The least thing that falls in it prevents seeing, even if that does not lead to blindness. There is peril in something which spoils sight and renders thought turbid; and desire for it removes good altogether, and acting by it removes from the person a portion of his Islam and brings its opposite. When he continues in evil, Islam leaves him. When that reaches the level of attacking in the Community, continual injustice due to love for rank and position and love of this world rather than the Next World, then Islam completely leaves him. Do not be deluded by what you see in the outward. It has no spirit since Islam is love for Allah and love for His righteous slaves."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/12/03 at 07:49:51
Ibn Ajiba said, Tajrid linguistically means "taking off and removing" (Me:Stripping away). One uses the term for things like removing a garment and shedding a skin. The Fuqara fall into three categories: 1.  those who strip away only the outward, 2.  those who strip away only the inward, 3.  or those who strip away both. Outward divestment is to abandon worldly causes and break physical habits. Inward divestment is to abandon psychological and illusory attachments. To withdraw from both of them is to abandon both inward attachments and physical habits. You could say that outward tajrid is abandoning all that distracts the limbs from obeying Allah; inward tajrid is abandoning all that distracts the heart from presence with Allah, and doing both is the isolation of the heart and the vessel for Allah. Perfect tajrid outwardly to abandon causes and divest the body of normal clothes, and inwardly it is to divest the heart of every blameworthy quality and adorn it with every noble quality. That is the perfect tajrid. My Comment It appears to me that tajrid is a combination of taqwa and Zudh. Taqwa entails that you leave that which displeases Allah. Zudh entails that you leave that which keeps you from the remembrance of Allah (ie non-attachement to the Dunya or this world) And Allah knows best.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/13/03 at 22:49:14
Daraqawi said, Faqir, the great sickness is love of this world which strikes at the hearts. It is not the love which strikes the bodies since this world is a cause for our distance from our Lord. Had it not been for the love which fills our hearts, we would always be in the presence of our Lord. All that veils us from Him is the love of it which dwells in our hearts.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/14/03 at 19:53:07
Abu al-Fadl said, Aspiration which rushes on ahead cannot break through the walls of destiny. My comment: This is a nice quote. It is like you need to have High Aspiration, in order to achieve anything, and this is because Allah says, [color=blue] "Man has nothing except what he strives for. [/color] (53:39)" But at the same time you will not get what you are striving for unless Allah wants you to have it. [color=blue] "But you will not will unless Allah wills." [/color] (81:29)

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/16/03 at 06:06:32
Abu Hasan says, "Four things which creatures are in need of: 1.  lack of need of anything, 2.  love for Allah, 3.  and wealth by Allah, 4.  sincerity and certainty. Sincerity is in slavedom and certainty is about the judgements of Lordship. "Who could be better at giving judgement than Allah for people with certainty." (5:50)

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/18/03 at 17:15:49
Muhammad ibn al-Habib  said in a poem called Purification, If you truly want purification From all shirk and self-regard, And to drink from the spring of Tasnimi Till your thirst is satisfied, You must wrap yourself up in endurance, Wind repentance around your head, Wear the tunic of firm self-denial, And in it exhaust your strength. And you need a good pair of strong sandals, One of hope and one of fear, With a staff made of certainty by you, And a store of pure taqwa. You need also the bridle of knowledge For the steed of high desire, With protection of trusty companions Which will keep your limbs from harm. Press on quickly to your destination, Being careful not to stop To reflect on material existence - That will veil you from your home. But reflect on God's kindness towards you, Be sincere in thanking Him. And get up before dawn and be humble And to Him address your plea. Blessings be on the Pole of existence And on those who follow him, In a way that will broadcast our secret And make it known to all.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/20/03 at 09:10:03
"All humans are dead except those who have knowledge ... and all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds ... and those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere ... and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry." Imam Shafi'

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/23/03 at 12:11:29
Here is an excert from the book The Removal of Cares by Abdul Qadir Jilani . Shaykh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani says, The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is reported as  having said, "Part of excellence of a man's Islam is paying no attention to that which does not concern him." To busy oneself with that which is irrelevant is the distraction of idle fools.  Deprived of the good pleasure of his Master is he who fails to put into practice what He commands, and who occupies himself with things he has not been instructed to deal with.  This deprivation its very self, death its very self and bansihment its vey self. O Young man!  You must carry out the commandments and observe the prohibitions [laid down by your Lord].  Make sure that you are fully in compliance [with the sacred law], then place yourself in the hand of destiny [qadar] without asking 'why' and without asking 'how?' It is far better for you to be looked after by Allah, with His knowledge of you, than for you to be looking after yourself, with your ignorance of your Lord.  Be satisfied with what He has given you.  Try to be grateful for it and do not ask Him for more, since you do not recognize the best part of what you already have." MY COMMENT: Just ponder on that for a minute

