AssalamuAlaikum,
Bismillaah
As salaamu alaikum
By Abu Muhammad al Maghrebee
Based on an Advice Written by Shaykh Al 'Alaamah Salih al-Fowzan
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O Muslims fear Allah subhana wa ta'alaa as he should be feared. And pay attention when you hear these statements of Allah subhana wa ta'alaa, as Allah subhana wa ta'alaa said in Suratul Fatir :
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
" O Mankind, verily the promise of Allah is true, so let not this present life deceive you and let not the chief deceiver ( shaytaan ) deceive you about Allah subhana wa ta'alaa. Surely the Shaiton is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may be companions of the blazing fire."
Sheykh Saalih al Fawzaan said : Allah subhana wa ta'alaa is addressing you, putting emphasis on a fact that will come no doubt. It will happen, what your Lord has promised you is true and will happen. As related to the ressurection, standing in front of Allah. So therefore the reward and retribution will be presented to the people according to their deeds. Allah subhana wa ta'alaa in the same ayaat is warning us against two trials, two tribulations, that turns away the servant. It keeps him busy and turns him away from making necessary preperations to meet with Allah subhana wa ta'alaa. Those fitnahs and those two trials are the trials of this dunyah. The life of this present world and the fitnah of the shaytaan.
And how many other ayaat? How many other verses indeed of Allah alone, not just talking about the hadeeth , the narrations, nor the statements of the Sahabah or the Ulemaa? Just in the Quraan....how many other verses that Allah subhana wa ta'alaa warns us against this life and being deceived by the life of this world. And it is blameworthy, and how quickly its days and its months and its nights and years will be folded up. And Allah subhana wa ta'alaa has given many examples to us. Yet one of them will be enough. One ayaat will be enough for anyone who has a real heart and pays attention when the statements of Allah are presented to him.
And the dunyah itself, it shouldnt be blamed. We shouldnt blame the dunyah in itself. Rather this dunyah is nothing but a bridge. Nothing but a bridge that leads to either the Jannah - paradise, or leads to the hellfire. Rather that which is blameworthy and considered blameworthy are the actions of the people in it. Those servants who their lusts and their desires turns them away from the remembrance of Allah. This dunyah is a place where everyone of us should take enough provisions that will benefit him on yawm al kiyamah. The provisions that will lead him to al Jannah. Indeed the best thing that may happen to you in the Jannah is the reward of your actions on this earth.
Ibn al Qayyim has said that Allah has created wealth and property so that the person should take them and indeed they will be saved for trial and a test for the people on earth. Allah didnt just send wealth to this dunyah so we can take it and enjoy it and have a life of luxury. O servants. You know that youre going to die one day. Your going to pass by the trials of the grave. Your going to stand in front of your Lord in account of your actions. You know the seerat, the bridge over the hellfire is waiting for us all. And how indeed, knowing all of this, how can it be possible that many of us choose the life of this world over that with Allah subhana wa ta'alaa in the hereafter? How is it that your wealth and property, your family members have turned you away from the remembrance of Allah? You live as if Allah has allowed you to live 50 years, 100 years, more or less. Gather al you can from this wealth, from this dunyah, gather all you can. Strive hard and get all that you can. But you should remember that you will leave one day. When you're time comes, you will leave this dunyah. And the things you have in your hand will not go with you. the only thing you will have is your deeds.
And remember when you came to this dunyah , you didnt come with any clothes. No car, no properties, no job, no friends. You came with nothing to this dunyah. The first moment you came into this dunyah, you came with NOTHING. And you will leave this dunyah with NOTHING. We have never heard of anyone when he died that they buried his stuff with him in his grave, you leave everything behind. As Allah subhana wa ta'laa said in Suratul An'am :
وَلَقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا فُرَادَى كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَتَرَكْتُم مَّا خَوَّلْنَاكُمْ وَرَاء ظُهُورِكُمْ
" And truly you have come unto Us alone (without wealth, companions or anything else) as We created you the first time. You have left behind you all that we have bestowed upon you."
Indeed , you O Servant of Allah, your life in this dunyah is nothing but like the one who is traveling. You are travelling ya Abdullah, to the life of the hereafter. Towards the hereafter, that is your destination. Indeed your example ya Abdullah in this lfe is the example of someone who is on a journey. To take that exit to that market, to take from the market, but not to take everything. And only take that which is a necessity for him so he can make it to his destination. And remember that nothing in this dunyah is actually yours except that which will help enable you to the hereafter.
