سبل السلام

﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ﴾ "And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they used to earn." Tafsir As Sadi: After Almighty Allah mentioned that those who denied the messengers are tested with hardship as an admonition and a warning, and with ease as a gradual lure and a trial, He mentioned that if the people of the towns had believed with their hearts—a sincere faith validated by righteous deeds—and had practiced the fear of Allah Almighty outwardly and inwardly by abandoning all that Allah has forbidden, He would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth. He would have sent down pouring rain from the sky upon them and caused to grow from the earth that which sustains them and their livestock in the most prosperous living and the most abundant provision, without strain, fatigue, toil, or hardship. However, they did not believe nor exercise piety, "so We seized them for what they used to earn"—through punishments, afflictions, the removal of blessings, and an abundance of blights. This was only a partial recompense for their deeds; otherwise, if He were to punish them for all that they earned, He would not have left a single creature on the surface of the earth: "Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned, so He may let them taste part of what they have done that perhaps they will return [to Righteousness]."

مَنْ يَضْمَنْ لِي مَا بَيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ وَمَا بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ أَضْمَنْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ Whoever guarantees for me what is between his two jaws (Tongue) and what is between his two legs, I guarantee Jannah for him. [Bukhari 6474] We should always have good expectations of Allah and protect our tongue from words of shirk, kufr, hopelessness, negativity, and having bad thoughts about Allah, sometimes troubles come to us because of the words we speak, as the following Hadith shows. Rasoolullah ﷺ entered upon a sick bedouin in whom he went to visit and said to him, "Don't worry, Tahur (i.e., your illness will be a means of cleansing of your sins), if Allah Will." The bedouin said, "Tahur! No, but it is a fever that is burning in the body of an old man and it will make him visit his grave."Rasoolullah ﷺ said, "Then it is so [Bukhari 7470] So we should be careful with our words and always speak with hope in Allah. If you are starting a new business, take all the necessary means and say, “In shā’ Allah, Allah will grant success in it.” If you have a difficult interview, say, “In shā’ Allah, Allah will make it easy and give me what is best.” Then Allah creates ease for you in that matter and grants you success.” قال الله تعالى: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي “I am as My servant expects Me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me.” [Bukhari 7405] We should also be careful of words that may contain shirk. For example, instead of saying, “If the doctor had not been there, the patient would have died,” say, “By Allah's tawfeeq The doctor gave the right treatment and the patient survived.” The doctor is only a means; Allah is the One who gives life, healing and success.

عن أبي هريرة رَضِيَ الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: خيرُ الصَّدقةِ ما كان عن ظهرِ غنًى ، وابدأْ بمَنْ تعولُ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that Rasoolullah ﷺ said: The best charity is that which is given when a person has enough for himself, and begin with those who are under your care [Bukhari - 1426] The best charity is that which is given when a person has enough for himself” means that the best charity is one that a person gives while he is financially capable, so that after giving charity, he does not himself become needy. He should still have enough to fulfil his own needs and the needs of those who depend on him. “And begin with those who are under your care” means that a person should first spend on those whom he is responsible for, such as his wife and children, and his parents if they are in need. Allah has commanded a person to begin with his family because someone might think that spending on one's family does not carry the reward of charity. The Prophet ﷺ clarified that spending on one's dependants is also considered charity. Therefore, a person should first make sure that the basic needs of those under his responsibility are fulfilled before giving beyond that to others.

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ And your Lord has said, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Indeed, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell in humiliation. [Surah Ghafir - 60] الدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ Supplication is worship [Tirmidhi - 3247] Many people forget that making du'a itself is an act of worship. They only look at whether their du'a was answered or not, and when they do not see the result they expected, they may stop making du'a. But they forget that du'a itself is an expression of belief and Tawheed. When you turn to Allah and ask Him, you are affirming Tawheed al-Rububiyyah—that Allah is the One who controls everything and that all affairs are in His hands. You are also affirming Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah—that Allah alone deserves your worship, hope, dependence, and attachment of the heart. And when you call upon Allah using His beautiful Names and Attributes, you are affirming Tawheed al-Asma' wa al-Sifat. So, when you make du'a, try to feel and understand all of this. Never stop making du'a simply because you do not see an immediate answer. ALLAH loves to see His servant humble himself before Him, turn to Him, hope in Him, and praise Him.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله said: Always try to have a positive outlook and remain hopeful. Whatever Allah wills will happen. Be cheerful and happy, because the world ahead of you is vast, the path is open, and there is always reason to remain hopeful. Keep your heart open and positive, because this is what is good for you. — Sharh Riyad al-Salihin, 4/87

Imam al-Shafi‘i رحمه الله was asked: “How does having سوء الظن (bad thoughts) about ALLAH ﷻ happen?” He replied: Being constantly troubled by whispers, always fearing that a calamity may come, and continuously worrying that a blessing may be taken away — all of these are forms of having سوء الظن (bad thoughts) about ALLAH ﷻ, the Most Merciful. — Hilyat al-Awliya, Vol. 9, p. 123

There is no consolation greater for the heart burdened with grief than the remembrance of its Lord. And what greater remembrance than His speech سبحانه?

