INTRODUCTION

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

“Glory be to You, we know nothing but what You have taught us, indeed You are the All-Knowing, the Wise.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 32)

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, who created man from the earth, made his descendants from humble water, and brought out the believers – who advise each other on righteousness and patience – from among the losers. It is He who exempts them, the believers, after leveling the loss to all men, and who has commanded His believing servants to help each other in goodness and piety.

Allah SWT has informed mankind that the noblest person in His sight is the most pious. Allah SWT has also informed mankind that He is the One who takes care of the pious and that indeed no jinn and humans were created except so that they worship Him and not only to prosper the world and accumulate wealth.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“I was not given a revelation that I should accumulate wealth as a merchant, but that you should praise your Lord and be prostrate, and worship your Lord until death takes you.”

If this is the case, then the happiness and perfection of every person lies in his steadfastness in obeying the commands of religion, carrying out the mandate as Allah’s vicegerent on earth, and leaving behind anything that can prevent him from that task, whether it is the deceit of those who go astray or the disgrace of those who are out of the way of Allah.

May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the leader of the apostles and the Seal of the Prophets, who was sent as a mercy to all the worlds. Likewise, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon all the family and companions of the Messenger of Allah and those who follow them as best they can until the Day of Judgment.

Amma ba ‘du ….

Indeed, the key to all goodness lies in piety to Allah SWT physically and mentally, both when alone and when in the midst of a crowd.

Piety is an attitude with which all kinds of goodness in this world and the hereafter can be collected. This is due to the greatness of piety in the eyes of religion and its greatness in the eyes of the scholars who are istigamah in the way of Allah. The scholars themselves often discuss piety in their sermons and lectures. Since piety is the summary of all goodness, the preachers always mention it in their sermons. The great scholars also often recommend piety to anyone who asks them for advice.

Piety is Allah’s will for the people of the past and the people of the last days. Allah Almighty says:

“And indeed We have commanded those who were given the Book before you and (also) to you, fear Allah.” (QS. An-Nisa”: 131)

In the command to fear Allah, Allah says:

“O mankind, fear your Lord who created you from a single being.” (QS. An-Nisa’: 1) Allah SWT says:

“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak the truth.” (QS. Al-Ahzab: 70)

Allah also says:

“O you who believe, fear Allah as truly as you fear Him.” (QS. Ali “Imran: 102)

Allah SWT also says:

“And fear Allah according to your ability.” (QS. At-Taghabun: 16)

This means: do everything you can to make it happen.

“Allah does not impose a burden on anyone but what He can give him.” (QS. Ath-Thalaq: 7)

And there are many more verses that command us to be pious.

Allah SWT has gathered for those who are pious the good of this world and the hereafter, including:

1. A way out of difficulties and sustenance that they did not expect to come.

Allah SWT says:

“Whoever fears Allah will surely make for him a way out. And give him sustenance from where he does not expect it.” (QS. Ath-Thalaq: 2-3)

2. Getting guidance. Allah SWT says:

“This Book (Al-Our ‘an) has no doubt in it, a guide for those who fear.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 2)

3. Knowledge Allah 4 says:

“And fear Allah: Allah teaches you.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 282)

4. Discovering the difference between good and bad and obtaining expiation of sins and forgiveness.

Allah Almighty says:

“If you fear Allah, He will surely grant you furgan, and forgive you all your wrongs and forgive your sins.” (QS. Al-Anfal: 29)

Some scholars of tafseer state: “Furqan” means guidance for your hearts so that you can distinguish between what is true and what is false.

5. Receiving protection.

Allah SWT says:

“And Allah is the protector of those who fear.” (QS. Al-Jatsiyah: 19)

6. Receiving Allah’s inclusion.

Allah says:

“And know that Allah is with those who fear.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 194)

This means victory, help and protection.

7. Getting salvation.

Allah SWT says:

“Then We will save those who fear.” (QS. Maryam: 72)

8. Receiving the promise of going to heaven Allah SWT says:

“(What is) the parable of the Paradise promised to the pious.” (QS. Muhammad: 15)

“Indeed, for the pious (are provided) paradise full of pleasure on the side of their Lord.” (QS. Al-Qalam: 34)

“And the Paradise is brought near to the pious in a place not far from them.” (QS. Qaf: 31)

And there are many more great benefits and virtues and various kinds of great bounties, and it is enough regarding the glory of piety that Allah SWT mentions it in more than a dozen places in His book.

As for the commandment of piety and its virtues, the Prophet said:

“Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow after a bad deed with a good deed, it will surely erase it, and treat people with good manners.”

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“I advise you to fear Allah, listen and obey, even if you are under the rule of a Habasyan slave.”

The Prophet also said:

“Beware of the fire of hell even with half a kurmg, if you do not have it then it should be with a wise word.”

The Prophet always said in his prayer:

“O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, nobleness and wealth.”

And the Prophet also said:

“There is no advantage for a white man over a black man, and there is no advantage for an Arab over an ‘ajam (non-Arab) except by piety to Allah, you came from Adam and Adam came from the ground.”

The Prophet was once asked: “Who is the noblest of mankind?” He replied: “The most pious.”

And it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

“You should eat nothing but the food of the pious, and no one should eat your food but the pious.”

Aisha said: “There is nothing in this world that amazes the heart of the Messenger of Allah, and there is no one who can attract his sympathy but the pious.”

Imam Ali r.a said: “Verily there will be no harm if the capital of a people is piety.”

Qatadah said: “It is written in the Torah: “Fear Allah and die as you please.”

Al-A’masy said: “Whoever’s main asset is piety, then tongues will struggle to describe how fortunate he is.”

Bisyir Al-Hafi often recited a poem:

The death of a pious person is a life without end

Indeed a people have died while they among men are still alive

The virtues of piety and the pious are too numerous to mention. Imam Al-Ghazali has spoken extensively about piety in his book Minhaj and we have summarized his talk in what we have stated earlier.

THE MEANING OF PIETY

Imam Al-Ghazali said: “The word piety in the Qur’an has three meanings: fear, obedience and worship, and cleansing the heart from sins. This is its true meaning.

So in conclusion, piety means guarding oneself from the wrath of Allah SWT and His punishment by doing what Allah SWT commands and avoiding what He forbids.

So, the essence of piety is not to let your Lord see you in a state that He forbids, and not to let your Lord lose you when He commands you to do something.”

EVERY DEED HAS ITS REWARD

People with clean hearts and clear brains know that they will be rewarded for what they have done. They will reap the harvest of what they have sown. As they have done, so will they be rewarded. And according to their sacrifices, they will receive the results.

