Satan Hinders the Slave from Acting

 http://en.wathakker.net/articles/view.php?id=38 

Satan Hinders the Slave from Acting
Author : Dr. `Umar Al-Ashqar

Satan Hinders the Slave from Acting by Means of Procrastination and Laziness
Concerning this point, Satan has many ways and means. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari that the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
«During your sleep, Satan ties three knots at the back of your Decks. He breathes the following into
them, 'The night is long so keep on sleeping.' If the person wakes and praises Allah, then one of the
knots is unfastened. And if he performs ablution, the second knot is unfastened. When he prays, all of
the knots are unfastened. After that he will be energetic and happy in the morning. Otherwise he
would get up listless and grouchy».
»ﺪﻘﻌﻳﻆﻘﻴﺘﺳا نﺈﻓ ،ﺪﻗرﺎﻓ ﻞﻳﻮﻃ ﻞﻴﻟ ﻚﻴﻠﻋ :ﺎﻬﻧﺎﻜﻣ ةﺪﻘﻋ ﻞﻛ بﺮﻀﻳ ،ﺪﻘﻋ ثﻼﺛ مﺎﻧ ﻮﻫ اذإ ﻢﻛﺪﺣأ سأر ﺔﻴﻓﺎﻗ ﻰﻠﻋ نﺎﻄﻴﺸﻟا
ﺚﻴﺒﺧ ﺢﺒﺻأ ﻻإو ،ﺲﻔﻨﻟا ﺐﻴﻃ ﺎﻄﻴﺸﻧ ﺢﺒﺻﺄﻓ ،ﺎﻬﻠﻛ هﺪﻘﻋ ﺖﻠﺤﻧا ﻰﻠﺻ نﺈﻓ ،ةﺪﻘﻋ ﺖﻠﺤﻧا ﺄﺿﻮﺗ نﺈﻓ ،ةﺪﻘﻋ ﺖﻠﺤﻧا ﻪﻠﻟا ﺮﻛﺬﻓ
نﻼﺴﻛ ﺲﻔﻨﻟا«
It is also recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that He said:
«When one of you rises from your sleep he should make ablution. He should rinse his nose three
times; For Satan stays in the upper part of one's nose during the night».
»ﻪﻣﻮﺸﻴﺧ ﻰﻠﻋ ﺖﻴﺒﻳ نﺎﻄﻴﺸﻟا نﺈﻓ ،ﺎﺛﻼﺛ ﺮﺜﻨﺘﺴﻴﻠﻓ ﺄﺿﻮﺘﻓ ﻪﻣﺎﻨﻣ ﻦﻣ ﻢﻛﺪﺣأ -هارأ- ﻆﻘﻴﺘﺳا اذإ«
Al-Bukhari also records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about a man who sleeps until
the morning comes, that is, after the time of the dawn prayer. He said:
«That is a man whom Satan has urinated into his two ears.»
»ﻪﻴﻧذأ ﻲﻓ نﺎﻄﻴﺸﻟا لﺎﺑ ﻞﺟر كاذ«
What we have mentioned is from among the ways that Satan hinders the human from doing some
actions. He also whispers into the human a love for laziness, postponing or procrastinating actions
and thinking about what a long period of time one has for such and such action or work. Ibn al-Jauzi
has written on this topic, stating:
How many of the Jews or Christians have considered in their hearts love for Islam. But Iblees always
hinders them. He says to them, "Do not be hasty. Look closer into the matter." And they postpone
their conversion until they die as unbelievers. In the same way the one who is disobedient to Allah
postpones his repentance. He sets his sights on his desires and he hopes he will repent later. But, as
the poet said, "Do not rush to perform the sins you desire and think about the period of repentance
beforehand." How many are determined to do something and then they postpone it. Perhaps a
scholar is determined to return to his study. Satan says, "Rest for a while." Or a servant is alerted tothe prayer at night and he says to him, "You have plenty of time." He will not stop making people love
laziness and postponing of actions and he makes the person rely on hopes and dreams.
It is necessary for the energetic person to take matters into his own hand and act upon his energy.
The energetic finds the time to do things and does not procrastinate and he turns away from just
dreaming. The one who has a real fear of Allah does not feel safe of punishment. The soul never stops
in its dispute about evil and facing the good. But it always expects that it will have plenty of time to
complete the good. One of the early scholars said, "Beware of procrastinating. It is the greatest of the
soldiers of Satan." The serious, non-procrastinating person and the one who rests on his hopes and
puts off working are like two who are passing through a city while journeying. The serious, energetic
one buys his provisions early and waits for his traveling out of the city. The procrastinator says, "I will
wait, as perhaps we will stay here a month," and continues to put off buying his provisions and
preparing for his departure, until the last minute wherein he becomes rushed and mistake prone. This
is how people are in this world. Some of them are prepared and alert. When the angel of death comes,
he is not sorrowful. Others are deceived by thinking they can procrastinate and they will despair when
the time to move on comes. It is part of one’s nature to love laziness and dreams but then Iblees
comes and builds upon that. This makes it difficult to struggle against him in that matter. But the one
who is alert knows that he is in the middle of a battle. He knows that his enemy does not rest. And if it
seems that he is resting, it is actually just part of his strategy. (Ibn al-Jauzi, Talbees Iblees, p. 458)