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said: "Strive for the highest goals and seek the noblest ranks, for they can only be attained through obedience to Allah. Allah, the Most High, has decreed that what is with Him cannot be obtained except by obeying Him." "Whoever is with Allah as Allah wants him to be, Allah will be for His servant more than what he himself hopes for." "Whoever turns sincerely to Allah will attain His reward, even from afar. Whoever lives in awe of Allah's power over him, Allah will make even iron and steel soft for him." "Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will replace it with something far better." "Whoever makes his purpose what Allah wants from him has truly pursued the purpose for which he was created." —Ṭarīq al-Hijratayn, p. 48 (Dār Ibn al-Qayyim)

قال رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم لرجلٍ وهو يَعِظُه : اغتنِمْ خمسًا قبل خمسٍ : شبابَك قبل هَرَمِك، وصِحَّتَك قبل سَقَمِك، وغناك قبل فقرِك، وفراغَك قبل شُغلِك، وحياتَك قبل موتِك. Rasoolullah ﷺ said : "Take advantage of five before five: Your youth before your old age, Your health before your sickness, Your wealth before your poverty, Your free time before your busyness, And your life before your death." Al-Mustadrak 'ala al-Sahihayn (7846) Your youth before your old age Youth is the time of strength, energy, and determination. It is the best time to seek knowledge, stand long in prayer, fast regularly, serve others, and strive in acts of worship. Old age often takes away the physical strength that once made these deeds easier. Your health before your sickness Good health allows you to pray with ease, fast, travel for Hajj and 'Umrah, attend the masjid, seek knowledge, and benefit others. Illness can suddenly prevent you from doing many of these righteous deeds. Your wealth before your poverty Spend from what Allah has blessed you with while you are able. Support your family, help those in need, give in charity, and contribute to beneficial causes. Wealth is a trust, and it may not remain with you forever. Your free time before your busyness One of the greatest blessings is having time. Use it to read the Qur'an, seek beneficial knowledge, remember Allah, improve your character, and develop skills that benefit both your religion and your worldly life. Busy days will eventually come. Your life before your death As long as you are alive, the door of repentance remains open and your deeds continue to be recorded. Once death arrives, the opportunity to increase your good deeds comes to an end. One of the realities of this world is that nothing remains the same forever. Every stage of life changes. Good health is followed by illness, wealth may be replaced by poverty, youth gives way to old age, free time turns into busyness, and life itself will one day come to an end. That is why a wise believer does not delay righteous deeds. They make the most of every blessing while it is still in their hands, knowing that every opportunity is temporary.

قال بعض الحكماء: إذا أحببتَ المالَ فلا تنسَ الحساب وإذا أحببتَ القصورَ فلا تنسَ القبور وإذا أحببتَ الخلقَ فلا تنسَ الخالق Some of the wise people said: If you love wealth, then do not forget the Reckoning. If you love palaces, then do not forget the graves. If you love the creation, then do not forget the Creator. These are words that remind us of the reality of this world. There is no harm in a person possessing wealth, or living in a large house, or loving his family and his companions. But the mistake is that these things distract him from Allah and from the Home of the Hereafter. For every blessing in this world, the servant will be questioned about it. And every person will leave this world for his grave, and nothing will remain with him except his righteous deeds. Keep this world in your hands, and do not keep it in your heart. Make the love of Allah greater than every other love. For by doing so, you will attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter

Shaykh Al-Allamah 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz رحمه الله "A person should make the most of his life, his good health, and his sound mind by performing righteous deeds before he is prevented from doing so. Sometimes this happens through trials that befall him, such as illness and other hardships. At other times, it is due to becoming eager for worldly gains, loving the worldly life, preferring it over the Hereafter, and it being beautified by the enemies of Allah and those who call to disbelief and misguidance." Majmű al-Fatāwā (25/109)

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said: “ALLAH ﷻ has guaranteed a good life for everyone who does good deeds, and He is true to His promise and does not break His promise.” - الداء والدواء، ص 437

قوله تعالى: {الذين ينفقون في السراء والضراء والكاظمين الغيظ والعافين عن الناس والله يحب المحسنين} "Those who spend in times of ease and hardship, who control their anger, and who forgive people. And Allah loves those who do good." — Surah Aal 'Imran (3:134) Allah describes some of the qualities of the righteous: ▪️ They give in charity regularly, whether they are wealthy or facing financial difficulties. Their good times do not make them forget others, and their hardships do not stop them from giving. ▪️ They control their anger, no matter how strong it is. They do not let anger control their actions. ▪️ They forgive those who wrong them, even when they have the ability to take revenge. They remove hatred and resentment from their hearts. ▪️ All of these qualities are part of ihsan (excellence in worship and character). Whoever develops these qualities becomes among those whom Allah loves.

