Self-reformation

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The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “By Allah, of all people, I am the one with the most knowledge of Allah, and I fear Him the most.” [Bukhari; Kitab al-Adab]

Fear of Allah, Exalted is He, springs from knowledge of Him, and of His Attributes, and awareness of Allah’s Glory, Might and Self-Sufficiency – and of the fact that He is not accountable for what He does, while His servants are.

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: “Surely those of His servants who know, fear Allah.” [Quran: Surah 35, Ayat 28]

At other times fear is caused by the enormity of the wrong actions which the servant has undertaken. The degree of a servant’s fear depends on his awareness of his own faults and on his recognition of Allah.
 
عن ابن مسعود أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ليس من عمل يقرب إلى الجنة إلا قد أمرتكم به ولا عمل يقرب إلى النار إلا قد نهيتكم عنه لا يستبطئن أحد منكم رزقه إن جبريل عليه السلام ألقى في روعي أن أحدا منكم لن يخرج من الدنيا حتى يستكمل رزقه فاتقوا الله أيها الناس وأجملوا في الطلب فإن استبطأ أحد منكم رزقه فلا يطلبه بمعصية الله فإن الله لا ينال فضله بمعصية

المستدرك للحاكم رقم 2136

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no action that will draw you close to Jannah except that I have commanded you to carry it out, and there is no action that will draw you close to Jahannum except that I have prohibited you from perpetrating it. None of you should ever regard his sustenance to be delayed (as everything is destined to arrive at its time). Indeed Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) revealed wahi in my heart (from the side of Allah Ta‘ala) that none of you will leave the world until he receives his sustenance in full. Hence, fear Allah Ta‘ala, o people, and make your effort brief in seeking your livelihood (as everything that you will receive is predestined). If any of you regards his sustenance to be delayed then he should not seek it through an avenue whereby he will disobey Allah Ta‘ala, for indeed the grace (barakah in wealth) of Allah Ta‘ala cannot be acquired through engaging in sins.”
 
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “On the Day of Qiyaamah Allah Ta’ala will say, ‘Let that person stand who has a right over Me.’ None beside those will stand who forgave the faults of others in the world.” [Rooh ul Ma’aani]


One who contains his anger and forgives another his fault, never reminding him of it nor letting it affect his behaviour towards him will earn this privilege, that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) will say He owes them something in exchange! SubhanAllah! He, whom all creation depends on for every breath, is offering this prize to those who forgive the faults of others.

The grandson of Ali (radi Allahu anhu), Zain-ul-Abideen Ali bin Husain was being assisted in the performance of Wudhu by a slave girl, when she happened to drop the water container wounding him thereby. He looked at the maid servant with angry eyes.
She, being a Haafidha (one who knows the entire Quran by heart), immediately recited the Ayat of the Quran, “The special servants of Allah are those who swallow their anger.” He said in response, “I have swallowed my anger.”
Upon hearing the command of Allah, he immediately submitted to it. The thought did not occur to him, “I am being addressed by a mere slave girl.” Immaterial of who utters it, it is the speech of Allah, therefore afford it its due regard.
Thereafter she continued with the next segment of the Ayah, “…and who forgive people.” He responded by saying, “I have forgiven you.” She then went further to complete the Ayah by reciting, “…and Allah loves those who are Muhsineen, those who do favours.” In response to this he said, “Go, for Allah’s sake I have set you free.”

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The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “On the Day of Qiyaamah Allah Ta’ala will say, ‘Let that person stand who has a right over Me.’ None beside those will stand who forgave the faults of others in the world.” [Rooh ul Ma’aani]


One who contains his anger and forgives another his fault, never reminding him of it nor letting it affect his behaviour towards him will earn this privilege, that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) will say He owes them something in exchange! SubhanAllah! He, whom all creation depends on for every breath, is offering this prize to those who forgive the faults of others.