Dr. `Umar Al-Ashqar
Chapter: From the Ways of Satan in Leading Humans Astray
The World of the Jinn and Devils
© 1998 al-Basheer Publications and Translations

Allaah is Beautiful and Loves Beauty

Source: http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/purification/0005.htm Allaah is Beautiful and Loves Beauty

Imaam ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rahimahullaah

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From ’Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood radiallaahu ’anhu who said that the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said, “No one will enter Paradise who has an atom’s weight of pride in his heart.” A man said, “What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?” He said, “Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people.” [1]

Ibnul-Qayyim (d.751H) radiallaahu ’anhu said, commenting upon this hadeeth:

‘‘The phrase ‘Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty,’ includes the beautiful clothing which was asked about in the same hadeeth. It is included by way of generalization, meaning that beauty in all things is what is meant here. In Saheeh Muslim, it says: “Allaah is good and only accepts that which is good.” [2]

In Sunanut-Tirmidhee it says: “Allaah loves to see the effects of His blessing on His slave.’’ [3] It was reported that Abul-Ahwas al-Jashamee said: The Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam saw me wearing old, tattered clothes, and asked me, “Do you have any wealth?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “What kind of wealth?” I said, “All that Allaah has given me of camels and sheep.” He said, “Then show the generous blessings that He has given you.” [4]

Allaah, may He be glorified, loves the effects of His blessings to His slave to be made manifest, for this is part of the beauty that He loves, and that is part of the gratitude for His blessings which forms an inner beauty (beauty of character). Allaah loves to see the external beauty of His slaves which reflects His blessings on them, and the inner beauty of their gratitude to Him for those blessings. Because He loves beauty, He sends down on His slaves clothes and adornments with which they may make their outward appearance beautiful and He gives them taqwaa which makes their inner characters beautiful. Allaah says:

“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better.” [Sooratul-A’raaf 7:26]

And He says, speaking of the people of Paradise:

“…and He gave them Nadrataan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise and silken garments, because they were patient.” [Sooratul-Insaan 76:11-12]

Their faces will be made beautiful with the nadrah (light of beauty), their innermost being with joy and their bodies with silken garments. Just as Allaah loves beauty in words, deeds, garments and outward appearance, so He hates ugliness in words, deeds, garments and outward appearance. He hates ugliness and its people, and loves beauty and its people. But two groups are misguided with regard to this issue: a group who say that everything that He has created is beautiful, so He loves all that He has created and we should love all that He has created and not hate anything. They say: whoever realizes that all that exists comes from Him will see that it is beautiful … these people have no sense of jealousy for the sake of Allaah or hatred and enmity for the sake of Allaah, or denouncing what is evil (munkar), or jihaad (struggle) for the sake of Allaah, or adhering His limits. They regard the beauty of images, male or female, as being part of the beauty that Allaah loves, and seek to worship Allaah through immoral acts. Some of them may even go so far as to claim that the One Whom they worship is manifested or incarnated in those images.

The second group, on the other hand, say that Allaah condemns the beauty of images, forms and outward appearances. Allaah says about the munaafiqoon (hypocrites):

“And when you look at them, their bodies please you…” [Sooratul-Munaafiqoon 63:4]

“And how many a generation have We destroyed before them. Who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?” [Soorah Maryam 19:54]

In Saheeh Muslim it is reported that the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said: “Allaah does not look at your outward appearance and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and deeds.” [5]

According to another hadeeth: “Shabbiness is part of faith.” [6] Allaah condemns those who are extravagant, which applies to extravagance in clothing as well as in food and drink.