وَقَدْ رَوَى مُسْلِمٌ فِي ((صَحِيحِهِ)) عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: «مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَلْقَى اللهَ غَدًا مُسْلِمًا ؛ فَلْيُحَافِظْ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الصَّلَوَاتِ حَيْثُ يُنَادَى بِهِنَّ - أَيْ: فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ -؛ فإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَرَعَ لِنَبِيِّكُمْ سُنَنَ الهُدَى، وَإِنَّهُنَّ مِنْ سُنَنِ الهُدَى، Muslim narrated in his Sahih on the authority of Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Whoever would be pleased to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him regularly attend these prayers where the call for them is given—meaning in the mosques. For Allah has prescribed for your Prophet the ways of right guidance, and these prayers are among those ways of right guidance. وَلَوْ أَنَّكُمْ صَلَّيْتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ كَمَا يُصَلِّي هَذَا الْمُتَخَلِّفُ فِي بَيْتِهِ لَتَرَكْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ، وَلَوْ تَرَكْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ لَضَلَلْتُمْ، وَمَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَتَطَهَّرُ فَيُحْسِنُ الطُّهُورَ، ثُمَّ يَعْمِدُ إلَى مَسْجِدٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمَسَاجِد؛ إِلَّا كَتَبَ الله لَهُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ يَخْطُوهَا حَسَنَةً، وَيَرْفَعُهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً، وَيَحُطُّ عَنْهُ بِهَا سَيِّئَةً، If you were to pray in your houses as this man who stays away prays in his house, you would abandon the Sunnah (practice) of your Prophet, and if you were to abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet, you would go astray. There is no man who purifies himself and purifies himself well, then heads to one of these mosques, but Allah records a good deed for him for every step he takes, raises him a degree by it, and wipes away a sin from him because of it. وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا - يَعْنِي: أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللهِ - وَمَا يَتَخَلَّفُ عَنْهَا إلَّا مُنَافِقٌ مَعْلُومُ النِّفَاقِ، وَلَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُؤْتَى بِهِ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ حَتَّى يُقَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ». I have seen us—meaning the Companions of the Messenger of Allah—and no one stayed away from the prayer except a hypocrite whose hypocrisy was well-known. Indeed, a man would be brought supported between two men until he was made to stand in the row." فَإِذَا كَانَ هَذَا شَأْنُ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدِ الصَّلَاةَ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ، بِحَيْثُ يَعُدُّهُ الصَّحَابَةُ مُنَافِقًا مُعْلُومَ النِّفَاقِ، فَكَيْفَ إِذًا بِالتَّارِكِ لَهَا كُلِّيَّةً؟! نَسْأَلُ اللهَ الْعَافِيَةَ وَالسَّلَامَةَ . If this is the status of someone who merely fails to attend the congregational prayer—such that the Companions considered him a well-known hypocrite—then what about the one who abandons the prayer entirely?! We ask Allah for well-being and safety. إنَّ مِيزَانَ الصَّلَاةِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ عَظِيمٌ، وَمَنْزِلَتُهَا عَالِيَةٌ؛ وَقَدْ فَرَضَهَا اللّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَاسِطَةٍ، مِنْ فَوْقِ سَبْعِ سَمَاوَاتٍ عِنْدَمَا عُرِجَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ. Indeed, the weight of prayer in Islam is monumental, and its status is lofty. Allah, the Exalted, ordained it upon His Prophet ﷺ directly, without an intermediary, from above the seven heavens when he was ascended to the sky.

