Lisanu’l-Hal

“If you do good, you will do it for your own benefit, and if you do evil, it will be against yourselves.”

(Al-Isra, 7)

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Thanks to Allah!

Ibn Masud (radiyallahu anh), one of the noble Sahabah, said:

“Being thankful (shukr) is half of iman. Thanking is performed by the heart, tongue, and other parts of the body.

To be thankful with your heart is to keep good thoughts in it and keep it large so as to embrace all of creation. To be thankful with the tongue is to utter words containing praise and glory to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

To be thankful with all body parts is to use the blessings given by Allah (jalla jalaluhu) for obedience, piety (taqwa), and avoiding sins. To be thankful with the eyes is to close them to all things deemed disgraceful for Muslims. And to be thankful with your ears is to shut them to foul, ruinous and wicked words.

Avoiding religiously objectionable things with body parts is categorized under thanking Allah for His blessings. Stating one’s contentment with Allah’s will with the tongue is also one of the thanks to be given.”

Imam Ghazali, Mukashafatu’l-Qulub

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The Hallmarks of a Mumin

A great wali, Sahl bin Abdullah at-Tustari (quddisa sirrahu), said:

“Unless a human being has these four good characteristics, he cannot reach the truth of iman:

• Performing fards according to the sunnahs
• Eating halal things by adhering to wara (avoiding doubtful matters)
• Avoiding forbidden matters both externally and internally
• Maintaining this course until one’s dying day

Abu Talib al-Makki, Qutu’l-Qulub

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Ibadah and Good Character

Wuhayb ibn Ward (rahmatullah alayh), a scholar in the second century of Hijri year, said as follows:

The deeds of a human being who does not have these three characteristics are worthless:

• Wara (avoiding doubtful matters) that protects them from haram
• Gentleness that protects them from responding to immoral people
• A good character that enables good relations

Imam al-Bayhaqi, Az-Zuhd al-Kabir

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“Allah is merciful only to those of His slaves who are merciful (to others).”

(Hadith)

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Without Wasting Time

Abu Bakr al-Wasiti (quddisa sirruhu), a great scholar and wali, once said:

“It is good to act with deliberateness (with moderation and not with haste) in every situation. However, it is required to act in haste in these three situations:

• To perform salah on time
• To bury the dead
• To repent when having blundered into sin

Abu’l-Layth as-Samarqandi, Tanbihu’l-Ghafilin

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Halal Eating

Abu Talib al-Makki (rahmatullah alayh), a Sufi scholar, said:

“These three properties must be looked for in halal foods:

• The food to be eaten must be known by everybody (from its production to preparation and coming to the table), and it must not be compounded with ills such as zulm (darkness of sin) and treachery.
• The desire to eat must be based on an allowable reason. It must not be with the intention to yield to the wishes of the nafs nor to curry favor with someone regarding religious or earthly matters.
• The act of eating must adhere to the provisions of sunnah, and it must not have a makruh feature that makes it objectionable and doubtful.”

Qutu’l-Qulub

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True Ibadah

Ubayy bin Ka’b (radiyallahu anh), one of the Sahabah al-Kiram known for reciting the Qur’an al-Karim beautifully, once said:

“If a servant who is on the straight path sheds tears because he remembers Ar-Rahman and fears Him, Allah the Almighty will not inflict His punishment on them.

A servant who remembers Allah from inside and shudders because of His fear resembles a tree with dried leaves. As this tree drops its leaves when the wind sweeps through its branches, so this servant drops all their sins because of their fear of Allah.

Channeling our actions along the path laid out by Allah and according to the sunnah of our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is better than worshipping with great effort without adhering to the way and the sunnah. Therefore, regardless of whether you go to prodigious lengths or act in a moderate way for ibadah, pay close attention to ensure that your deeds conform to the way and sunnah of our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).”

Yusuf Kandahlawi, Hayatu’s-Sahabah

Eser Sazak