Sufyaan Ath-Thawri: A True Mountain of Knowledge & the Leader of Believers in Hadeeth
Sufyaan ath-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that one foolishly compromised one’s religion when one kept too many friends. Having too many acquaintances diverts one from one’s duty towards one’s Lord, for a person who has many friends is always busy socializing with them and fulfilling their rights over him; so he becomes preoccupied with people when he really should be preoccupied with his religious duties. The ill-effects of being too gregarious can last well beyond a social gathering. Sufyaan said,“I might meet a brother and as a result, remain heedless (of what I should be doing) for an entire month.”
A friend, Sufyaan insisted, should be someone who helps one to improve as a Muslim; otherwise he is not worth keeping as a friend. Sufyaan expressed this sentiment when he said, “If someone is not with you, then he is against you.”
And Yousuf ibn Asbaat reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri say, “Whenever I spoke contrary to the desires of any man, he, regardless of who he was, would inevitably become furious with me. The people of knowledge and piety have departed.
Sufyaan once advised someone to test the character of the person he wanted to befriend. Sufyaan said,“Choose whoever you want as your companion. But when you have made your choice, make him angry, and then order someone to go a nd ask him what he thinks about you-without him knowing that you sent that person.
Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-’Aabid related that Sufyaan ath-Thawri once said to him, “Direct me to a man with whom I can keep company.” Sufyaan said, “You are searching for something that cannot be found.”
Khalf ibn Ismaa’eel Al-Barzaanee reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri said,“Acquaint yourself with fewer people, and as a result, you will backbite less (frequently).”
Source: ‘Biography of Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri ‘. This book is sold by Darussalaam and the author is Salaahud-Deen ibn Ali ibn Abd ul-Maujood.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
subhanAllaah! a beautiful advice from Sufyaan ath Thawree
Sufyaan once wrote to one of his Muslim brothers
May Allaah, with His Mercy, protect both me and you from the Hellfire.
I advise both you and myself to fear Allaah.
And I warn you not to turn to ignorance after you have learned, not to turn to destruction after you have seen and recognized the truth, and not to leave the (Straight) Path after it has been made clear to you.
Do not become deceived by worldly people, and do not become unduly impressed by the way they strive for and greedily gather worldly things, for the terror (that will envelop them on the Day of Resurrection) is indeed SEVERE.
The danger (of the Day of Resurrection) is grave indeed, but what is more, is that it is near at hand.
So occupy yourself exclusively with the Hereafter, and empty your heart of all other thoughts; once you have done that, work hard! Do not waste time! And flee from the world and its temptations! Travel to the Hereafter (with your worship) before you are taken there… I have indeed given you the same advice that I gave myself.
And understand that success comes from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). The key to gaining His help is supplication, prayer, feeling remorse for past negligence, and complete submission to Him.
Your days and nights are numbered, so use the time you have left wisely, and do not be negligent in fulfilling the rights of your Lord.
I ask Allaah, Who has blessed us to know Him, not to entrust us and you to our ownselves; and I ask Allaah to be our Guardian and Helper, just as He is the Guardian and Helper of His beloved, righteous slaves.
Beware of doing that which will spoil your deeds, and know that it is showing off that spoils a person’s deeds; and if it is not showing off, then it is conceitedness – for you to imagine that you are better than one of your Muslim brothers, when in reality he performs more good deeds than you do; or perhaps he performs his deeds with a purer intention than you do.
And even if you are not conceited, beware of developing a love for praise.
Be ever so careful not to come to love other people’s praise of your good deeds, or the respect they feel for you and bestow upon you because of your good deeds.
And beware of desiring that others should help you in your personal affairs just because they have become impressed with your good deeds.
You surely claim (as does everyone else), after all, that you are doing good deeds only for the sake of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala); well, then turn that claim into a reality.
If you want to be less desirous of this world – its things, wealth, and pleasures – and more desirous of the Hereafter — Paradise and its bliss – then remember death frequently.
And know that you have long term hopes for this world – which one should not have — if you fear Allaah only a little or if you recklessly perpetrate sins.