How can they not know and believe that? Do they not believe in what they have heard and believe in the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah, both of which are clear evidence for people who have been enlightened and opened their hearts by Allah?

Therefore, open the door of your heart and listen to anything that leads to that. Hopefully, by listening to it, you will wake up from negligence and awaken from sleep, so that you can do righteous deeds for yourself and your salvation.

Allah Almighty says:

“(That is) on the Day when wealth and sons will be of no avail. Except for those who approach Allah with a clean heart.” (QS. Ash-Shu’ara’: 88-89)

Allah Almighty says: .

“And to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, that He may recompense those who have done evil for what they have done, and reward those who have done good with a better reward (Paradise).” (QS. An-Najm: 31)

Allah Almighty says:

“And that a man does not attain except what he has labored for. And that his labor will be revealed to him. Then will be rewarded to him with the most perfect reward. And to your Lord is the end (of all things).” (QS. An-Najm: 39-42)

Allah Almighty says:

“(The reward of Allah) is not according to your vain imaginings nor according to the imaginings of the People of the Book. Whoever does evil will surely be recompensed for it, and he will have no protector nor helper but Allah. Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, and is a believer, they shall enter Paradise, and they shall not be wronged in the least.” (QS. An-Nisa’: 123-124)

Allah Almighty says:

“Whoever does even a dzarrah of good, he will see it. And whoever does an evil deed even weighing a dharrah, he will see it.” (QS. Az-Zalzalah: 7-8)

Allah Almighty says:

“Allah does not burden anyone except according to his ability. He will be rewarded for the good he has done, and he will be punished for the evil he has done.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 286)

Allah Almighty says:

“Whoever does righteous deeds, the reward is for himself, and whoever does evil deeds, the punishment is for himself: and never has your Lord wronged His servants.” (QS. Fushshilat: 46)

Allah Almighty says:

“On the Day when every man will find all his good deeds before him, and the evil he has done, and he will wish that there were a long time between him and that Day: and Allah warns you against His punishment. And Allah is very Merciful to His slaves.” (QS. Ali “Imran: 30)

Allah Almighty says:

“And guard yourselves against the Day on which you will all be returned to Allah. Then each one of you will be given a perfect recompense for what he has done, and they will not be wronged in the least.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 281)

Some scholars are of the opinion that this is the last verse of the Qur’an to be revealed.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“Verily the Holy Spirit (Jibril) breathed into my mind: “Live as you wish and you will die. Love whatever you love and you will be separated from it. And do whatever you wish and you will be rewarded for it.”

The Prophet said:

“Goodness will not perish, sins will not be forgotten and God the Avenger will not be destroyed, as you do, so will you receive your reward.”

The Messenger of Allah also said, as he narrated from his Lord:

“O My servants, verily this is your deeds I reckon for you, then I will reward you. Whoever finds his deeds good, let him praise Allah, and whoever finds them otherwise, let him not scorn any other than himself.”

The Messenger of Allah said:

“Do not mock the dead; they will face what they have done.”

It has been narrated that a slave was elevated in Paradise above his master. The master said: “O Lord, this man was once my slave while he was in this world”. So Allah replied: “I have rewarded him according to his deeds.

Imam Ali r.a said: “The world is a place for doing deeds but there is no reward in it, while the Hereafter is a place for receiving rewards without any deeds in it. So do your deeds in the place where there is no reward as a provision for the place where there is no deed.”

Hasan al-Basri said: “Allah said to the people of Paradise: “Enter Paradise because of My mercy, and remain in it because of your good intentions, and share Paradise according to your deeds.”

These are the proofs that I have mentioned regarding the reward for deeds for the purpose of reminder, because this is not a new issue for everyone. In other words, all ordinary people know about it.

PARADISE FOR THE OBEDIENT, HELL FOR THE DISOBEDIENT

Allah has willed that His pleasure lies in obeying Him, and His wrath lies in disobeying Him. He promises those who obey Him that He will admit them into His paradise with His mercy, and threatens those who disobey Him with His hell with His justice and wisdom.

Allah SWT says:

“(These laws) are the decrees of Allah. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, Allah will admit him into a paradise where rivers flow, and they will remain therein, and that is a great victory. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His decrees, Allah will surely cast him into Hell-fire, and therein he will abide, and for him is a degrading punishment.” (QS. An-Nisa’: 13-14)

Allah SWT has commanded His believing servants to hasten to Allah’s forgiveness and His paradise, and that they protect themselves and their families from hellfire by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, Allah SWT says:

“And hasten to forgiveness and your Lord and to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous.” (QS. Ali “Imran: 133)

Allah Almighty says:

“O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from the fire of Hell, whose fuel is man and stone, whose guardians are the harsh, stern angels, who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them and always do what is commanded.” (QS. At-Tahrim: 6)

THE GIFT OF OBEDIENCE AND SINCERITY

Allah Almighty says:

“Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while believing, We shall surely give him a good life.” (QS. An-Nahl: 07)

Allah Almighty says:

“And Allah has promised those who believe among you and do righteous deeds that He will indeed make them rulers on earth, as He made those before them rulers, and indeed He will establish for them the religion which He has approved for them, and He will indeed change them after they were in dread into security.” (QS. An-Nur: 55)

And Allah SWT says:

“Those who believe and do righteous deeds, surely We will not waste the reward of those who do good deeds. Those are the ones for whom Paradise “Adn, with rivers flowing beneath them, in Paradise they are adorned with gold bracelets and they wear green garments of fine silk and thick silk, while they sit reclining on beautiful couches. That is the best of rewards, and a beautiful resting place.” (QS. Al-Kahf: 31)

Allah Almighty says:

“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds, Allah, the Most Gracious, will instill in them compassion.” (QS. Maryam: 96)

Ibn Abbas r.a said: “Allah loves them and Allah loves them for the believers.”

In a hadith qudsi, Allah says:

“Whoever antagonizes My wali, I declare war on him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything that I love more than what I make obligatory for him, and My servant does not cease to draw near to Me with sunnah deeds until I love him, when I love him then I am his ears, with which he hears, I am his eyes with which he sees, I am his hand with which he strikes, and I am his feet with which he walks, when he asks Me I give him, and when he asks Me for protection I protect him.”

Allah SWT has glorified this great love so that the movements, actions and tranquility of a servant are all from Allah, and it is only under the responsibility of Allah that one carries out whatever is required by Allah and multiplies pious deeds to get closer to Him.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) narrated from Allah SWT:

“If one of My servants draws near to Me by an inch, I will draw near to him by a cubit. If he draws near to Me a cubit, then I draw near to him a cubit. And if he comes to Me walking, I shall surely come to him hurrying.”

