Activities

Imaam as Sa’dee (rahimahullaah) advised the one suffering from anxieties, nervousness and sorrow to occupy themselves with one activity or another, or with some useful knowledge. He said, “This is because doing that will distract the heart away from being immersed in its anxieties. It might even make him forget the things that caused him grief and worry and he may even experience some happiness and become cheerful. This is also something common between both the believer and the non-believer, but the believer is different because when he occupies himself with knowledge that he is seeking or giving, or with the good action he is doing – whether it be an act of worship, or a worldly act in which he has a good intention of doing it to seek strength in worshipping Allaah – when he does that, he does it out of his belief in Allaah, sincerity ad seeking the pleasure of Allaah. This in itself has the additional effect of warding off grief, worries and anxieties (by a Divine intervention).

We see many people afflicted with sorrows and permanent anxieties, to the extent of making them very ill, their only cure was to make them forget the cause of their sorrow and misery, and be preoccupied with their normal activities. The activity to be preoccupied with should be something pleasing to the self and that it yearns for. This makes it more effective in achieving the desired goal and all knowledge is with Allaah.

Useful Ways of Leading a Happy Life

Imaam as Sa’dee

Page 16 – 17

It prevents sickness

Misfortunes are a means of preventing sickness which will cause his destruction, such as pride, arrogance and hardness of the heart.

Mukhtasar Zaad al Ma’aad

Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Page 459

When something serious happened

When something serious happened to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), he would seek refuge in prayer.  {Narrated by Imaam Ahmad on the authority of Suhaib}

And it is reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) in marfu’ form: Whoever was seized by many anxieties and afflictions should repeat the words; “Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah.”

It has been confirmed in al Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Abu Moosaa (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) that this saying is “a treasure from among the treasures of Paradise.”

Provisions for the Hereafter, (abridged version) pg. 465

Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Keeping Company with Those who Benefit

It is then wise and logical that man should only keep the company of those who benefit him in matters of his religion and life, for the best companion is the one who is pious, righteous, possesses noble conduct and manners, has a clear conscience and is ambitious. These characteristics then being completed if he is also learned in the sciences, arts and fiqh and possesses wisdom. These are the characteristics of those one can feel comfortable and happy in their company because of their sincerity, their assistance during difficulties and one’s safety from any evil act from their part. Whoever is fortunate enough to have a companion with these attributes, that is a sign for his happiness and success. He must therefore hold fast to him, fulfill his right of companionship and be truthful with him. He should also respect him, share with him his happy and sad moments, assist him in hardship and overlook his mistakes, because no man is free of errors and mistakes and it is enough an honor for a man that his faults are at least countable.

Shaykh Umar bin as Subayl

Masjid al-Haram

 

 

Bind Yourself

The ones tested the most are the ones with the most eemaan (faith). The ones tested the most are the Prophets (peace be upo them all) then whoever has less, etc. Less eemaan, less tests. The amount of deen one has equals the amount of tests. They go parallel to each other.

Al Baqarah 2: 155 – 157

The Virtues of Sabr

Sabr (patience) expiates sins. The believers, men and women will continue to be tested with their wealth, children and their own souls until all of their sins are expiated. The more you are tested, the more sins are expiated until you are left without sin.

Even huzn (sadness) or anxiety, if it happens to any one of us we’ll get rewarded as it is a means of expiation. As stated in a hadeeth, any sadness, anxiety, negative feelings the believers are tested with, he’s going from one point to another, even if he’s pricked by a thorn except that Allaah expiates sins because of those things.

Adhaa – Harm

How many ways of khair and how many ways to get the good, but a lot of people are deprived of it. When a problem comes to us we don’t react with patience, we react angrily and by that we become more tired. We add to it.

Quote: “React with patience and hulm (gentleness). It is the best way to resolve problems.”

Bind yourself. Free it from the fire. The one who strives to obey Allaah stays away from what He (Ta’aalaa) forbade is the one that frees themselves from the fire.

Excerpts of Advice taken from Umm ‘Abdillaah al Waadi-iyyah’s commentary of Imaam an Nawawee’s 40 Ahaadeeth

Translated by Umm ‘Abdir Rahmaan Hanim

“…And so are the Days…”

{And so are the days (good and not so good),

that We give to men by turns, that Allah may Know those who believe}

Ibn Abee Haatim’s comments: Muhammad ibnul ‘Abbaas narrated to us that Muhammad ibn Ishaaq said:

{And so are the days, that We give to men by turns…} He said: “We give them to men with trails so that we may test them.” His – the Glorified’s statement: { that Allah may Know those who believe}.

My Father narrated to me that Ahmad ibn ‘Abdur Rahmaan narrated to him…on the authority of Rabee’ ibn Anas:

“Allah gave victory to His Prophet and his companions over the polytheists on the day of Badr, and He gave victory to their enemies on the Day of Uhud. A non-believer can be given victory over a believer, and a believer can be tested with a non-believer. So that those who obey him may be distinguished from those who don’t, and those who are truthful from those who are not.”

Read on…