Social media should be avoided as much as possible—unless it is being used to spread goodness, benefit others, or call people to Islam. In that case, every sincere effort can become a means of immense reward, by the permission of Allah. One of the greatest harms of social media is that it distracts people from what truly benefits them. Hours are spent scrolling without purpose, until a person realizes that their most valuable asset—their time—has been wasted. In the end, they neither make meaningful progress in their religion nor in their worldly life. Another major danger is comparison. No one has a perfect life. Every person carries struggles that others cannot see. Yet on social media, people usually display only their happiest moments and greatest achievements. As a result, others begin comparing someone else's highlights with their own lowest moments. This often leads to sadness, anxiety, dissatisfaction, and even ingratitude for the countless blessings Allah has already given them. This constant comparison can slowly damage a person's mental well-being, making them lose motivation and preventing them from doing anything truly beneficial. Even righteous people are not safe from this trial. One of Shaytan's subtle tricks is that if he cannot make a believer fall into major sins, he leads them to minor sins. If he cannot achieve that either, he keeps them occupied with permissible (mubāḥ) distractions that carry no reward, simply to prevent them from earning rewards for the Hereafter. Faith does not remain strong on its own. If a person stops seeking knowledge, remembering Allah, and striving to strengthen their iman, it gradually weakens. A weakened heart becomes more vulnerable to Shaytan's whispers, until a person may slowly move from permissible distractions to minor sins, and eventually to major sins. Protect your time, protect your heart, and protect your iman. Your greatest investment is not in what people see online, but in what Allah sees in private. And when we try to reduce or leave social media, Shaytan will whisper to our hearts: "Islam has so many restrictions. What's wrong with scrolling social media just to relax? Can't a person enjoy life?" But the reality is very different. The pleasure of endless scrolling comes from short bursts of dopamine. It feels good for a few moments, but it is often followed by emptiness, anxiety, and the desire for even more. It never truly satisfies the heart. On the other hand, when a believer avoids even small sins, and at times even leaves some permissible (mubāḥ) things for the sake of Allah and to protect their faith, Allah blesses them with a peace and contentment that no worldly entertainment can provide. That tranquility remains with them as long as they strive to stay away from sin. This is a blessing that even many billionaires cannot buy. If there is no peace in the heart, even living in a palace can feel suffocating. Allah says: «﴿أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ﴾» «"Indeed, it is by the remembrance of Allah that hearts find true peace." — Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:28)»

إغتَنَمُوا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ Take Advantage of Yawm Al Jumu'ah كَثْرَةُ الصَّلَاَةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ :- قال رسول ﷲ ﷺ :« أكثروا من الصلاة عليّ ليلة الجمعة و يوم الجمعة فإن صلاتكم معروضة عليّ » . Increase in Sending Salutations upon the Prophet (ﷺ): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Increase your prayers upon me on the night and day of Friday, for your prayers are presented to me." الدُّعَاءُ : عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَكَرَ يَوْمَ الجُمُعَةِ، فَقَالَ :« فِيه سَاعَةٌ لا يُوَافِقها عَبْدٌ مُسلِمٌ، وَهُو قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي يسأَلُ اللَّه شَيْئًا، إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاه» . The Dua : Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned the day of Friday, saying: "On it is an hour in which no Muslim servant stands to pray and asks Allah for something, except that He grants it to him." سُورَةُ الْكَهْفِ :- عن أبي سَعيدٍ الخُدريِّ عنِ النبيِّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم أنَّه قال :« مَن قَرَأَ سورةَ الكَهفِ يومَ الجُمُعةِ أضاءَ له من النورِ ما بَينَ الجُمُعتينِ » . Surah Al-Kahf: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on the day of Friday, it will illuminate him with light between this Friday and the next."

A man once said to Imam 'Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak رحمه الله: "Give me some advice." He replied: • Leave unnecessary looking, and Allah will grant you khushūʿ (humility) in worship. • Leave unnecessary speech, and Allah will grant you wisdom. • Leave unnecessary eating, and Allah will grant you the ability to worship. • Stop searching for the faults of others, and Allah will enable you to recognize and correct your own faults. — مواعظ الإمام عبدالله بن المبارك

قال الحسن البصري رحمه الله: أدركنا أقوامًا كانت الدنيا تُعطى لهم بطلب الآخرة، ولا نعلم أقوامًا أُعطوا الآخرة بطلب الدنيا. Al-Hasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله said: "We witnessed people who were granted the worldly life because they sought the Hereafter. But we never witnessed people who were granted the Hereafter because they sought the worldly life." — ابن الجوزي، صفة الصفوة

ثم تأتي إرادةُ الله، فتتيسر الصعوبات، وتتمهّد الطرق، وتُفتح مغاليقها، وتُهيئ أسبابها، وتتجمّل لتأتيك كامله تامة مصحوبة بجميل عطاء ربك. Then comes the will of Allah, so difficulties are eased, paths are paved, and locked doors are opened. Its causes are aligned, and it beautifies itself to come to you—complete, perfect, and accompanied by the beautiful bounty of your Lord. فلا يغرنك تشتّتها الآن، ولا تحزن لاستحالتها، فوالله لو كان بينك وبينها أعماق البحار، وجبالاً شاهقه؛ يأتِ بها الله إنّ الله على كل شيء قدير. So do not let its current scattered state deceive you, and do not grieve over its perceived impossibility. For by Allah, even if there were between you and it the depths of the seas and towering mountains, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. يعجزك عن الحل، ثم يعجزك بطريقة الحل؛ إنه الله القَدير القَادر المُقتدر. He leaves you powerless to find a solution, and then He leaves you awestruck by how He solves it. Indeed, He is Allah—The Capable, The All-Powerful, The Omnipotent.