The meaning of a servant’s closeness to his Lord is by obeying Him and serving Him, while the meaning of Allah’s closeness to His servant is by His bounty and mercy.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) narrated from Allah SWT:

“I have prepared for My righteous servants everything that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever thought of.”

It is mentioned in the book of Zabur: “O son of Adam obey Me, and I will fill your heart with contentment, your hands with sustenance and your body with health.”

Allah SWT has revealed to the world:

“O world whoever serves Me, serve him, whoever serves you, then enslave him.”

Bisyir bin Al-Harith said: “Those who are good gain in this world and the next.”

Yahya bin Mu’adz said: “The children of this world are served by slaves, while the children of the hereafter are served by free men.”

If you want unbounded glory, unceasing gifts, unending greatness, then obey Allah SWT.

Indeed, Allah SWT has made all these things in obedience to Him. Allah honors the obedient servants, even some of the obedient servants, He honors by freeing them from the shackles of desire, cleansing their hearts from the desire to turn to the world, revealing before them extraordinary things, such as announcing the unseen, the emergence of blessings, and the answering of prayers.

So people seek their light, follow in their footsteps, supplicate to Allah by making supplication to them so that Allah may ease their affairs, and ask Allah with their blessings that they may be spared from calamities.

Many people seek blessings in the places where these servants traveled. They also seek blessings by visiting their graves.

Allah SWT has honored them with something greater than all that. Allah planted His light in their hearts, and shaded their hearts with ma’rifat and love for Him. Allah SWT also comforted them with dhikr in their seclusion. Allah has prepared for them everlasting enjoyment in His Paradise, and promised them that they will gaze upon His Noble face, and grant them His greatest pleasure.

Allah Almighty says:

“That is a great good fortune.” (QS. Ad-Dukhan: 57)

Allah Almighty says:

“For a victory like this let those who labor strive.” (QS. Ash-Shaffat: 61)

DISASTER OF DISOBEDIENCE

Allah Almighty says:

“Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord in a state of sin, then surely for him is the Hellfire. He shall not die therein, nor shall he live.” (QS. Thaha: 74)

Allah Almighty says:

“Or do those who do evil think that they will escape Our punishment? Very bad is what they have determined.” (Al-Ankabut: 4)

Allah Almighty says:

“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then indeed he has gone astray, a manifest astray.” (Al-Ahzab: 36)

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“Not an adulterer when he commits adultery is in a state of faith, not a thief when he steals is in a state of faith, and not a drinker when he drinks alcohol is in a state of faith.”

The Prophet said:

“When a person commits a sin, a black spot appears in his heart. If he repents, his heart is cleansed, but if he repeats it again, the spots increase until his heart is blackened.”

This is the meaning of Allah’s words:

“It is not so; rather, what they seek to do is to cover their hearts.” (QS. Al-Muthaffifin: 14)

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“The hardening of the heart is due to too much sin.”

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“Verily, a servant’s sustenance is forbidden because of the sins he has committed.”

Allah revealed to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him):

“O Moses, the first to die of My creatures was the devil because he was the first to oppose Me. And whoever opposes Me, I consider him dead.”

Said bin Musayyab said: “No servant honors himself like obeying Allah, and no servant dishonors himself like opposing Allah, and it is enough for a believer who is always helped by Allah to only see his enemy sinning without joining in sinning.”

Muhammad bin Wasi’ said: “Sin on top of sin numbs the heart.”

A salaf said: “If you oppose Allah while you are aware that He sees you, then you underestimate the sight of Allah. And if you oppose Him while you think that He does not see you, you are a disbeliever.”

Wuhaib bin Ward was asked: “Will the one who disobeys Allah have the pleasure of worship?” He said: “No, and neither will the one who desires to commit sin.”

The righteous salafus used to say: “Disobedience is the messenger of disbelief.”

So to sum up, the sign of a person’s fall from the sight of Allah, and his being in a state of wrath from Allah, is by committing disobedience to Allah.

So, the person who continuously commits disobedience is the most wrathful person to Allah, the friend of the shaitan and hated by the believers.

So, you should never block the wrath of Allah by committing sins. Whenever you are tempted to commit an act of sin, remind yourself of Allah’s supervision and monitoring, and remind yourself of Allah’s threat to those who oppose Him, which is a painful punishment and severe punishment. If in committing a sinful act, you are rewarded with nothing but the loss of a high position with Allah and being deprived of the reward of those who do good, surely that is enough for you as a fitting punishment.

Why is this so? Because in the act of sinning there is humiliation, the punishment of hellfire, and the wrath of Allah that the heavens and the earth cannot face.

Let us ask Allah SWT to always be blessed with safety.

REPENT

The Prophet said: 

“He whose good deeds make him happy and whose bad deeds make him miserable is a believer.”

If Allah SWT gives you the opportunity to do good deeds, then rejoice. Add your gratitude to Allah who has honored you. Allah has chosen you so that you can have direct contact with Him. Therefore, express your gratitude for the ease that Allah has given you in doing good deeds and pray that your good deeds will always be accepted in His sight.

Imam Ali r.a said: “You should give more importance to the acceptance of deeds than to the deeds themselves; indeed, there are many deeds that are not accepted.”

You should always acknowledge your shortcomings in fulfilling Allah’s obligations, despite your great efforts and sacrifices in obeying Him. This is because the obligation that you have to fulfill to Allah is much greater. Allah SWT has created you from nothing. Then Allah bestowed various kinds of enjoyment upon you. Allah SWT treats you with His grace and mercy. It is through His power that you are able to obey Him, and it is through His guidance and mercy that you are able to worship Him.

Do not soil the garments of your faith and do not blacken your heart by committing acts forbidden by Allah. Every time you commit a sin – even if it is occasionally – you should immediately repent, truly turn back and regret and multiply istighfar. You should do this in a state of fear and worry about your sins.

Indeed, a believer is always in a state of fear and anxiety, even if he is sincere in his obedience and has good behavior.

You know the state of the prophets and saints. They are ma’shum people, who are protected from committing sins. Despite this, they always put themselves in a state of constant fear and worry, even though their deeds were very good and their sins were few or even none. So what about you? You, who know yourself better than anyone else, know what is best for you.

The prophets and saints are the ones who know the extent of Allah’s mercy better than you do. They have more prejudice against Allah, hope for Allah’s forgiveness and glory than you do.

Therefore, follow in their footsteps so that you will be saved. Follow their way of life so that you will be fortunate. You should do this while seeking refuge in Allah, for whoever seeks refuge in Allah has been shown the straight path.

