#tazkiya

[striving-abd]

Whoever necessitates upon themselves to do hamd (to say Alhamdulillah; i.e. praising Allah), All forms of goodness will follow them.

Whoever necessitates upon themselves to do istighfar (to say Astaghfirullah, i.e to seek forgiveness), barriers, barricades and doors that were close for them, will open for them.

Whoever necessitates upon themselves to send durood upon Prophet Muhammad صلى وسلم عليه (to say Allahumma Salli wa salim Ala Nabiyina Muhammad (or any other form of durood)), they will find (i.e receive) what they desire and wish for and it'll suffice them against their worries and their sins will be forgiven.

[striving-abd]

أكثر الناس لا يفرق بين (المتعة) و(السعادة) ويبحثون عن السعادة في المتعة فإذا انتهت لذتهم ضاقت صدورهم وبالإيمان تتحقق السعادة وإن غابت المتعة.

Most people do not differentiate between ‘pleasure’ and ‘happiness’, and search for happiness in pleasure. So when their pleasure finishes, their chests become constrained. Through Īmān (faith), happiness is achieved, even if pleasure is missing.

[striving-abd]

“Had Allah lifted the veil for his slave and shown him how He handles his affairs for him, and how he is more keen for the benefit of his slave than his own self, his heart would have melted out of the love for Allah and would have been torn to pieces out of thankfulness to Allah. Therefore if the pains of this world tire you do not grieve. For it may be that Allah wishes to hear your voice by way of duaa. So pour out your desires in prostration and forget about it and know; that verily Allah does not forget it.”

— Ibn al Qayyim (رحمه الله )

[striving-abd]

Fudhayl ibn Iyad رحمه الله: When Allah loves a servant, the servant is increased in sadness (in order to erase/expiate their sins). And when Allah hates a servant, he opens upon him/her the dunya.

(Al Hilyatul Awliya, v8 p88, Arabic).

[striving-abd]

Al-Qasim b. Muḥammad, the grandson of Abū Bakr رحمه الله said: "In my time the people were not impressed by speech, they were impressed by actions. Anyone can say whatever he wants."

{Kitab Al-Zuhd p.354}

[striving-abd]

قال عبد الله بن المبارك :

رأيت الذنوب تميت القلوب.. وقد يورث الذُّل إدمانها

وترك الذنوب حياة القلوب.. وخير لنفسك عصيانها

[شرح الطحاوية171/1]

Abdullah ibn Mubarak رحمه الله:

I found that sins kill the heart,

and they bring about humiliation by being addicted to them.

And abandoning sins gives life to the heart,

And it is better for your soul that you disobey it.

(Explanation of Aqeedatu At-Tahawiyya)

[striving-abd]

Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) reports: “One day I was riding (a horse/camel) behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), when he said,

"O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be Mindful of Allaah and Allaah will protect you. Be Mindful of Allaah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allaah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allaah [alone]. And know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allaah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allaah had already prescribed against you. The Pens have been lifted and the Pages have dried.

[Hadith 19 from 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi رحمه الله]

[striving-abd]

Imaam Al-Awzaa’ee (d.157) said:

“Make yourself patient upon the Sunnah, stop where the people (the companions) stopped, speak with what they spoke with, and refrain from what they refrained from. And follow the path of your Righteous Predecessors (Salafus Saaliheen) for verily, sufficient for you is that which was sufficient for them.”

[Related in Ash-Sharee’ah, by Al-Aajurree, p. 58]