Indeed the halal, that which is lawful in this dunyah , you will be held accountable for it. The halal, that which is permissable, you will be asked about in on yawm al kiyamah. As for the haraam , the haraam of this dunyah , you will be punished if you fall into it. This dunyah will be ruined, it will be destroyed. This dunayh that many of us cling to, and love it more than the hereafter will be ruined one day. Only those who have problems with their mind, those who have no mind whatsoever, no guidance, they are the ones who are really deceived by it.
Sheykh al Fawzaan says that it is one way - there isn't two ways- once he dies or she dies there is only one way towards the hereafter. And how about when he is seperated from his beloved ones . He left his family members, his companions and his friends. Now hes facing one of the rewards or retribution. Indeed this is a continuous journey, people are dying this is a fact. A continuous journey to the hereafter with no stop. And this trip from this dunyah by the way of death, the death does not just choose some people. A group of people may die at one time. Fathers and mothers, friends , believers, disbelievers, righteous, wicked, poor wealthy, everybody dies. Every single one will be put in that hole, that dark hole... the grave. Wating for the ressurection, waiting for the moment when the angel will be commanded to blow the horn. Allah said :
يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَى نُصُبٍيُوفِضُونَ
خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُالَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ
" The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly as racing to a goal,With their eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering them (all over)! That is the Day which they were promised! "
Indeed Allah subhana wa ta'alaa has considered to be blameworthy, and blame those people who give preference , and choose the life of this world over the hereafter in many many ayaat. And we mention to you just some of them. Allah subhana wa ta'alaa said in Suratul Baqarah :
أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُاْ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا بِالآَخِرَةِ فَلاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلاَ هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
" Those are they who have bought the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter. Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped."
And Allah said in Suratul Qiyaamah:
كَلَّا بَلْ تُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَتَذَرُونَ الْآخِرَةَ
" But you men love the present life of this world, and neglect the hereafter."
And Allah said in Sooratul Insan:
إِنَّ هَؤُلَاء يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَوَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا
"Verily! These (disbelievers) love the present life of this world, and put behind them a heavy Day (that will be hard). "
And Allah said in Surah al A'laa :
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَالْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى
"Nay, you prefer the life of this world; Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting."
And Allah said in Suratul Nazi'at:
فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىوَآثَرَالْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى
"Then, for him who Taghâ (transgressed all bounds, in disbelief, oppression and evil deeds of disobedience to Allâh). And preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires and lusts), Verily, his abode will be Hell-fire."
Indeed preferring this dunyah over the hereafter is clearly manifested in the behaviours of many many people these days.You'll find the Muslims crowded in front of stores, this is the place where they can get things for this life. But we dont see these people crowded at the gates of the masaajid.When there is a portion of this life, a good job you find the people in a stampede crowded. But when there is a class, to learn some beneficial knowledge like Ilm Online and the like of this - where is the crowd? Where is the stampede? Youll find that a person will edure hardships, serious hardships to gain some dollars, to gain some money. But where is this hardship, where is this zeal when it comes to obedience to Allah subhana wa ta'alaa.
You'll find a person getting mad, angry for days and weeks if he loses something from the dunya. If he loses his job, he loses his property, he loses his money. But where is your anger ya Abdullah when you neglect some of the deeds , when you LOSE some of your deeds. Why dont you get angry and mad? For many Muslims, the love of this dunyah has conquered their hearts. The love of this dunyah over the aakhira. And they spend all their time after this dunyah They leave a little bit, the slightest bit of their time for the hereafter. For example, the five obligatory prayers - people are neglecting them. they do not pray then at their times. Or perhaps they dont come and pray in the jamaat with the muslimeen.
Even for those amongst us, except for those whom Allah has mercy upon. We come to the salaat but many of us are occupied with the dunyah. Speaking of the dunyah, yes our bodies are here but our minds are out there in the streets thinking about the dunyah, still counting that money. Still thinking about that transaction, trying to remember what your gonna do. In the salaat trying to make a plan about what im going to do after the salaat.
And how many people , because of the love they have for this dunyah. Because of the love they have in their hearts for this dunyah, they become stingy...greedy. They even neglect to spend in the way of Allah. Whether the spending is obligatory like the zakaat , how many people have they neglected with the zakaat? And how many people do they neglect. They neglect their wives, they neglect their babies! Their own babies! Let alone neglecting the dawah, neglecting the masaajid, neglecting the orphans and the needy and the likes of this.