In order to settle this dispute, we may say that beauty in clothing and outward appearance is of three types, one of which is commendable, one is blameworthy and one of which is neither. The kind of beauty which is to be commended is that which is done for the sake of Allaah, to help one to obey Allaah and fulfill His commands, such as when the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam made himself look beautiful (i.e. handsome) when meeting the delegations that came to him. This is like wearing armour or battle-dress when fighting, or wearing silk and showing off (in front of the enemy). This is commendable because it is done to make the word of Allaah supreme and to support His religion and annoy His enemies. The blameworthy kind of beauty is that which is done for the sake of this world, for reasons of power, false pride and showing off, or to fulfill some (selfish) desires. This also includes cases where beauty is an end in itself for a person and is all he cares about. Many people have no other concern in life. As for the kind of beauty which is neither commendable nor blameworthy, it is that which has nothing to do with either of the two purposes mentioned above (i.e., it is neither for the sake of Allaah nor for the sake of worldly purposes).

The hadeeth under discussion refers to two important principles, knowledge and behaviour.  Allaah is to be acknowledged for beauty that bears no resemblance to anything else, and He is to be worshipped by means of the beauty which He loves in words, deeds and attitudes. He loves His slaves to beautify their tongues with the truth, to beautify their hearts with sincere devotion (ikhlaas), love, repentance and trust in Him, to beautify their faculties with obedience, and to beautify their bodies by showing His blessings upon them in their clothing and by keeping them pure and free of any filth, dirt or impurity, by removing the hairs which should be removed, by circumcision, and by clipping the nails. Thus they recognize Allaah through these qualities of beauty and seek to draw close to Him through beautiful words, deeds and attitudes. They acknowledge Him for the beauty which is His attribute and they worship Him through the beauty which He has prescribed and His religion. The hadeeth combines these two principles of knowledge and behaviour.’’ [7]

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Footnotes:

[1] Related by Muslim (no. 131)
[2] Related by Muslim (no. 1686)
[3] Hasan Saheeh: Related by at-Tirmidhee (no. 2963), who said it was hasan saheeh.
[4] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (no. 15323),  at-Tirmidhee (no. 1929) and  an-Nisaa‘ee (no. 5128)
[5] Related by Muslim (no. 1356)
[6] Saheeh: Related by Ibn Maajah (no. 4108), Aboo Dawood (no. 3630)
[7] al-Fawaa‘id (1/185)

Shaytan's Deceptions

Source: http://en.wathakker.net/articles/view.php?id=37

From Shaytan's Deceptions
Author: Dr. `Umar Al-Ashqar

From Shaytan's Deceptions: Giving Pleasing Names to Forbidden Things
Among the deceptions of Satan is that he names the evil actions with names that are very pleasing to the human to entice him to take part in them. In this way, he dupes the human and makes a forgery of the reality of the situation. For example, Satan called the tree that was forbidden to Adam, "the tree of everlasting life" in order to make it appealing to Adam:
"[But Satan whispered to him saying, 1] 'Oh Adam, shall I show you the tree of immortality and power that wastes not away?'" [Taha 20:120]
{فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَى}
Transliteration: Fawaswasa 'Ilayhi Ash-Shayţānu Qāla Yā 'Ādamu Hal 'Adulluka `Alá Shajarati Al-Khuldi Wa Mulkin Lā Yablá

Ibn al-Qayyim stated: "From Satan, his followers inherited this trait of using names that are loved by the soul for forbidden objects. For example, wine is called 'the mother of glee', interest is called a 'business transaction', and taxes and tolls are called 'the right of the government.'"

Today interest is referred to as profit; dancing, music and plays are called art.

_______________________

1- These words form part of the verse but al-Ashqar excluded them from the original work. – JZ


Source:
The Ways of Satan in Leading Humans Astray
The World of the Jinn and Devils
Translated by Jamaal Zarabozo, © 1998 al-Basheer Publications & Translations

Asma was sifat

Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance, we ask His forgiveness.
We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our selves and the evils of our wicked actions.
Whoever Allah guides, there is no one that can misguide him. And whoever is lead astray there
is no one that can guide him.
I bear witness that there is no deity that has the right to be worshiped in truth except Allah –
alone, having no partners, or associates. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and
messenger .

يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّ وَأَنْتُمْ مُّسْلِمُونَ
“O you who believe! Fear Allah with a just estimation,
and die not except in a state of Islam.”

يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا
رِجَالً كَثِيراً وَنِسَآءً وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِ وَٱلَرْحَامَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيباً

“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul,
and from it He created its mate, and from the two of them, He created
many men and women. And fear Allah through Whom you demand
your mutual rights, and do not cut the relations of the wombs.
Verily, Allah is ever a Watcher over you.”

يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُواْ قَوْلً سَدِيداً ﴿ ٧٠ ﴾ يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ
وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزاً عَظِيماً

“O you who believe! Fear Allah, and speak the truth. He will direct you
to do righteous deeds and forgive you your sins. And whosoever
obeys Allah and His messenger, he has indeed achieved a great success.”
As for that which follows:
Verily, the best of the speech is the Speech of Allah. The best of the guidance is the guidance of
the Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are the newly invented matters; and every innovation
is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.

The Importance of Tawhīd al-Asmā’ Was-Sifāt
1. This Tawhīd Represents Half of Īmān in Allāh
2. Tawhīd al-Asmā was-Sifāt is, Without Exception, the Most Noble and
Most Important Branch of Knowledge
3. Tawhīd Al-Asmā Was-Sifāt is the Origin of All Religious Knowledge
4. Knowledge of Allāh’s Names and Attributes is a Great and Important
tenet within the Methodology of the Salaf
5. Knowledge of the Names and Attributes of Allāh Opens the Door for
the Servant to Knowing Allāh
6. The Basis of Sound Knowledge is Īmān in Allāh and in His Names
and Attributes
7. Knowledge of Allāh’s Names and Attributes is Life to the Hearts
8. The Fruits of Knowing and Understanding Allāh’s Names and
Attributes
9. The Importance of Steering Clear of Falsehood and Not Opposing the
Way of Truth in This Domain

The explanation of beautiful and perfect names of Allah
Mentioning the Beautiful Names of Allah with the Evidences

20 Exam tips for students

Source: http://en.wathakker.net/articles/view.php?id=554

Praise be to Allaah and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger and upon his family and companions.

 

The Muslim student puts his trust in Allaah when facing the tests of this world, and he seeks His help whilst following the prescribed means, in accordance with the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “The strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allaah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to attain that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless.” [Saheeh Muslim, hadeeth no. 2664]

 

»المؤمن القوي خير وأحب إلى الله من المؤمن الضعيف . وفي كل خير . احرص على ما ينفعك واستعن بالله . ولا تعجز« رواه مسلم

 

Among those means are the following:

 

-                      Turning to Allaah by making du’aa’ in any way that is prescribed in Islam, such as saying, “Rabbiy ishrah li sadri wa yassir li amri (O my Lord, expand my chest and make things easy for me).”

 

-                       Getting used to sleeping early and going to exams on time.

 

-                       Preparing all required or permitted equipment such as pens, rulers and setsquares, calculators and watches, because being well prepared helps one to answer questions.

 

-                       Reciting the du’aa’ for leaving the house: “Bismillaah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah. Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayya (In the name of Allaah, I put my trust in Allaah, and there is no strength and no power except with Allaah. O Allaah, I seek refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, lest I slip (commit a sin unintentionally) or be tripped, lest I oppress or be oppressed, lest I behave foolishly or be treated foolishly).” Do not forget to seek your parents’ approval, for their du’aa’ for you will be answered.

 

-                       Mention the name of Allaah before you start, for mentioning the name of Allaah is prescribed when beginning any permissible action; this brings blessing, and seeking the help of Allaah is one of the means of strength.

 

-                       Fear Allaah with regard to your classmates, and do not be affected by their anxiety or fear just before the exam, for anxiety is a contagious disease. Instead, make them feel optimistic by saying good words as prescribed in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was optimistic when he heard the name of Suhayl (which means “easy”) and he said: “Things have been made easy for you.”  [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

 

»لقد سهل لكم من أمركم«رواه البخاري

 

He used to like to hear the words ‘Yaa Raashid’, when he went out for any purpose. So be optimistic that you and your brothers will pass this exam.