And one will be sufficiently regretful and wretched on the Day of Resurrection if he has knowledge but does not apply it.
* Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree, rahimahullaah, page 181-182
May Allaah, with His Mercy, protect both me and you from the Hellfire.
I advise both you and myself to fear Allaah.
And I warn you not to turn to ignorance after you have learned, not to turn to destruction after you have seen and recognized the truth, and not to leave the (Straight) Path after it has been made clear to you.
Do not become deceived by worldly people, and do not become unduly impressed by the way they strive for and greedily gather worldly things, for the terror (that will envelop them on the Day of Resurrection) is indeed SEVERE.
The danger (of the Day of Resurrection) is grave indeed, but what is more, is that it is near at hand.
So occupy yourself exclusively with the Hereafter, and empty your heart of all other thoughts; once you have done that, work hard! Do not waste time! And flee from the world and its temptations! Travel to the Hereafter (with your worship) before you are taken there… I have indeed given you the same advice that I gave myself.
And understand that success comes from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). The key to gaining His help is supplication, prayer, feeling remorse for past negligence, and complete submission to Him.
Your days and nights are numbered, so use the time you have left wisely, and do not be negligent in fulfilling the rights of your Lord.
I ask Allaah, Who has blessed us to know Him, not to entrust us and you to our ownselves; and I ask Allaah to be our Guardian and Helper, just as He is the Guardian and Helper of His beloved, righteous slaves.
Beware of doing that which will spoil your deeds, and know that it is showing off that spoils a person’s deeds; and if it is not showing off, then it is conceitedness – for you to imagine that you are better than one of your Muslim brothers, when in reality he performs more good deeds than you do; or perhaps he performs his deeds with a purer intention than you do.
And even if you are not conceited, beware of developing a love for praise.
Be ever so careful not to come to love other people’s praise of your good deeds, or the respect they feel for you and bestow upon you because of your good deeds.
And beware of desiring that others should help you in your personal affairs just because they have become impressed with your good deeds.
You surely claim (as does everyone else), after all, that you are doing good deeds only for the sake of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala); well, then turn that claim into a reality.
If you want to be less desirous of this world – its things, wealth, and pleasures – and more desirous of the Hereafter — Paradise and its bliss – then remember death frequently.
And know that you have long term hopes for this world – which one should not have — if you fear Allaah only a little or if you recklessly perpetrate sins.
And one will be sufficiently regretful and wretched on the Day of Resurrection if he has knowledge but does not apply it.
* Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree, rahimahullaah, page 181-182
Sunday, November 21, 2010
deed's that wash away our sins
1. Perfecting ones ablution
“No worshipper perfects his ablution except that his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Hasan, Al-Bazzar. Al-Haythami and Al-Mundhiri agreed upon.)
2. Fasting in Ramadan
“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allahs reward then his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Ahmad)
3. Night prayer in Ramadan
“Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allahs reward then his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Sahih An-Nasa’i)
4. Night of Al-Qadr
Laylat-ul-Qadr or the Night of Al-Qadr can be expected in the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. He who performs the night prayer in it out of belief and seeking Allahs reward his past and future sins are forgiven. (Ahmad)
5. Thanking Allah after eating and putting ones clothes on
“Whoever ate food and then said, Praise be to Allah who has fed me this food and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part, is forgiven his past sins. And whoever wears a garment and says, Praise be to Allah who has clothed me with this (garment) and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part’, is forgiven his past and future sins.” Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and others).
6. Getting old in Islam
“No one reaches 40 years in Islam except that Allah protects him from madness, leprosy and leucoderma. When he is 50, Allah makes his reckoning easy. When he reaches 60, Allah grants him repentance. And when he reaches 70, Allah loves him and the inhabitants of the heavens love him.
And when he reaches 80, Allah accepts his good deeds and overlooks his sins. When he reaches 90, Allah forgives his past and future sins, and he is named ‘the prisoner of Allah on earth’ and is granted intercession (for forgiveness) for his family.” (Hasan, Ibn Asakir. Ahmad Shakir said in his notes on Al-Musnad, 8/23, 25: “Its chain is at least Hasan. It is supported with other chains which raise it to the level of Sahih.”)