OBSTACLES TO OBEDIENCE

As we know, the world stands on the foundation of trials and tribulations. It is shaped by misery and pain and is covered by various kinds of deceit and things that neglect, therefore, there are quite a lot of obstacles and obstacles to doing obedience and virtue. There are also many things that can lead one to disobedience.

The obstacles to obedience can be divided into four things, namely:

1. Ignorance,
2. Weak faith,
3. Wishful thinking, and
4. Haram and shubhat food.

Insha Allah, I will explain each of these four things in a concise manner, so as to remind you how despicable they are, the obstacles they cause, and how to overcome them.

May Allah bless you with His guidance and help.

1. IGNORANCE

Ignorance is the basis of all evil, the source of all harmful things. Ignorance and its people belong to the following saying of the Prophet:

“The world is cursed, cursed is what is in it, except the mention of the name of Allah, a clever man and a learned man.”

And it is narrated:

“Verily, when Allah created ignorance, Allah said to it: “Come here!” He went. Then Allah said to him: ‘Go!’ So he came. Allah said to him: “By My Glory, I have not created a single creature that I hate more than you. I will surely make you among the most evil of My creatures.”

Imam Ali r.a said: “There is no enemy more dangerous than ignorance, and a person’s enemy is his ignorance.”

Actually, the humiliation of ignorance has been commonly known both ‘aqli and naqli almost not hidden from anyone. An ignorant person will inevitably fall into disobedience and disobedience, because he does not know what Allah commands and what Allah forbids.

No one can come out of the darkness of ignorance except by the light of knowledge.

What a beautiful poem composed by Shaykh ‘Ali ibn Abi Bakr: Ignorance is like a fire that can burn a person’s religion And knowledge is water that can extinguish the fire.

So, your obligation is to learn the knowledge that Allah has made it obligatory to know, and it is not your obligation to master all fields of knowledge.

Rather, your obligation is to learn the science of aqeedah, which will perfect your faith. You must also learn how to fulfill what Allah has enjoined and how to avoid what Allah has forbidden. This is an obligation that must be fulfilled immediately in the broadest sense.

Malik bin Dinar once said: “Whoever seeks knowledge for himself, a little knowledge will suffice him. On the other hand, the one who seeks knowledge for the masses, indeed the interests of mankind are many.”

2. WEAK FAITH

Weak faith is a great disaster and a despicable trait that can lead to bad deeds, such as: not practicing knowledge, leaving amar ma’ruf and nahi munkar, empty expectations of Allah’s forgiveness without being accompanied by efforts to obtain it, always worrying about sustenance, and fear of humans, as well as other despicable traits.

The quality of implementation in carrying out the commands and avoiding the prohibitions of Allah SWT is very dependent on the level of one’s faith. The strongest evidence of the weakness of one’s faith is if he abandons things that are in accordance with Allah’s commands and instead performs actions that oppose Allah’s commands. So, every believer should try to strengthen his faith.

The steps that can be taken to strengthen and increase faith are three, namely:

1. Listening to verses and hadiths that talk about the promises and threats of Allah SWT and matters relating to the hereafter, the stories of the prophets with their miracles and the disasters that befell those who opposed them. Also by paying attention to the lives of the righteous salafuzh who were always zuhud towards the world and always wanted the hereafter, and other related matters.
2. Contemplating the creation of the heavens and the earth and the wonders of Allah’s creation contained therein.
3. Striving to increase good deeds and guarding oneself against falling into the valley of disobedience.

Since faith consists of statements and deeds, it can increase with obedience and decrease with disobedience. These things that we have mentioned can increase faith and strengthen confidence.

It is only to Allah that help is sought.

3. IDLE WISHES

Wishful thinking is a very despicable thing. In fact, it invites a person to spoil his Hereafter and prosper his world.

The Prophet said:

“The first group of this Ummah was saved because of its zuhud (austerity) towards the world and short-sightedness, and the last group of this Ummah will be doomed because of its greed for the world and short-sightedness.”

The Prophet also said:

“There are four wretched things: the freezing of the eyes, the hardening of the heart, greed and wishful thinking.”

And the Prophet’s supplication included:

“I seek refuge with You from any wishful thinking that makes me negligent.”

Imam Ali r.a said: “The thing that I fear most for you is indulging in lust and wishful thinking. Indulging in lust will prevent one from doing the right thing while wishful thinking can distract one from the Hereafter.”

In one narration, it is said, “Whoever has idle imagination, his deeds are bad.”

Idle wishful thinking means feelings or thoughts that imply the length of one’s existence on earth. This shows that a person of this nature is truly ignorant, because he has lost something real and clings to a mirage.

Suppose he is asked in the evening: “Are you sure that you will live until evening?” He would answer: “Yes.”

And he acts for his worldly life as one who will not die. Had he been told that he would be eternal on earth he would never have found a place to increase his greed and avarice for the world.

So, who is more foolish than one who is of this nature?

Indeed, wishful thinking is the source of all kinds of bad manners and actions that are far from obedience; in fact, it is the source of actions that can lead a person to fall into disobedience, such as greed, miserliness and fear of poverty.

And the worst of these traits is being too fond of worldly things, trying to prosper and accumulate possessions as much as possible.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“I was sent to destroy worldly things, so whoever prospered in them is not from my group.”

And from this empty wishful thinking comes the attitude of always procrastinating, an attitude that can be likened to a barren person who cannot give birth to any good.

In one narration it is said: “Indeed, most of the screams of the inhabitants of Hell are due to procrastination.” People who like to procrastinate are very obedient in carrying out obedience and delay their repentance from sinful acts until death picks them up.

Allah SWT says:

“Then he said: “O my Lord, why have you not delayed my death until a time nearer, when I may give in charity and be among the righteous?” (Al-Munafiqun: 10).

So he was answered:

“And Allah will not delay a man when the time of his death comes.” (Al-Munafiqun: 11)

“And have We not prolonged your life with sufficient time for thought for those who would think, and (have not) there come to you warners? So taste (Our punishment) and there is no helper for the wrongdoers.” (QS. Fathir: 37)

So he went out from the earth with an infinite loss, and an endless regret. Hence, shorten your wishful thinking. Make death always in front of you and wishful thinking behind your back. Use the right method to realize this, which is to remember death a lot.

Think of those who have gone before you, be they friends or relatives. You should feel the nearness of death, because it is something unseen that is the closest to be awaited. Be prepared to face it and be aware of its arrival in every situation.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“By Whose soul is in His hand, I do not raise my eyes and think that I can lower them until I am deprived of my life, and I do not eat anything and think that I can swallow it until I feel choked by death.”

Sometimes the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would put his palm against a wall to perform tayammum. Then someone told him: “There is water nearby,” he said: “I do not know, perhaps I cannot reach it (because of death).”

Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq r.a once recited a poem: Whoever lives in the morning in the midst of his family, death must be nearer to him than his footsteps.

Imam Al-Ghazali said: “Know that death will not come at a certain time, or in a certain state or at a certain age, but it will come. So being prepared for it is better than being prepared for the world.”

4. HARAM AND SHUBHAT FOOD

Consuming haram and shubhat foods can definitely divert a person from obedience and lead to sin. It has been narrated that the Prophet said:

“Whoever eats lawful things, his body will obey whether he wants to or not, and whoever eats unlawful things, his body will disobey whether he wants to or not. It is stated in a narration:

“Eat whatever you wish, and you will act accordingly.”

One of those who believe in Allah SWT said: “There is nothing that cuts people off from the truth and removes them from the rank of clairvoyance but that they do not examine their food.”

The one who consumes haraam and doubtful things, even if he is an obedient person, his obedience is not accepted. This is because Allah says:

“Verily, Allah accepts only the sacrifices of the pious.” (QS. Al-Maidah: 27)

Allah is a good Being, who accepts nothing but what is good.

Therefore, you should strictly prevent yourself from using haram and shubhat goods. You should also seek halal goods, because seeking halal things is an obligation after the fard things.

When you have found it, then eat from it as needed. Wear halal clothing as needed. Do not be extravagant in its use, because something that is categorized as halal is not extravagant.

Do not eat too full, because if the satiety that arises from halal goods will be the source of all evil. Then what if the satiety arises from haram goods?

The Prophet said:

“Never has the son of Adam filled a vessel worse than his stomach. It is enough for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls that can straighten his back, if that cannot be done, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.”

IKHLAS

Allah Almighty says:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind but that they should worship Me.” (QS. Adz-Dzariyat: 56)

Allah Almighty says:

“O My believing servants, surely My earth is vast, so worship Me alone.” (QS. Al-Ankabut: 56)

As a believer, it is your duty to focus more on worshipping Allah by ridding yourself of anything that can prevent you from worship.

Know that worship is not considered valid if it is not based on knowledge. Knowledge and worship will not be beneficial unless they are accompanied by sincerity. So cling to sincerity.

Indeed, sincerity is the essence and source of all deeds. Sincerity, as defined by Abul Qasim Al Qusyairi, is the recognition of Allah in worship accompanied by intention. That is you aim with your obedience only! solely to get closer to Allah, without any other purpose, be it pretense before creatures, the desire to seek praise and popularity among people, or any purpose other than getting closer to Allah SWT.

Still according to Abul Qasim Al-Qusyairi, ikhlas can also be defined as cleansing deeds from the attention of creatures.” This is the purpose of this chapter.

RIYA’

Avoid the act of riya’ because this act can revoke the deed and eliminate the reward and can cause the wrath and punishment of Allah SWT Rasulullah Saw has dubbed riya’ as “small shirk”.

In a saheeh hadith it is stated:

“The first of Allah’s creatures to be put into Hell are three: the one who recites the Qur’an so that it will be said that he is a reciter, the one who is martyred and does not fight but so that it will be said that he is a brave man, and the one who has wealth and gives it away so that it will be said that he is a generous man.”

Riya’ is seeking position among people by using deeds that should be used to draw closer to Allah, such as prayer and fasting. If you feel the feeling of riya’ in yourself, then do not seek a way out of it by abandoning that deed, because by doing so you are making the devil happy. Rather, you should see that any deed that you cannot do but must be seen by people, such as Hajj, Jihad, studying, praying in congregation, and the like, then you should do it as Allah has commanded and fight your lusts and seek Allah’s help.

As for practices that are not of the above kind, such as fasting, waking up at night, giving charity and reciting the Qur’an, then in doing these practices you should try to conceal them. This is because doing these deeds in a hidden place is preferable, except for those who are protected from being riya”, or for those who intend to set an example for the people in their community.

UJUB

Beware of the trait of ujub, because this trait can revoke deeds.

The Prophet said:

“Enthusiasm erases good deeds like fire destroys firewood.”

The Prophet said:

“There are three things that destroy: a miser who is obeyed, a lust who is followed and a person who is amazed at himself.”

Ujub is the view that a person has of himself with pride, and of his deeds with a view that is beautiful and true. From this trait of ujub, comes an attitude of spoiling one’s deeds and boasting before people and submission to lust.

Ujub, as defined by Ibn Atha’illah, is the source of all poverty, negligence and lust, which is willingness to lust.

Whoever gives in to his lusts will be blind to his own faults. So when will a person who does not know his defects be fortunate?

A poet said:

The eye that loves something will cover up any flaws.

But the eye that hates something will find all the ugliness.

LOVE THE WORLD

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“Love of the world is the source of all wrongdoing.”

If love of this world is the source of all mistakes, the source of all disasters, the base of all destruction, and the source of all kinds of fitnah and calamities, then it is a danger that has become epidemic in this age. The dangers and consequences of the love of this world are so great that it has afflicted all classes of people, both high and low. People flaunt it without shame, as if it has no defects or flaws in it, because the world has taken hold of their hearts and given rise to greed to prosper the world and accumulate wealth. So they come one after another with their deceitful ways to hunt for things that are doubtful and unlawful. They thought it was as if Allah made it obligatory for them to prosper the world just as He made prayer and fasting obligatory.

Hence, the greatness of religion is extinct, the light of faith is gone, the path of truth is closed and the path of falsehood is opened. By Allah, this is a very dark and frightening trial. It is a darkness in which the prayers of the supplicant are not heard and the calls of the caller are not heeded. It is true what the leader of the Prophets, the Messenger of Allah, said in his saying:

“Every Ummah has its own fitnah, and the fitnah for my Ummah is wealth, and every Ummah has cows and the cows of my Ummah are dinars and dirhams.”

This means that every Ummah has something that can keep them busy from worshipping Allah, just as the Children of Israel were busy worshipping a cow made of gold instead of worshipping Allah.

It is better to end this treatise with the narrations that show the disgrace of this world and those who love it. We should also start with a rule on which we can rely. So, hoping for guidance from Allah, we state:

The world is divided into three levels, namely: First, the world in which there is reward. Second, the world in which there is reckoning. And third, the world in which there is punishment.

The first world, in which there is reward, is a world that can lead a person to good deeds and save him from bad deeds. Thus, this kind of world is a means to the garden of the Hereafter for the believer.

The second world, in which there is reckoning, is a world that does not cause you to neglect your duties nor does it cause you to fall into disobedience. This is the world in which there is a very complicated calculation. Its owners are the rich who will be preceded by the poor in entering Paradise by half a day, which is five hundred years.