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/23/03 at 12:19:40
Daraqawi said, "The upshot is that if you desire counsel and safety from disgrace, then turn to Allah, your Lord to repent of your wrong action, since Allah Almighty says, 'Turn to Allah, every one of youÉ' to the end of the ayat (24:31). The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Turn in repentance. I turn in repentance seventy times every day." Another hadith says a hundred times. This was in spite of the fact that Allah Almighty had forgiven him any wrong actions, past and future.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/25/03 at 12:01:25
Al-Junaid said, "When Allah desires good for a person, He puts him with the  ****(s) (Arafeen) and denies him the company of the reciters." He said, "By Allah, someone who has success only achieves it except through keeping company with the one who has achieved success." My comment: Arafeen means the knowers, those who practice what they know and because of this Allah raised his status with Allah. And His statement is He denies him the company of the reciters.  What this means is, those people who recite the Quran with their tongue, but not with their hearts and limbs.  They are the people of tongue and not the people of action. Basically you can see your status with Allah, based on the people you are with.  If you are enjoy being with the people of Ghafla, then you are probably one of the people of Ghafla,and you should do something about it. If you are with the people of dhikr, then you are probably one of the people of dhikr (those who practice what they know) So we should try and keep the company of the successful ones, if we want to succeed. There is much more that could be said on this, but I don't have the time to expound. And Allah knows best. Ibn Taymiyyah said, "Whoever follows al-Junaid is firmly upon the Straight Path but whosoever opposes him has been misguided." (Friends of Allah and the Friends of Shaytan) Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Indeed al-Junaid, May Allah sanctify his soul, was from the Imaams of true guidiance, he was asked about Tawheed to which he replied, “Tahweed is to single out the created from the Eternal.”” (The Friends of Allah pg 209)

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
10/10/03 at 08:21:14
An-Nuri said, "What Allah desires of His creatures is what they have."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
10/14/03 at 06:08:52
One of the scholars of Ihsan said, "As long as the slave continues to watch people and have awe of them, his sincerity will never be fully realised."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
10/20/03 at 08:19:29
'Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said, I see that some people are content with the least of the deen, but I do not see them pleased with meagerness in this life. Be rich with Allah, independent of the world of the kings as the kings are free of the deen with their worldly things.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
10/27/03 at 05:19:28
Abu Hafs al-Haddad said, "Anyone who does not suspect himself at all times and does not oppose it in all states and does not drag it to what it dislikes in all his days, is deluded. Anyone who looks at himself and approves of any of it has destroyed it. How is it sound for an intelligent person to be satisfied with his nafs? The noble son of the noble son of the noble son of the noble [the Prophet Yusuf] said, "I do not say that my self was free from blame. The self indeed commands to evil acts – except for those my Lord has mercy on." (12:53) Ahmad Ibn Ajiba comments:   It is said about that: Be cautious of your self and do not trust its tricks.      The self is fouler than seventy shaytans.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
11/11/03 at 20:59:04
Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), heard an Arab nomad say: “O Allah, I beg Your Forgiveness and I repent to You.” Ali said, “O you there, slickness of the tongue in repentance is the repentance of liars! The Arab nomad then asked, “And what is repentance?” Ali (May Allah be Pleased with him) replied, “It includes six things: 1. Remorse for sins committed in the past. 2. Renewed performance of obligatory religious duties (faraid). 3. Providing compensation for acts of criminal injustice. 4. Seeking pardon from the adversaries. 5. Resolving never to repeat the offence. 6. Dissolving your lower self in worshipful obedience to Allah, just as you caused it to grow in sinful obedience, just as you let it taste the sweetness of sinful acts of disobedience, until it comes to enjoy the sweetness and flavours of worshipful obedience.”