7. Neither Ruqya nor belief in bad omens
“I was told: ‘These are your people and amongst them there are 70,000 who shall enter Paradise without being taken to either account or torment.’ …’They are those who do not make Ruqya nor seek it, nor believe in bad omens, but trust in their Lord (Allah).’” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
8. Patiently bearing childrens death
“Whoever buries three children, Allah will forbid the (Hell) Fire for him.” (Sahih, Tabarani in Al-Kabeer, Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6238)
“There are no two Muslim parents whose three children die before reaching puberty except that Allah will enter them into Paradise due to His mercy to the children.
It will be said to them, ‘Enter the Paradise,’ so they will say, ‘Not until our parents enter first.’ It will be said, ‘Enter the Paradise you and your parents.’ (Ahmad and An-Nasa’i; Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5780)
“Whoever remains content and patient after the death of three of his offspring will enter Jannah.”
A woman said, “What about two?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “And two.”(Sahih, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5969)
9. Raising three daughters
“There is no one from my Ummah who takes care of three daughters or three sisters, and is nice to them, except that they will be a screen (protection) for him from the Fire.” (Sahih, Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab, authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5372)
10. Defending a Muslims honor
“Whoever defends the honor of his brother in absence has the right with Allah to be freed from the Fire.” (Sahih, Ahmad and Al-Tabarani; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6240)
11. Sincerity to Allah
No servant who says ‘La ilaha ill Allah’, seeking the pleasure of Allah, will reach the Day of Judgment, except that Allah will forbid the Fire for him. (Ahmad and Al-Bukhari) Hafidh Ibn Hajr said, “It’s not like that (i.e. not entering the Fire at all) for everyone who believed in Tawheed and worshiped, but it is specific for the sincere, and sincerity (Ikhlas) requires the realization of its meaning by the heart. One cannot imagine that the heart will reach that while persisting in sins, as the heart would be filled with the love and fear of Allah, whereupon limbs will embark upon obedience and leave disobedience.”
12. Crying out of fear of Allah
“No man who cried out of fear of Allah will enter the Fire until the milk returns to the udder, and dust in the path of Allah (Jihad) and the smoke of the Fire cannot go together.” (Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa’i; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 7778)
13. Congregational prayer for 40 days
“Whoever prays to Allah for 40 days in congregation, reaching the opening Takbeer (Takbeer Al-Ihram), will have two (rewards) written for him: freedom from the Fire and freedom from hypocrisy.” (Al-Tirmidhi, declared Hasan by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6365)
“Whoever is easy-going, easy to deal with and kindhearted, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.” (Sahih, Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Tabarani; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6484)
14. Praying four Rakat before and after Dhuhr
“Whoever is consistent in praying four units of prayer before Dhuhr and four after it, Fire will be forbidden for him.” (Sahih, Abu Dawood, An-Nasa’i, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6195)
15. Praying before sunrise and after sunset
“No one will enter Fire who prays before sunrise and after sunset.” (Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa’i; meaning: Fajr and Asr prayers)
16. Good character
“Whoever is easy-going, easy to deal with and kindhearted, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.” (Sahih, Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Tabarani; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6484)
“No worshipper perfects his ablution except that his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Hasan, Al-Bazzar. Al-Haythami and Al-Mundhiri agreed upon.)
2. Fasting in Ramadan
“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allahs reward then his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Ahmad)
3. Night prayer in Ramadan
“Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allahs reward then his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Sahih An-Nasa’i)
4. Night of Al-Qadr
Laylat-ul-Qadr or the Night of Al-Qadr can be expected in the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. He who performs the night prayer in it out of belief and seeking Allahs reward his past and future sins are forgiven. (Ahmad)
5. Thanking Allah after eating and putting ones clothes on
“Whoever ate food and then said, Praise be to Allah who has fed me this food and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part, is forgiven his past sins. And whoever wears a garment and says, Praise be to Allah who has clothed me with this (garment) and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part’, is forgiven his past and future sins.” Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and others).