While the third world, in which there is torment, is a world that can prevent a person from practicing obedient deeds and plunge him into disobedience. This kind of world will be a provision for its owner in Hell and takes the form of a ladder that leads to Hell. This is indicated by a narration:

“Verily, Allah commands the world to hell and says: ‘O Lord, my supporters and my followers?’ So Allah said: “Include also its supporters and followers, ‘so that they may be included with it.'”

Know that the seekers of this world are divided. There are some people who seek the world with the intention of keeping in touch and supporting the poor. Such a person is classified as a generous person. He will be rewarded if his actions match his intentions. But he lacks wisdom, because a wise person does not seek something that he will not know how it will be when he gets it. Such a person should take a lesson from the story of Tsa’labah, whom Allah mentioned in His words:

“And among them was one who pledged to Allah: “If Allah gives us some of His bounty, we will surely give in charity.”” (QS. At-Taubah: 75)

How many people seek the world only to satisfy their desires and enjoy luxuries? Such people deserve to be classified as animals and included in the herd, as He said:

“Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are nothing but cattle; in fact, they are more perverse in their ways than cattle.” (QS. Al Furqan: 44)

How many people seek the world for the purpose of boasting and showing off? Those who do so are foolish and deceived, and are even wretched. Allah 3s says:

“Indeed, each tribe has known its own watering place.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 60)

“And your Lord knows what they conceal in their breasts and what they declare.” (QS. Al-Qashash: 69)

So, counsel yourself. Don’t let yourself be deceived. Admit something that was not your intention. Otherwise, you have accumulated as much loss as possible, so that you are among the losers in this world and the hereafter. Allah Almighty says:

“Remember that such is a real loss.” (QS. Az-Zumar: 15)

THE PEARL OF WISDOM

Allah Almighty says:

“Verily, the example of the earthly life is like water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the plants of the earth grow luxuriantly because of it, some of which are eaten by man and cattle. And when the earth had completed its beauty, and had put on its adornment, and its owners thought that they were sure to possess it, suddenly there came upon it Our punishment by night or by day, and We made it like a garden that had been sown, as if it had never grown before.” Thus We explain the signs of Our power to those who think.” (QS. Yunus: 24)

Allah Almighty says:

“Indeed We have made all that is in the earth an adornment for them, that We may test them as to which of them is the best in deeds. And We will indeed make that which is upon it a waste land.” (QS. Al-Kahf: 7-8)

Allah Almighty says:

“And cast not your eyes upon that which We have given to some of them, as the flower of the life of the world, that We may try them with it. And the gift of your Lord is better and more lasting.” (QS. Thaha: 131)

Allah Almighty says:

“Whoever desires the gain of the Hereafter We will increase it for him, and whoever desires the gain of the world We will give him some of the gain of the world, and he will have no share in the Hereafter.” (QS. Ash-Shura: 20)

Allah SWT also says:

“Behold, the life of this world is but a play and a distraction, adornment and boasting among yourselves, and boasting of much wealth and children, like the rain whose crops amaze the farmers, then the crops dry up and you see that they are yellow and then they are destroyed. And in the Hereafter there is a severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but deceptive pleasures.” (QS. Al-Hadid: 20)

Allah Almighty says:

“As for those who transgress the limits and prefer the life of the world, then surely hell is their abode.” (QS. An-Nazi’at: 37-39)

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: l

“The world is cursed, cursed is all that is in it, except the remembrance of Allah, the scholar and the learner. If the world had a value in the sight of Allah even as great as the wing of a fly, Allah would not give a disbeliever a sip of water from it.”

The Prophet said:

“The world is a disgusting carcass.”

“Verily, Allah has made what comes out of the son of Adam a parable of the world.”

“This world, when compared to the Hereafter, is like one of you putting a finger into a river, then seeing what it brings back.”

“On the Day of Judgment, every person will wish that what he has been given from the worldly goods is only his basic food.”

“Verily before you is a sharp incline. None can cross it but those who are light,” one asked: “Am I one of the light ones, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Do you have food for today?” He replied: “Yes.” He said: “Do you have food for tomorrow?” He replied: “No.” He said: “If you have food for tomorrow then you are not a light person.”

The Prophet said:

“The world is like something sweet and green, and verily Allah made you ruler over it, so He sees what you do, beware of the world, and beware of women, by Allah it is not poverty that I fear for you, verily I fear the spread of the world.

I fear that the world will be spread out for you as it was spread out for those before you, and they will compete for it as you compete for it, until it destroys you as it destroyed you.”

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“Indeed, one of the things that I fear for you after me is what has been recorded for you from the flower of the life of this world, its luxuries and its beauty. “

“Beware of the world, for it is more powerful than Harut and Marut.”

“The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.”

“Verily, Allah keeps the world away from His believing servant just as a kind shepherd keeps his sheep away from places of destruction.”

“The unpardonable sin is the love of this world.”

“Whoever loves his ‘hereafter means he sacrifices his world, and whoever loves his world means he sacrifices his hereafter, they prefer the eternal to the temporal.”

“The bitterness of the world is the sweetness of the Hereafter, and the sweetness of the world is the bitterness of the Hereafter.”

“Those who are rich in this world will be poor on the Day of Judgment, except for the one who says: Take out this much, take out this much.”

“There will be a people on the Day of Resurrection who will have deeds as big as the mountain of Tihamah, and suddenly those deeds will disappear, and they will be led to Hellfire, even though they used to pray diligently, fast and wake up at night, but when a little bit of worldly goods appeared in front of them, they immediately grabbed it.”

The Messenger of Allah said:

“I do not care about the world, indeed the example between me and the world is like a traveler who walks on a hot day, so he takes shelter for a while under a tree, then he continues his journey.”

“Whoever in the morning is secure in his dwelling, healthy in his body, he has provisions for the day, then it is as if the whole world has been set before him.”

“I was sent to destroy (the love of) the world. Whoever prospered it is not among my people.”

Whoever intends for the Hereafter, Allah will make him content in his heart, take care of his affairs, and the world will come to him out of necessity. And whoever’s intention is for the world, Allah will surely make poverty before his eyes, make his affairs neglected, and the world does not come to him except what Allah has determined for him.”

“Be thou in this world like a stranger or someone on a journey, and consider thyself a dweller in the grave.”

“Abandon the luxuries of this world, Allah will love you, and abandon (greed) for what people have, you will be loved by people.”

The Prophet said:

“The world is a dwelling for the homeless, and a treasure for the treeless; the one who accumulates it is the one who lacks reason; the one who grieves over it is the one who lacks knowledge; the one who envies worldly goods is the one who lacks understanding; and the one who rejoices over it is the one who lacks faith.”