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
11/28/03 at 14:49:25
One of the scholars of Ihsan said, "As long as the slave continues to watch people and have awe of them, his sincerity will never be fully realised."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
12/07/03 at 09:33:36
Ibn Masud said, "Nothing is worthier of a stay in prison than the tongue."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
12/09/03 at 04:20:36
In his Bustan al-'Arifin (The Garden of the Gnostics) Imaam Nawawi says, Allah says, "Their flesh and blood dies not reach Allah but your fear of Him (tawqa) does reach Him." (22:37) Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, [color=blue] "It means that your intentions reach Him."[/color]   Ibrahim said, "Taqwa is the means by which you desire His Face." Imam Abu'l-Hasan al-Wahidi reported that az-Zajjaj said, [color=blue] "The meaning of this is that Allah will not accept an offering of flesh and blood when it is offered without fearful awareness of Allah. He accepts that through which you show Him your fearful awareness of Him." [/color] This indicates that no act of worship is without intention. The intention is that you want to draw near to Allah and carry out His command.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
12/22/03 at 06:05:56
Al-Junayd said, "I do not regard what comes to me of the world as ugly because I have a principle: it is that this abode is the abode of worry, sorrow, affliction and trial. All the world is evil. Part of its judgement is that it brings me all I dislike. If it brings me with what I love, it is bounty. Otherwise, the basis is the first one." [color=blue]Ibn Ajiba comments:  [/color] It is said about that: In his intellect, the intelligent person makes a visual image     of his hardships before they occur. Even if they arrive unexpectedly, they do not alarm him     because of the image in himself. He sees that the business will lead to another,     and so its end becomes a beginning. The ignorant person feels that his days are safe     and forgets previous misfortunes. If the vicissitudes of time surprise him     with some afflictions, he is distressed. If he has prior resolve, it is by his knowledge     of steadfastness in the face of affliction.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
12/27/03 at 22:23:32
Abu Hafs was asked, "Which is better for the Friend of God, speech or silence?" He replied, "If the one who speaks knew what disasters there are in speech, he would be silent even if he lived as long as Noah, and if the one who keeps silent knew what disasters there are in silence, he would pray to God Most High twice as much as Noah did until he could speak."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
12/29/03 at 09:05:18
One of the scholars of Ihsan said, "Learn silence as you have learned speech. Speech will guide you, and silence will protect you."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
12/30/03 at 22:22:57
Al Ghazali said, "Know that the heart of man who is engrossed in this world and is given over to its vanities and harboours love for its appetites must certainly be neglectful of the remembrance of death

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
bhaloo
12/31/03 at 21:38:53
[slm] Sheikh of Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah - may Allah sanctify his soul - said [color=blue] 'What can my enemies do to me? I have in my breast both my Heaven and my Garden. If I travel they are with me, and they never leave me. Imprisonment for me is a religious retreat [khalwa]. To be slain for me is martyrdom [shahada] And to be exiled from my land is a spiritual journey [siyaha].'   [/color]
12/31/03 at 21:39:34
bhaloo

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
01/02/04 at 04:27:44
Imaam Al Haddad said, Success is in the Hand of God; the whole matter belongs to Him; there is no power nor might except with God, transcendent and exalted is He.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
01/08/04 at 18:55:05
Abu-l-Sulayman al-Darani said, "Abstaining (Wara) from the unlawful is the beginning of renunciation (Zuhd) of the world, just as contentment with one's lot is a branch of satisfaction with the will of Allah."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
01/19/04 at 22:38:38
Sahl al-Tustari said, "Whoever wants fear (Taqwa) of Allah as his proper state must abandon sins altogether."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
01/21/04 at 23:15:40
Abdul Qadir Jilani said, To rid oneself of these evils (such as ignorance, arrogance, pride, envy, miserliness, vengeance, lying, gossiping, backbiting and so many other hateful traits) one has to cleanse and shine the mirror of the heart. This cleansing is done by acquiring knowledge, by acting upon this knowledge, by effort and valour, fighting against one's ego within and without oneself, by ridding oneself of one's multiplicity of being, by achieving (learning) Tawheed.
01/21/04 at 23:23:31
Nawawi

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
paula
02/16/04 at 00:09:04
[slm] ~ wasn't quite sure the proper thread for this expert... this one seemed fitting ~ The Companions of The Prophet [saw] & Knowledge. The Muslims in encouraging & inducing people to pursue knowledge followed the Qur’an & the noble traditions of the Prophet [saw]. In reference it may suffice to quote Mauadh Ibn Jabal as reported by Imam Al-Ghazali in his book Ihus’u ‘Ulumud-Din. Mu’ath Iban Jabal reports for the Prophet [saw] as having said: “Seek knowledge. Seeking it purely for Allah’s sake is fearing Him; Pursuing it is worshipping Him; discussing it is remembering Him; searching for it is Jihad (*); imparting it to others is charity & spending it for the benefit of the family is affinity. All this is because knowledge is the borderline between the lawful & the unlawful; the light to the inroads to heaven; the friend in isolation; the companion in travel, the person to discuss with in solitude, the guide in happiness & sorrow; bringer of peace to the enemy, & an ornament to the intimate friend. With the power of knowledge Allah raises a people & makes them leaders of virtues. Their footsteps & deeds are imitated & people conclude with their opinions. The angels show anxiousness in their friendship & spread their wings for them. Every animate & inanimate prays for their salvation; the fish & creatures in the sea, the animals & beasts on the land, all ask for repentance for the learned. This is so because knowledge is equivalent to praying through the night. Knowledge brings one closer to his relative & verses him with the facts of the lawful & the unlawful. Knowledge remains the leader while actions remain the followers. It inspires the fortunate & deprives the wicked." (*) fighting for the cause of Allah (exerpt from Values of Islam) [wlm]
02/16/04 at 01:49:30
paula