End of First part Khutbah
Indeed our beloved Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam has warned us against this life and that we may be deceived by the present life of this world. And He salallahu alayhe was salaam has informed us, that many of us in this dunyah love it more than the hereafter. He sallallahu alayhe was salaam mentioned that if this dunyahs worth with Allah was the wing of a mosquito He wouldnt give the disbeliever one sip of water. This dunyah has many of us running after it. Keeping us away from the hereafter. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam has informed us that this dunyah is the jail for the believers and it is the jannah of the disbelievers. And the Prophet sallalahu alayhe was salaam commanded us to be in it as a stranger. And while your living it, while youre working in it, consider yourself from the people of the graves.
Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu used to say after the advice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam has given about the dunyah- " When the morning comes, do not wait until the evening to do righteouss deeds. And when the evening comes dont wait to do anything until the next morning." Likewise the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam said this dunyah is green and sweet and will take your breath away. And therefore the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam commanded us to fear this dunyah. And likewise he sallallahu alayhe was salama informed us that when a person dies three things follow him. His family members, his wealth and his deeds. Two things go back. His family membrs and his wealth. The only thing that will stay with him in that dark grave are his deeds.
Give thanks to Allah subhana wa ta'alaa. Reflect upon the many bounties that Allah has bestowed upon you in this dunyah. How many different types of food do you eat a day? Not one. Remember many times the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam used to just eat dates. The poorest kinds of dates and some water. And how many of us live off those dates? No, we eat all kinds of types of food. How many types of fruits and vegetables do you eat every day? Check the clothing you wear. Its beautiful, comfortable and smooth. Check what you ride. The sahabah and the Prophet sallalahu alayhe was salaam used to walk for months. Many of us drive. We dont even drive any hoopties, we drive nice cars. Luxury cars. Check where you live. In your apartment, in the summer with a/c and in the winter with the heat and you have nice furniture. Look at what you sleep on. Soft and comfortable furniture. CHeck what you sit on in your houses and in your offices. Soft couches and recliners and the likes. That which the sahabahs had, the best of the people after the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam in this ummah, that which they had was nothing but a small amount from what you and I have. And even though they had a little bit of the dunyah , what they put forth for the akhira was way more than what we have saved...if we really have saved something for ourselves. So the sahabah , even though they didnt have all the dunyah we have these days, they feared Allah subhana wa ta'alaa and they didnt complain. They didnt complain and they were righteouss people. As for me and you, except for those whom Allah has mercy upon , Allah knows whats in the hearts. Many of us arent even giving thanks to Allah subhana wa ta'alaa, rather many of us are consistent with sins and acts of disobedience.
How many people do we see daily running after this dunyah? Running after a fortune and afraid that they may lose that contract. Afraid and panicking because they dont want to lose that fortune of this dunyah. But when it comes to the masjid, when it comes to the REAL business with Allah , to the REAL investments with Allah we find them negligent. Theyre so heavy. Their feet all of the sudden become so heavy. They cant walk towards the masjid. How many hours do we spend in our jobs? We spend many hours at our jobs, at our businesses, and on the streets after the dunyah. You'll find many muslims running all over the streets, spending hours and hours, overtime after overtime. A job after a job. they finish one job and then go to another job. Some may even have three jobs a day. They endure the hardship of the heat, in the summer when its blazing heat working outside. In the winter, they endure the hardship of the freezing cold conditions, but yet they cant stand a couple of minutes in the masjid. Standing many hours outside, but they still cant spend a few in the masjid reading the quran and remembering Allah subhana wa ta'alaa . That is where were supposed to spend our time. What happened to our minds? How many hours do the muslims use, to love and run and rush to the courts to play whatever? Basketball, football, baseball, soccer you name it. They spend hours, whether its day or night, they spend hours playing a game, a game from the games of this dunyah.
And the same people who spend hours whether playing or working, or cheering ... sometimes for the kuffaar, hes in the game. If the game goes for 9 innings or 29 innings then hes there with no fatigue. When the game starts, hes excited...but when he hears the adthaan , the adthaan! to come to the masjid to make the salawaat. When he hears the adthaan hayaa as salaat, come to the salaat...come to the success ...all of the sudden he turns blind, dumb and deaf. He turns away as if the muadthin is calling him to be put into jail or as if him going to the masjid is a disgrace authoobila.
O you Muslims! Indeed this is the condition amongst many of us these days. We;re running after the dunyah and the dunyah is running away from us. And were turning our backs to the hereafter, but the hereafter is coming closer to us. We dont take any lessons whatsoever. We dont take any lessons from what has happened before us. Many of our hearts dont even feel anything. Even admonishment, a reminder...nothing. Were not benefitting except of course those whom Allah subhana wa ta'alaa has mercy upon them.