“The love of this world has no place in a person’s heart but three things: an occupation from which there is no escape, a poverty from which there is no end, and a wish from which there is no end.”

“Verily, the world and the Hereafter both seek and are sought after, the seeker of the Hereafter: he is sought after by the world until he takes his share, while the seeker of the world: he is pursued by the Hereafter until death takes him.”

“Know that the happy person is the one who gives preference to eternal pleasures over temporal pleasures whose punishment is continuous, and he gives precedence to what will be his provision over what is currently in his hands before he bequeaths it to the fortunate by spending it, while he has been wretched by accumulating it and hoarding it.”

“Woe to the one who is devoted to the world and falls down, if he is struck by a thorn he will not be able to pull it out.”

The Prophet said:

“Being zuhud in the world pleases the heart and body. Covetousness of the world increases distress and sorrow. While disobedience hardens the heart.”

“Verily, when light enters the heart, it becomes spacious and expansive. He was asked: “Is there any sign of it? ‘ He replied: ‘Avoiding the deceptive place (the world), leaning towards the eternal place (the hereafter) and preparing for death before it comes.”

Allah SWT revealed to Prophet Musa “O Musa, if I love one of My servants, then I keep the world away from him, this is how I treat My lovers. O Moses, if you see wealth coming, then say: “This is the sin for which punishment is hastened, and if you see poverty coming, then say: “Welcome to the signs of the righteous.”

Allah SWT has also revealed to Prophet Dawud r.a.

“O Dawud, whoever gives preference to the pleasures of this world over the pleasures of the hereafter is hanging on a rope that is not tied, and whoever gives preference to the pleasures of the hereafter over the pleasures of this world is hanging on a strong rope that will not be cut off.”

Allah SWT also revealed to Prophet Isa r.a. :

“O Isa, tell the Children of Israel that they may remember from Me two words: “Tell them to be willing to give up a little of the worldly goods for the sake of their religion, just as the people of the world are willing to give up a little of their religion for the sake of their world.”

In one of the books revealed by Allah it is stated: “The most despicable thing that I do to a pious person when he has become dependent on the world, I take away the sweetness of seeking Me from his heart.”

It has been narrated that Allah said to the world:

“O world be bitter to My saints and do not be sweet to them, you will slander them.”

Imam Ali r.a said: “The analogy between the world and the Hereafter is like the east and west ends, it is up to you which way you want to approach. If you draw near to one of them, then you move away from the other. And like two wives, if you please one of them, you disappoint the other. And like two vessels, one of which is empty and the other full. If you pour into the empty vessel, the full one will decrease.”

He also said: “I find the world consists of six things: Food: the most delicious of food is honey, whereas honey is the drink of a fly. Drink: the most comfortable of drinks is water, even though it is used by everyone, the good and the bad. Fragrance: the most fragrant of fragrances is misik, whereas misik is the blood of a mongoose’s pouch. Clothing: the finest of clothing is silk, whereas silk is woven from a worm. Vehicle, the most luxurious of vehicles is a horse, whereas horses are often where people are killed. Wife, she is the care of care. It is enough for you that a wife adorns herself to the best of her ability when what is targeted is the worst part of her body.”

He also said: “Fortunate indeed are those who are zuhud in this world, who desire the Hereafter. They are the ones who make the earth a stretch, its soil a bed, and its water a fragrance. They also make prayer and the Qur’an their garments and shi’ar. They reject the world according to the way of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).”

In accordance with this meaning, they say:

Verily, Allah has smart people

They divorce the world and fear fitnah

They look at the world when they know

That it is no abode for the living

They take it as a wave and make

The righteous deeds therein as a boat

Said bin Musayyab said: “The world is an abomination and it is more like all abominations, and more abominable than it is the one who takes it out of its place.”

With regard to the above, Mutanabbi said in a poem:

And that which is similar to something is dragged to him

And the most similar among us to our world are the foolish ones

If glory cannot be obtained except by those who have position

Surely the army could not gain victory

Hasan Al-Basri said: “Death exposes the disgrace of the world. The world leaves no joy for people of sense. May Allah have mercy on a person who wears old clothes, eats dry bread, sticks to the ground, weeps over his mistakes and continues to worship.”

He also said: “If the love of this world enters the heart, then there will be fear of the Hereafter. Stay away from worldly affairs that preoccupy you, for a person does not have one door of this world but he has several doors for the deeds of the Hereafter.”

He also said: “What a pity for the son of Adam, he feels that he lacks wealth and does not feel that he lacks charity. He rejoices at the calamities that befall his religion and grieves at the calamities that befall his world. This world is founded on sickness. If you were healthy or cured of disease, would you be safe from death?”

What a beautiful composition by a poet:

If the world were subject to you, would not death come to you?

O seeker of the world, let the world be your enemy.

Then what will you do with the world? Is not an inch of shade enough for you?

As the times laugh at you, so do the times cry at you

Muhammad Al-Bagir said: “What is the world and what will it become? Is it not just a vehicle that you ride, a shirt that you wear and a woman that you get?”

Wahab bin Munabbih said: “Paradise has eight doors, when people find them the guardians of Paradise say to them: “By the glory of our Lord, no one should enter it before those who renounce the luxuries of this world and who delight in Paradise enter first.”

Muhammad bin Sirrin said: “Two poor men fought over a piece of land. Then Allah revealed to the earth: “Say something to them.” Then he said to them: “O two poor men, in fact I have been owned by a thousand people with deformed eyes before you let alone those who are healthy.”

Abu Hazim Al-Madani said: “There is nothing in this world that pleases you but it is accompanied by something that hurts you. The world is a place of destruction, not a place of balance, a place of distress, not a place of pleasure, and a place of misery, not a place of comfort.”

His wife said to him: “Surely winter has come, we must provide food, clothing and firewood.” Then he said: “All this is tiring, but a necessity for us is death, then resurrection, standing before Allah, then heaven or hell.”

He also said: “Whatever you have done to acquire the wealth of this world, you will find that an evil person has gone before you.” He also said: “Verily, the blessing of Allah SWT that means the most to me is whatever of the worldly things I stay away from. The ultimate pleasure is whatever Allah keeps away from me.”

He also said: “What has passed from the world is only a dream, and what remains of it is only wishful thinking.”

The wise man mentioned in his poem:

Like a gust of wind or a lost shadow

Surely the clever are not deceived by it.

Abu Thayyib Al Mutanabbi said in verse:

How many loved the world long ago

But found no way to reach it

Your share in your life from the lover

Is how in your dreams of hallucination

Lugman (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever sells his world for his hereafter will gain both, and whoever sells his hereafter for his world will lose neither.”