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
02/23/04 at 21:46:13
Sister, your quote was very fitting.  Please share more if you have.  Al hamdullah. It is reported from Ibn Mas'ood (ra) that he said, "Do not learn knowledge for three (things): to amaze and confound the foolish, to argue with the learned, and to make people's faces turn towards you. (But) seek what is with Allaah with your hearts and actions, since only that will remain and whatever is besides it will go".

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
02/25/04 at 05:45:52
Shuayb bin Harb said, "I went to see Malik bin Masud in Kufa. He was in his house by himself. I asked, 'Why do you isolate yourself here alone?' He answered, 'I do not think of anyone as isolated who is together with Allah.'"

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
02/29/04 at 11:41:10
Hatim al-Asamm said, 'The believer is occupied with meditation and perseverance, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color] is occupied with greed and his hope. The believer  has despaired of everyone but God, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color]  has set his hopes in everyone save Him. The believer  feels safe from everyone except God, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color]  fears not Him, but all others. The believer sets his religion before money, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color]  sets money before his religion. The believer does good and weeps, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color] does evil, and laughs. The believer  loves solitude and isolation, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color] loves company and assemblies. The believer  sows, and fears that his crop will be spoilt, while [color=blue]the hypocrite[/color]  uproots his crop, and hopes to harvest it. The believer  orders and prohibits for the sake of [good] government, and succeeds in setting things right, while[color=blue]the hypocrite[/color] orders and prohibits for the sake of power, and causes corruption.'

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
03/05/04 at 07:25:05
Sahl bin Abdullah was asked of trust (tawwukul).  He said, "It is a heart that lives with Allah Most High without attachment to anything else." My comment Tawwakul has also been translated as Reliance on Allah.  One of the Shuyukh of Sham said, one ways of knowing if you have tawwakul is if you need to get something donebut don't know how to do it.  And a person tells you, if you call so and so, he can help you get it down. Now ask yourself, is your reliance or trust in Allah or in so and so?

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
03/07/04 at 04:57:26
Abu Bakr al Tamastani said, "The greatest blessing is to escape from the ego, because the ego is the greatest veil between you and Allah Al mighty and Glorious."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
03/10/04 at 05:03:06
Sufyan al-Thawri said, "I never saw anything easier than abstaining from the unlawful. Leave everything that makes a mark upon your conscience."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
03/15/04 at 13:29:13
Abdul Qadir Jilani said, "Three things are indispensable for a believer in all conditions of life: 1.  he should keep the commandments of Allah; 2.  he should abstain from forbidden things; and 3.  he should be pleased with the decree..... [color=blue]Follow faithfully in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and do not create innovation and remain obedient to Alah and His Prophet (peace be upon him) and do not transgress; and uphold the Tawhid(oneness) of Allah and do not ascribe any partner to Him....[/color]

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
03/26/04 at 05:19:22
The shaykh, the wali of Allah ta'ala, Sayyidi Qasim al-Khassasi, may Allah be pleased with him! said, "Do not be occupied at all with the one who abuses you. Be occupied with Allah and He will drive him away from you. He is the One who makes him move against you in order to test your claim to true sincerity. Many people have erred in this matter. They are occupied with the abuse of the one who abuses them so the abuse will continue in wrong action. Had they returned to Allah, He would have driven them away from it all and their proper business would have been enough for them."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
03/30/04 at 16:41:37
‘Ali [ibn Abi Talib], may Allah honor his countenance, said: The likeness of this world and the Hereafter is that of the east and the west; the nearer you draw to the one, the farther you move from the other. They are like the two wives, when you please the one, you anger the other. And they are like two vessels, one empty and the other full; when you pour into the empty one, the other diminishes accordingly.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
04/01/04 at 22:45:53
I will not serve Allah like a labourer, in expectation of my wages. - Rabia al-Adawiya

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
04/04/04 at 16:07:55
Al-Wasiti said, “Direction is the trait through which good qualities are perfected and through lack of which they are corrupted.”