The grandson of Ali (radi Allahu anhu), Zain-ul-Abideen Ali bin Husain was being assisted in the performance of Wudhu by a slave girl, when she happened to drop the water container wounding him thereby. He looked at the maid servant with angry eyes.
She, being a Haafidha (one who knows the entire Quran by heart), immediately recited the Ayat of the Quran, “The special servants of Allah are those who swallow their anger.” He said in response, “I have swallowed my anger.”
Upon hearing the command of Allah, he immediately submitted to it. The thought did not occur to him, “I am being addressed by a mere slave girl.” Immaterial of who utters it, it is the speech of Allah, therefore afford it its due regard.
Thereafter she continued with the next segment of the Ayah, “…and who forgive people.” He responded by saying, “I have forgiven you.” She then went further to complete the Ayah by reciting, “…and Allah loves those who are Muhsineen, those who do favours.” In response to this he said, “Go, for Allah’s sake I have set you free.”
 
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “One who desires that lofty mansions be constructed for him in Jannah and that he be granted high levels in Jannah should forgive those who deal unjustly with him, he should give to those who deprive him and he should establish ties with those who sever them.” [Rooh ul Ma’aani]

We are wounded by words, attitudes and behaviour all the time. But aren’t the high, beautiful, strongly built mansions of Jannah worth suppressing our negative feelings for?

But how many times do we retort and how many times do we swallow our anger, forgive the person who deals unjustly with us, give to him who exclude us, and keep taking steps to enhance relationships with those who cut off from us?

Sometimes we don’t even forgive the people nearest and dearest to us such as our children, our spouses, our parents, our aunts and uncles. With every sunset ask yourself who did you forgive today and who were you exceptionally nice to despite their angering you?
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com/
 
Hazrat Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

One should strive to emulate every Sunnat of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in one’s life. Similarly, one should endeavour to practice the Mustahab acts of Deen to the best of one’s ability. This is my advice to all my friends and associates. If one emulates the way of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), practicing the Sunnats and Mustahab acts of Deen, one will receive the promise of Allah Ta’ala in becoming the beloved of Allah Ta’ala.

(Qutbul Aqtaab Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 397)
 
One usually talks about things one loves

-Maulana Yunus Patel [R.A]

When a person talks about something EXCESSIVELY, thenknow that the love of that thing has entered his or her heart.

The one who talks excessively about fast cars, fashionable clothes, pretty women, handsome men, multi-storey buildings, palaces, gold, silver and wealth, then know that the love of these things has entered that heart.

There is no sin in earning and using wealth to provide for comfort and maintenance, to go for Haj and Umrah, and to contribute to charity, to the needy and poor. However, the love for material possessions must not enter the hearts.

The toilet is a necessity and some homes have beautiful toilets; some even have gold taps, etc. But what would you think of one who talks excessively about his toilet ?…Just like the toilet, the things of this world are necessities - we, therefore, don’t make
the material things of this world objects of worship.

The one who talks excessively about Deen, about the Love of Allah Ta’ala and His Beloved Rasool [SAWS], then know that their love has entered that heart.
Of course, during business hours, the businessman will talk mainly about business with his clients and customers. The doctor will talk about medicine and health, and the fruit seller will call upon passers-by to purchase his fruit. All this ‘worldly’ talk related to one’s needs, with the correct intention and to the extent of necessity, causes no harm to the spiritual self.

('Hedayatus Saalikeen
 
by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rh

Allah – the Most High – said:
“O you who believe! Remember Allah and remember Him a lot.” [Surah al-Ahzaab 33:4I].

“Those men and women who remember Allah a lot.” [Surah al-Ahzaab 33:35].

“So when you have finished the rights of your Pilgrimage, then remember Allah as you remember your fore-father, or with more intense remembrance.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:200].

These verses contain a command to remember Allah intensely and abundantly, since the worshipper is in dire need of [remembering Allah] and cannot do without it even for a twinkling of an eye.

This is because every moment that a person does not spend in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah will not be of any benefit to him. Rather,the harm entailed in being neglectful of the dhikr of Allah is far greater than any benefits that can be gained.

One of the ‘aarifeen (those who are knowledgeable about Allah) said:

“If a person were to spend such and such number of years engaged [in the dhikr of Allah], then he turns away from it for just a moment, what he will lose is far greater than whatever he has already gained.”

Al-Bayhaqee relates from ‘Aisha radiAllahu ‘anhaa that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“There is no time in which the son of Aadam does not remember Allaah in it, except that it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement”2

Mu’aadh ibn jabal radiAllahu ‘anhu relates that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:“The people of Paradise will not have any regrets except for those moments in which they were not engaged in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah.”3

Mu’aadh ibn Jabal ra also relates that Allah’s Messenger sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was asked:

What action is the most beloved to Allah? So he replied:“That you continue to keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of Allah, until you die.”4

POLISHING THE HEART with DhikrullahAbu Dardaa radiAllahu ‘anhu said:

“For everything there is a polish and the polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allah”.

Al-Bayhaqee relates from Ibn ‘Umar radiAllahu ‘anhu that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“For everything there is a polish, and the polish for the hearts is the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allah than the dhikr of Allah.”It was said: Not even Jihaad in the path of Allah. So he replied:“Not even if you were to continue striking with your sword until it breaks.”5
There is no doubt that hearts becomes rusty just as copper and silver coins become rusty.
The polish for [this rust] is the dhikr of AIlaah. This is because [dhikr] is like a polish [which polishes the heart] like a shiny mirror. When dhikr is left, the rust returns. But when dhikr resumes, then the heart is [again] polished.

And hearts become rusty due to two things:-

(i)neglecting remembering Allah, and
(ii)committing sins.
The polish for these two things is:-
(i)seeking Allah’s forgivenessand
(ii)dhikr.

CONFUSING TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD Whoever neglects [remembering Allah] most of the time, then his heart will become rusty in accordance with how neglectful the person is.

And when this [filthy] rust accumulates on the heart, then it no longer recognises things as they really are. Thus, it views falsehood as if it is the truth, and truth as if it is falsehood. This is because this rust darkens and confuses the heart’s perception, and so it is unable to truly recognise things for what they really are.

So as the rust accumulates, the heart gets blackened, and as this happens the heart becomes stained with this filthy rust, and when this occurs it corrupts the heart’s perception and recognition of things.

The heart [then] does not accept the truth nor does it reject falsehood, and this is the greatest calamity that can strike the heart. Being neglectful [of dhikr] and following of whims and desires is a direct consequence of such a heart, which [further] extinguish the heart’s light and blinds its vision. Allah – the Most High – said:

“And do not obey him whose heart We have made to be neglectful of Our remembrance, one who follows his own whims and desires and whose affairs are furat [have gone beyond bounds and whose deeds have been lost].” [Surah al-Kahf 18:28].

http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2012/02/polishing-hearts-by-imam-ibn-qayyim-al.html
 
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The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“The Mufarridoon have taken precedence.” [Mishkaat]

Mulla Ali Qari, in his commentary on Mishkaat entitled Mirqaat, states that Mufarridoon means: “Those who do not derive pleasure, except in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala and do not enjoy bounties, except with gratitude to Him.”

The people who take first place in the Akhirah are those who do not derive pleasure in the world except in the remembrance of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). They enjoy the company of their wives and children, food and drink, business and homes, only after they take Allah’s name. They only enjoy the blessings of the world together with obedience to Allah. They regard no blessing as a blessing until and unless they express gratitude for it to Allah Ta’ala.

Imam an-Nawawi in his commentary on Sahih Muslim while explaining this hadith cites another narration explaining that the Mufarridoon are “those who experience ecstasy while engaged in Dhikr.”
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com/
 
Umar رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ عنه said,

“Whoever decorates himself by displaying to the people some characteristics that Allah :swt1: knows are contrary to his real characteristics, will be disgraced and dishonoured by Allah :swt1: .”

[Ad-Daaraqutnee, 4/207]
 
It is reported that once Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was asked as to who is the wisest of all men. He replied:

“The wisest of men are those who remember death more than everybody else. It is such people, indeed, who win distinction in this world and who will be raised to positions of honour in the Aakhirah”.

(Majma‘uz Zawaaid #18157)
 
Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

''The path of deen is a path of self-reformation. The purpose and object of self-reformation is for one to create within his heart the natural urge and desire to fulfill the commands of Allah Ta‘ala and to refrain from those things which are prohibited by Allah Ta‘ala . In other words, one’s heart becomes such that it only finds happiness and fulfillment in carrying out the commands of Allah Ta‘ala, and it finds discomfort and resentment in breaking the commands of Allah Ta‘ala. This is the very purpose of the path of self-reformation. The spiritual exercises that are prescribed by the Mashaayikh are merely a means to achieve this goal.''

(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 13)
 
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports: Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once addressed a group of people who were seated saying, ‘Shall I not inform you of the best of you from your worst?’ They remained silent. When Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) repeated this question for the third time, one person said, ‘Certainly O Messenger of Allah, inform us who is the best from the worst’.

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘The best among you are those whose goodness is hoped for, and [people] are safe from his evil and the worst of you is he whose goodness is not hoped for, and [people] are not safe from his evil.”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2263, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 527-528. Also see: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah with footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, Hadith: 35571)
 
Rasūlullāh (ﷺ) said:
“Blessed is he who is preoccupied with his own defects rather than those of other people.” -Bazzar from Anas رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ عنه (Hadith graded as Hasan)

Ibn Abbas رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ عنه said:

“When you feel the need to mention your companion’s faults, remember your own” [Imam Bukhari in Al-Adab Al Mufrad]

Muhammad ibn Sireen رحمه الله used to say:

“We used to say that those amongst us with the most sins are those who spend their time talking about the sins of others.”

Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri رحمه الله said:

“Keep yourself busy in remembering your faults, so that you have no time left to remember the faults of others.”

Ibn Taimiyah said:

“Some people have the disease of criticizing all the time. They forget the good about others and only mention their faults. They are like flies that avoid the good and pure places and land on the bad and wounds. This is because of the evil within the self and the spoiled nature.”

Abu Hatim said:

“Probing and seeking the faults of others is from the branches of hypocrisy just like thinking good of others is from the branches of faith. The intelligent one always has a good opinion of his brothers, and keeps his grief and sadness to himself. As for the ignorant one, he has evil opinion of his brothers and does not think about his crimes and distress.” [Siyar A’lam an-Nubala]

Imam Ash-Shafi’e رحمه الله said:

”Let not your tongue mention the shame of another, for you yourself are covered in shame, and all men have tongues. If your eye falls upon the sin of your brother, shield them and say ‘O my eye all men have eyes‘.”
 
Hz Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

If any person sees some good quality in himself and finds that quality lacking in another person, due to which he begins toregard himself to be better than that person, then he should immediately think to himself,

“It is possible that this person does not have this good quality in him which I have, but he has some other praiseworthy quality in him which is lacking in me, due to which he is better than me in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala.”

Hazrat Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) then mentioned,

“If a person trains himself to think in this way, it will assist him to remove self-admiration and pride from hisheart and it will save him from regarding himself to be better than others.”

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 23/55)
 
"O young man, do not occupy yourself with washing the clothes of your body while leaving the clothes of your heart dirty!Wash the heart first and then wash the clothes.

Combine both acts of washing, both acts of purification.Wash your clothes clean of dirt and wash your heart clean of sins. Do not be overconfident about anything, for your Lord is a “doer of what He wills.”Work on purifying your heart first for this is an obligatory duty and then move on to the acquisition of knowingness, because if you miss the root your engrossment with the branch will not be accepted of you. What benefit would the purity of the limbs and senses have when combined with impurity of the heart? Purify your limbs and senses with the Sunna and your heart by applyingthe Qur’an.Protect your heart so thatyour limbs and senses will be protected. Every vessel exudes its contents. Whatever is in your heart will ooze out to your limbs and senses."-

Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani RA in 'Jila al Khatir'
 
Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

A person should never ask Allah Ta‘ala to test him with calamities and difficulties. Instead, he should always beg Allah Ta‘ala for ‘aafiyah (ease). However, if Allah Ta‘ala tests a person with calamities and difficulties, then he should adopt sabr (patience) and understand that this is, in actual fact, a form of mercy from Allah Ta‘ala. Through adopting sabr and remaining patient, one’s sins will be forgiven and his rank will be raised in the Hereafter. One should also remember that all the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam), the Siddeeqeen and the pious friends of Allah Ta‘ala were tested during their lives with trials and tribulations and they gained great blessings and favours of Allah Ta‘ala through remaining patient.

(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 27)
 
Someone once asked Hadhrat Shafeeq bin Ibraheem (R.A),

"People call me a pious person. How can piety be recognized?"
The reply was, “Itcan be recognized by three factors. These are:

1. Explain your inner condition to the pious people. If they are satisfied, then you are pious, otherwise not.

2. Offer the world to your heart. If it refuses the world then you are pious, otherwise not.

3. Offer death to yourself. If you are pleased with it, then you are pious, otherwise not.

If a person has these three qualities, he should thank Allah and display humility. He should then never allow ostentation to infect his actions, for this will pour water over all that he does."

-'Tambih-ul-Ghafileen' by Faqih Abu Lais Samarqandi [R.A]
 
Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

The purpose of self-reformation is to acquire the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala. In order for one to gain self-reformation, one requires two things; knowledge of the path and correct application of this knowledge. Self-reformation will be obtained through one adhering to the laws of Shariah in accordance to the Sunnah, regardless of whether the laws pertain to our external actions or internal.

In acquiring self-reformation, there are two things that will assist one greatly; remaining in zikr at all times, and remaining in the company of the pious servants of Allah Ta‘ala as much as one is able to. If it is difficult for one to remain in the company of the pious all the time, then the substitute is for one to study the lives of our pious predecessors and their advices.

One should refrain from two things as they are the cause of impeding one’s progress; falling into sins and becoming involved in futile activities.

Together with the above, one will only be able to derive full benefit if one regularly reports his condition to his spiritual guide and sheikh (person under whose supervision he is carrying out his self-reformation).

After adopting the necessary procedures in self-reformation, each person will progress and receive blessings from Allah Ta‘ala in accordance to his capacity and the level of commitment and dedication he shows. This is the essence of the path of self-reformation.

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 23/56)
 
It is reported that Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan (al-Ghani/Dhul Nurayn) – (579-656 C.E), May Allah be well pleased with him, said in a Friday Sermon [Khutbah].

O! Children of Adam! Know that the angel of death has been assigned to each and every one of you, and that angel has not ceased to pass by you every single day, and this has happened every day since you were born.

It is as if this angel wants to move on to something else, yet it cannot, for it has been assigned to you and will target you one day.
Therefore, it is best to be prepared and to be careful by correcting your deeds, meaning one should only do good knowing that the angel is near you.

You must not forget him, for that angel does not forget about you.
Realize, O Children of Adam, if you end up being forgetful about any of this and you do not prepare for it, remember no one else will prepare this journey for you.

You are the one that must meet Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and you are the one who will be questioned, so please take care of yourself and do not leave taking care of yourself to someone else. Peace be upon all of you.”

(Related by Imam Abu Bakr Al-Daynuri in his book – Al-Mujalasah wa Jawahir Al-Ilm – The Assembly of the Jewels of Knowledge)
 
Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah rh said:

If a believer falls into sin, it’s punishment would be repelled from him in ten ways:

1. He repents and therefore Allah :swt1: would accept his repentance. The one who repents from a sin is as the one who hasn’t sinned.

2. He asks for forgiveness and he would therefore be forgiven.

3. He performs acts of righteousness that would erase his sins, for indeed righteous actions erase sins.

4. His brothers supplicate for him; that his sins be forgiven - while he is alive and after his death.

5. His brothers gift the reward of their actions to him so that Allah :swt1: may benefit him through them.

6. That prophet Muhammad - صلى الله عليه وسلم - intercedes for him.

7. That Allah :swt1: puts him through trials in the life of this world that would expiate his sins.

8. That Allah :swt1: puts him through trials in the Barzakh and the Sa’iqah that would expiate his sins.

9. That Allah :swt1: puts him through the trials of the Day of Resurrection and its horrors, that which would expiate his sins.

10. Or that the Most Merciful of the merciful has mercy over him.

Whoever lets these ten pass him by, then let him blame no one but himself, as Allaah the Exalted said in a Hadeeth that was narrated by His Messenger :saws:

“O My servants, they are only your own deeds, I take them into account for you, and then give (their reward or punishment) back to you. So whoever finds good then let him praise Allah. And whoever finds other than that then let him blame no one but himself.”

[Reported by Muslim: #2577]
http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-ten-ways-to-expiate-your-sins.html
 

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