6. Getting old in Islam
“No one reaches 40 years in Islam except that Allah protects him from madness, leprosy and leucoderma. When he is 50, Allah makes his reckoning easy. When he reaches 60, Allah grants him repentance. And when he reaches 70, Allah loves him and the inhabitants of the heavens love him.
And when he reaches 80, Allah accepts his good deeds and overlooks his sins. When he reaches 90, Allah forgives his past and future sins, and he is named ‘the prisoner of Allah on earth’ and is granted intercession (for forgiveness) for his family.” (Hasan, Ibn Asakir. Ahmad Shakir said in his notes on Al-Musnad, 8/23, 25: “Its chain is at least Hasan. It is supported with other chains which raise it to the level of Sahih.”)
7. Neither Ruqya nor belief in bad omens
“I was told: ‘These are your people and amongst them there are 70,000 who shall enter Paradise without being taken to either account or torment.’ …’They are those who do not make Ruqya nor seek it, nor believe in bad omens, but trust in their Lord (Allah).’” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
8. Patiently bearing childrens death
“Whoever buries three children, Allah will forbid the (Hell) Fire for him.” (Sahih, Tabarani in Al-Kabeer, Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6238)
“There are no two Muslim parents whose three children die before reaching puberty except that Allah will enter them into Paradise due to His mercy to the children.
It will be said to them, ‘Enter the Paradise,’ so they will say, ‘Not until our parents enter first.’ It will be said, ‘Enter the Paradise you and your parents.’ (Ahmad and An-Nasa’i; Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5780)
“Whoever remains content and patient after the death of three of his offspring will enter Jannah.”
A woman said, “What about two?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “And two.”(Sahih, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5969)
9. Raising three daughters
“There is no one from my Ummah who takes care of three daughters or three sisters, and is nice to them, except that they will be a screen (protection) for him from the Fire.” (Sahih, Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab, authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5372)
10. Defending a Muslims honor
“Whoever defends the honor of his brother in absence has the right with Allah to be freed from the Fire.” (Sahih, Ahmad and Al-Tabarani; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6240)
11. Sincerity to Allah
No servant who says ‘La ilaha ill Allah’, seeking the pleasure of Allah, will reach the Day of Judgment, except that Allah will forbid the Fire for him. (Ahmad and Al-Bukhari) Hafidh Ibn Hajr said, “It’s not like that (i.e. not entering the Fire at all) for everyone who believed in Tawheed and worshiped, but it is specific for the sincere, and sincerity (Ikhlas) requires the realization of its meaning by the heart. One cannot imagine that the heart will reach that while persisting in sins, as the heart would be filled with the love and fear of Allah, whereupon limbs will embark upon obedience and leave disobedience.”
12. Crying out of fear of Allah
“No man who cried out of fear of Allah will enter the Fire until the milk returns to the udder, and dust in the path of Allah (Jihad) and the smoke of the Fire cannot go together.” (Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa’i; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 7778)
13. Congregational prayer for 40 days
“Whoever prays to Allah for 40 days in congregation, reaching the opening Takbeer (Takbeer Al-Ihram), will have two (rewards) written for him: freedom from the Fire and freedom from hypocrisy.” (Al-Tirmidhi, declared Hasan by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6365)
“Whoever is easy-going, easy to deal with and kindhearted, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.” (Sahih, Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Tabarani; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6484)
14. Praying four Rakat before and after Dhuhr
“Whoever is consistent in praying four units of prayer before Dhuhr and four after it, Fire will be forbidden for him.” (Sahih, Abu Dawood, An-Nasa’i, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6195)
15. Praying before sunrise and after sunset
“No one will enter Fire who prays before sunrise and after sunset.” (Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa’i; meaning: Fajr and Asr prayers)
16. Good character
“Whoever is easy-going, easy to deal with and kindhearted, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.” (Sahih, Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Tabarani; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6484)
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