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
04/07/04 at 07:13:54
al-Kattani said, “A certain man associated with me, but I disliked his company. I gave him a gift, hoping that what was in my heart might pass off, but it did not go away. So I brought him to my house and said to him, ‘Set your foot upon my cheek.’ He refused. ‘You must!’ I said. So he did it. I intended that he should not raise his foot from my cheek until Allah raised from my heart the weight I had found there. When what I had discovered vanished from my heart, I said, ‘Now lift your foot.’”

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
04/08/04 at 05:45:54
Al-Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: When love of this world enters the heart, fear of the Hereafter exits from it. Beware of worldly distractions, for no servant opens a door of this world without several doors of works for the Hereafter being shut before him.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
04/14/04 at 09:04:22
Wuhayb ibn al-Ward said, [B]'Whosoever inclines toward the desires of this world should prepare himself for humiliation'.[/B]

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
04/29/04 at 09:55:06
Al-Junayd was asked, [B]"What is the path to realisation?" [/B] He replied, [COLOR=Blue][B]"Tawhid which removes persistence, fear which cuts off procrastination, hope which goes forth on the paths of action, abasement of the nafs by bringing the final term close to it and putting it far from hope." [/B] [/COLOR] He was asked, [B]"By what will one attain to this?" [/B] He replied, [B][COLOR=Blue]"By a heart isolated in which there is divested tawhid. When the heart is isolated with Allah and purified of what is other than Him, it grasps the subtleties of tawhid and its inscrutable concepts which cannot be expressed. They are allusions and indications which are only understood by their people and only disclosed to them, Few they are!" [/COLOR] [/B]

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
05/05/04 at 13:10:06
Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal said, [COLOR=Blue]"[B]Renunciation (Zudh) has three phases.[/COLOR] 1.  The first is abandonment of the unlawful which is the renunciation (Zudh) of the majority of people. 2.  The second is abandonment of excess in the lawful which is the renunciation (Zudh) of the elite. 3.  The third is abandonment of whatever distracts the servant from Allah Most High, which is the renunciation (Zudh) of gnostics (Arifeen)."

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
05/17/04 at 04:47:23
[COLOR=DarkRed][B]The Meaning of Taqwa[/B][/COLOR]by Imaam Abdullah Al Haddad Imam al-Ghazali has said, [B]"Taqwa in the Qur'an has three meanings. First is fear and a sense of awe. The second includes obedience and worship. Third is freeing the heart from sins, which is the reality and essence of taqwa."[/B] In summary, taqwa is to guard oneself against the anger of God and His punishment by fulfilling His commandments and abstaining from what He has made prohibited. The reality of taqwa is that your Lord never sees you where He has forbidden you to be, nor does He miss you where He has commanded you to be. May peace be upon you.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/22/04 at 03:13:45
Imaam Abdullah Al Haddad said, [B]'Taqwa, when sincere, leads to excellence in obedience. Excellence was defined by the Prophet upon whom be blessings and peace as [COLOR=blue][B]"to worship God as if you see Him, for if you see Him not, He sees you."[/B][/COLOR] God wishes to see His servants engaged in doing what pleases Him and avoiding what displeases Him. God is entirely aware of His servants' states, both inwardly and outwardly, but His gaze falls upon them according to these states: it can be a gaze of mercy and solicitude, or one of displeasure leading to punishment.'

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/23/04 at 12:11:53
Tajj Ad Din Al Iskandari, Better to look at the defects hidden within you than to look for the unseen worlds that are veiled from you. Ahmad Al Hasani commented on this statement saying: [COLOR=Blue] [B]Know that there are three types of defects: [/color] [COLOR=Black]1. defects of the nafs, 2. defects of the heart and 3. defects of the ruh. [/COLOR] [COLOR=Blue] The defects of the nafs are its attachment to physical appetites, like good food, drink, clothes, mounts, houses, wives, and the life of that. The defects of the heart are its attachment to appetites of the heart, like love of rank, leadership, might, pride, envy, rancour, love of position. elitedom, and the like of that which will come, Allah willing in the attributes of humanity. The defects of the ruh are its attachment to inward portions, like seeking karamat, stations, castles, houris and other things.[/B][/COLOR]

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
08/28/04 at 12:02:22
Imam al Haddad says: Whatever act of goodness you are able to do, you must do.

Re: Wisdom from the Scholars of Ihsan
Nawawi
09/06/04 at 22:47:33
Harith bin Asad al Muhasibi says: [B]When love is established in the heart of a servant, there is no place there for remembrance of men or demons or of Paradise or Hell, nor for anything except the remembrance of the Beloved and His Grace.[/B]
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