 

-                       Remembering Allaah (dhikr) dispels anxiety and tension. If something is too difficult for you, then pray to Allaah to make it easy for you. Whenever Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) found something too difficult to understand, he would say, “O You Who taught Ibraaheem, teach me; O You Who caused Sulaymaan to understand, cause me to understand.”

 

-                      Choose a good place to sit during the exam, if you can. Keep your back straight, and sit on the chair in a healthy manner.

 

-               Look over the exam first. Studies advise spending 10% of the exam time in reading the questions carefully, noting the important words and dividing one’s time between the questions.

 

-                       Plan to answer the easy questions first, then the difficult ones. Whilst reading the questions, write notes and ideas which you can use in your answers later.

 

-                     Answer questions according to importance.

 

-                      Start by answering the easy questions which you know. Then move on to the questions which carry high marks, and leave till the end the questions to which you do not know the answers, or which you think will take a long time to produce an answer or which do not carry such high marks.

 

-               Take your time to answer, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Deliberation is from Allaah and haste is from the Shaytaan.” [A Hasan hadeeth. Saheeh al-Jaami, 3011].

 

»التأني من الله والعجلة من الشيطان« حسنه الألباني، صحيح الجامع

 

-                      Think carefully about the answer and choose the right answer when answering multiple-choice questions. Deal with them in the following manner. If you are sure that you have chosen the right answer, then beware of waswasah (insinuating whispers from the Shaytaan). If you are not sure, then start by eliminating the wrong or unlikely answers, then choose the correct answer based on what you think is most likely to be correct. If you guessed at a correct answer then do not change it unless you are sure that it is wrong – especially if you will lose marks for a wrong answer. Research indicates that the correct answer is usually that which the student thinks of first.

 

-               In written exams, collect your thoughts before you start to answer. Write an outline for your answer with some words which will indicate the ideas which you want to discuss. Then number the ideas in the sequence in which you want to present them.

 

-                      Write the main points of your answer at the beginning of the line, because this is what the examiner is looking for, and he may not see what he is looking for if it is in the middle of the page and he is in a hurry.

 

-                      Devote 10% of the time for reviewing your answers. Take your time in reviewing, especially in mathematical problems and writing numbers. Resist the desire to hand in the exam papers quickly, and do not let the fact that some people are leaving early bother you. They may be among the people who have handed in their papers too early.

 

-                      If you discover after the exam that you answered some questions incorrectly, then take that as a lesson in the importance of being well prepared in the future, and not rushing to answer questions. Accept the will and decree of Allaah and do not fall prey to frustration and despair. Remember the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “If anything befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such and such.’ Rather say, ‘Qadar Allaah wa maa sha’a kaan (the decree of Allaah and what He wills happened),’ for saying ‘if only’ opens the door for the Shaytaan.” [Saheeh Muslim, and the first part of this hadeeth was mentioned above, Reported by Muslim].

 

»إن أصابك شيء فلا تقل: لو أني فعلت كان كذا وكذا . ولكن قل: قدر الله، وما شاء فعل . فإن لو تفتح عمل الشيطان« رواه مسلم

 

-                     Note that cheating is haraam whether it is in foreign language tests or any other tests. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever cheats is not one of us.” [Reported by Muslim]

 

»من غشنا فليس منا« رواه مسلم

 

-                      It is wrongdoing and it is a haraam means of attaining a degree or certificate, etc., that you have no right to. The consensus is that cheating is a kind of cooperation in sin and transgression. So do without that which is haraam and Allaah will suffice you from His bounty. Reject all offers of haraam things that come to you from others. Whoever gives up a thing for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better. You have to denounce and resist evil, and tell the authorities about any such thing that you see during the exam, or before or after it. This is not the forbidden kind of slander rather it is denouncing evil which is obligatory.

 

-                     Advise those who buy or sell questions or post them on the Internet etc., or who prepare cheat notes. Tell them to fear Allaah, and tell them of the ruling on what they are doing and on the money they earn from that. Tell them that the time they are spending in preparing these haraam things, if they spent it in studying, or answering previous exams, or helping one another to understand the subject before the exam, that would be better for them than doing these haraam things.

 

-                     Remember what you have prepared for the Hereafter, and the questions of the examination in the grave, and how to be saved on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is saved from the Fire and admitted to Paradise will indeed have succeeded.

 

We ask Allaah to make us succeed in this world and cause us to be among those who are victorious and saved in the Hereafter, for He is the All-Hearing Who answers prayer.

 

 

 

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid