Pearls of Wisdom of the Salaf

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah,

It is reported from Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh have mercy on him – that he said:

I have been told that it used to be said, “Woe to those who study [their religion] for a purpose other than worship, and those who seek to permit what is forbidden through doubts and specious arguments.”

Al-Khattîb Al-Baghdâdî, Iqtdâ Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal, p77.

Imam Ash-Shaafi`ee
Diwaan ash-Shaafi`ee
From "Three Forgotten Prayers" by `Adnaan Aali `Uroor
© Call to Islam Da`wah Center, UK 1997

Repentance

Al-Muzni who is Aboo lbraaheem Isma`eel ibn Yahya said:

"I entered upon ash-Shaafi'ee during his illness which resulted in his death, so I said to him: 'What is your condition?' He replied: "I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allaah - Exalted is His remembrance - arriving. And no! By Allaah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!" Then he started to weep, and he said:

'In You, the Creator, I raise my longing, And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal,

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow,

I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape,

My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness,

I found Your forgiveness to be greater,

You are and still remain the only One who can forgive sins,

You grant and forgive out of Your benevolence and generosity,

Perhaps the One who is the source of all goodness will forgive and overlook my mistakes,

And will hide the sins and burden that I accumulated,

My sins seemed very great to me, so I turned (to You) in humility,

Were it not for my contentment in you, I wouldn't, O my Lord, have seen any comfort at all,

So if You forgive me, You would have forgiven a sinner, A rebellious, oppressive tyrant still sinning,

So my crime is very great, past and present, But Your forgiveness that embraces Your servant is greater and higher,

So whomsoever holds fast to Allaah is truly saved from mankind, And whomsoever's hopes are in Him, will be far removed from any regrets.'
source

Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) said:

"Be amongst people like a bee that flies. Every flying bird looks down on it and if they know what this weak bee has inside from blessings they would have never looked down on it ever."

Sunan al-Darmi: 312 [It is saheeh].

Hospitality and Sharing: How the Salaf Lived!


Muhammad b. Ziyâd said, “I met [some of] the Salaf. They would live in one building with their families. One of them might receive guests, and the cooking pot of another might be on the fire (with food being cooked). The host would take the pot to serve his guest, and the owner of the pot would find it had gone and would ask, “Who has taken the pot?” The host would reply, “We have taken it for our guest.” The owner would say, “May Allâh bless it for you,” or something similar. Baqîyah (one of the reporters) said, “Muhammad said, ‘And it was the same when they baked bread; and they had only a wall of reeds separating them in those days.’” Baqîyah added, “And I remember seeing such times with Muhammad b. Ziyâd and his friends.””
Al-Bukhârî, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Shaykh Al-Albânî (Sahîh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad p268) said this narration’s chain of narration is sahîh.

To eat a dead Mule!

‘Amr b. Al-‘Âs was once walking with a group of his friends, when he passed by the bloated, rotting carcass of mule. He said: “By Allah! To eat your fill from this carcass is better than eating the flesh of a Muslim (by backbiting him).”
Al-Bukhârî, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Shaykh Al-Albânî (Sahîh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad p266) said this narration’s chain of narration is sahîh.

Things have Changed!

Umm Al-Dardâ` [the Younger] – Allâh be pleased with her - reports:
One day, Abû Al-Dardâ` came home angry, so I asked him, “What has made you so angry?” He replied, “By Allâh, I do not recognize anything from the Ummah of Muhammad except that they pray (salâh) in congregation.”
Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh, Chapter on the Virtue of Praying Al-Fajr in Congregation.
We learn from this narration:
· Prayer (salâh) in congregation is from the characteristics of the Ummah of Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him.
· The noble Companion Abû Al-Dardâ` was conveying the idea that deficiency and negative changes had begun to creep in to the practices of the Muslims, and he wanted to point out this evil so that people could be aware and try to keep to the original teachings. Al-Hâfidh Ibn Hajr states, “Abû Al-Dardâ` intended to point out that all the deeds of those mentioned had suffered some degree of deficiency and change, except praying in congregation. This [change] is relative, for the condition of the people during the time of the Prophet was better compared to how it changed after that time; and during the time of the Two Shaykhs (Abû Bakr and ‘Umar) it was better compared to how it was after them. It is as if this concern came from Abû Al-Dardâ` towards the end of his life – during the latter part of ‘Uthmân’s Caliphate. And just imagine, if that virtuous generation was described by Abû Al-Dardâ` as it was, then what about those who came after them up to our own time?!”
· This narration shows us that we should be angry if some aspect of the religion is changed, and that renouncing evil can be done by showing one’s anger if one is not able to do any more than that.
Taken from Fath Al-Bârî of Ibn Rajab and Fath Al-Bârî of Ibn Hajr; both of which are commentaries on Sahîh Al-Bukhârî.

jazaikhair sis, truely said if we dont combat the wrong, soon there will be no right. but Allah controls everything. He is the most wise and the most merciful

Do not bear witness for any of the people of Islaam!

Imaam al-Barbahaaree (rahima-hullaah) mentions:
Do not bear witness for any of the people of Islaam (i.e. that he is a person of Paradise or of the Fire) due to a good or bad deed, since you do not know what his final action before his death will be.
You hope for Allaah's Mercy for him and you fear for him because of his sins.
You do not know what has been destined for him at the time of his death as regards repentance and what Allaah has destined for that time if he dies upon Islaam.
You hope for Allaah's Mercy for him and you fear for him because of his sins.
Sharhus-Sunnah - Imaam al-Barbahaaree

Passage to Paradise!

Abu Umaamah (radhi-yallaahu 'anhu) said:
O Messenger of Allaah tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise?
He (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:
Take to fasting, there is nothing like it.
an-Nasaa.ee - Volume 4, Page 165, Ibn Hibbaan - Page 232, al-Haakim - Volume 1, Page 421

‘Uthmaan ibn 'Affan (رضي الله عنه) said in a Khutbah one day:

“Oh people! Fear Allaah, for the fear of Allaah is a treasure. The smartest of the people is the one who checks on himself and strives for that which comes after death, strives to acquire some of the light of Allaah for his grave, and fears lest Allaah raise him blind when he had sight (in this world).”

Saheeh at-Tawtheeq: 107

Al-Hasan (al-Basrî) said,

"The believer is like a stranger. He does not become worried due to being insignificant in it (this life), and he does not compete for honor in it. His condition is one and the people are in another condition. Whenever Allâh created آdam ('Alayhis Salâm), He made him and his wife reside in Paradise. Then he was put out of it, yet was promised to return to it, he and the righteous ones among his offspring. So the believer is always longing for his first homeland..."

source

Entering into conversations

There are four types of people in this world who enter a conversation/ discussion:
1. One who knows not, and himself knows he knows not, is a student. Teach that person.
2. One who knows, and others know he knows, is a teacher. Learn from that person.
3. One who knows, and himself knows not that he knows, is humble. Encourage him.
4. One who knows not, and himself knows not that he knows not, is stupid. Avoid that person. *

In any dialogue keep these in mind, and you shall be guided to productive discourses.

Imam Shafie

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All humans are dead except those who have knowledge!!

“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 are deceived, except those who are sincere ...
And those who are sincere are always in a state of worry”
(Imam Shafi’)