He told his son: “Verily the world is a deep sea, many people have drowned in it. Make piety to Allah SWT as your boat, the sail is faith and the oar is tawakkal. May you survive, though I do not see you surviving.”

Malik bin Dinar said: “If the body feels pain then food and drink, sleep and rest become useless. So is the heart, if it is consumed by the love of the world then remembrance becomes mere vanity.”

Malik said to his companions: “I will pray and you will agree: “O Allah, do not put into Malik’s house any worldly goods, be it little or much.”

It is said that if he went out, he tied the door with a rope and said: “Were it not for the dogs I would have left it open.”

He also said: “A servant cannot reach the position of the shiddigs, the truly religious, until he leaves his wife like a widow and lives with the dogs.”

He once passed by a man who was planting seeds, then he left him. Another time he passed by the place again and the seedlings had grown. He asked about the planter. The people said: “He is dead.” Then he said:

The one who wished for the world to be eternal for him,

Then dies the one who wishes before it happens

He raises a seed and is occupied with it

Then the seed remains and the man dies.

Abu “Atahiyah said:

How many people build a house so that they can live in its shade?

So he dwells in the grave while his house has not been lived in.

It is mentioned in a narration: “The phrase Laa ilaaha illallaah always protects those who recite it as long as they do not favor their worldly goods over their religion. If they do so and say it, Allah says: “You have lied, you have been dishonest in your utterance. “”

One of the salaf said: “O One who restrains the heavens from falling to the earth except with His permission, restrain the world from me.”

Ibrahim bin Adham once visited Mansur and said:

“O Ibrahim what will you say?” Then he presented a poem:

We patch up our world by tearing up our religion Then neither our religion will remain nor will we patch it up Someone said to Dawud At-Thai: “Make a will for me!”

He said to him: “Make your fasting the world and your breaking the fast the Hereafter. Flee from people as you would from a lion.”

A man dreamed that he saw him running, so he said to him: “O Abu Solomon, what is wrong with you?”

He replied: “I am now free from prison.”

When he awoke he heard the news that Dawud At Thai had died.

Fudhail bin Iyadh said: “All evil is made in a house, and its key is greed for the world. And all goodness is made in a house, and made the key to it is zuhud of the world.”

He said: “If the world is a perishable gold and the Hereafter is an eternal brick, we should choose the eternal brick over the perishable gold. So what if the world is a perishable brick and the Hereafter is eternal gold?”

He also said: “If the world is brought before me and someone says to me: “Take it; it is lawful for you without payment”, I would be disgusted as one of you is disgusted with a carcass that he passes by, lest it get on his clothes.”

Imam Ash-Shafi’i said: “If the world were sold in the marketplace, I would not buy it even for a piece of bread, because I see the evil in it.”

He said in his poem:

He who does not know the world, I know it.

And brought before us its favors and its pains

Then I see nothing but deception

As displayed in a field of mirage

It is but a decaying carcass

It is surrounded by dogs whose only ambition is to tear it to pieces.

If you stay away from it, you will live safely among its inhabitants

And if you tear it apart, its dogs will tear you apart.

Bisvir Al-Hafi said: “Whoever asks for the world from his Lord has asked Him for the length of time he will stand before Him, i.e. to be judged.”

He once brought a poem:

I swear by Allah, it must be a crushed date seed, and a sip of salty well water,

is better for a believer than his covetousness, than his request to those who are surly.

So be content with Allah, and you will be a rich man covered with luxurious goods.

Despair (of the world) is a glory, piety is a leader, and desire for the world is a disgrace.

Whoever the world submits to, indeed one day it will be his slaughterer.

He also recited two poems by one of the salaf:

The one who glorifies the world is despicable.

He will be humiliated on the Day of Resurrection.

While the One who will humiliate him will be the Most Glorious on that Day.

Dhirar bin Dhamrah narrated the personality of Imam Ali (a): “He was a person who feared the luxuries of the world and its splendor, he preferred the night and its darkness. I testify that I saw him one day when the night had spread its curtains and the stars were shining. He was tossing and turning like a healthy person, crying like the moaning of one who is in deep sorrow, holding his beard and saying: “O world of tricks besides me, are you facing me, or are you glancing? Indeed I have divorced you with a triple divorce for which there is no reconciliation, your life is short, your place is despicable, and you are very dangerous. Ah….ah…. How meager is my provision, how far is the journey, how frightening.”

One of the salaf said: “How unfortunate is the fate of the son of Adam, he is willing to go to a place where the lawful things in it have reckoning, and the unlawful things have torment. If he takes it from the lawful way, he will be reckoned for that favor. But if he takes it from the unlawful way, he will be tormented for it.”

Al-Makimun said: “I did not think that anyone could describe the world as well as Al-Hasan ibn Hani’ in his poem:

If an intelligent person examines the world, it will be revealed to him that it is an enemy hiding in a friend’s clothes.

There is no one but he is a perishing person and the offspring of a perishing person

While the descendants of the wretched, he drowns in it

Yahya bin Muadz said: “You should make your avoidance of the world a lesson and your abstinence from it an endeavor. Make your desire for the world only for what is necessary.”

He also said: “I left the world because it has too much sorrow, too little comfort, and too quickly destroys the people who are in it.”

He also said: “The world is a shop for the devil. Whoever buys something from it will follow it until he takes it back. The world from its beginning to its end is not worth a moment’s hardship, so what if it is worth a lifetime’s hardship when you only get a small share of it?”

A righteous man said:

Whoever praises the world for the life that pleases him.

Surely soon he will reproach it

If the world turns away, it will surely become a regret for a person

And if it comes, it will bring all kinds of distress.

Once Caliph Harun Al-Rashid asked his servant to bring him a glass of water, then the water was served in front of him. At that time Ibn Sammak was in front of him. He said to the Caliph: “What do you think if you were blocked between you and this water, would you buy it with your kingdom?” He replied: “Yes.” Ibn Sammak replied: “How despicable the world is, it is not worth a sip of water.”

One of the long-lived ancients was once asked: “Describe to us the world.” He replied: “A house that has two doors, I enter from one door and exit from the other, I see some years of calamity and some years of prosperity, babies are born and others die. Were it not for people giving birth there would be nothing left, and were it not for people dying the world would not have enough for them.”

A wise man said: “The world is extinct, and what is more extinct than it is the heart that prospered in it. Whereas the Hereafter is very prosperous, and more prosperous than it is the heart that seeks it.”

Another wise man was asked: “To whom does the world belong?” He replied: “It belongs to the one who abandons it.” He was asked: “To whom does the Hereafter belong?” He replied: “To the one who seeks it.”

One of the zuhud was asked: “What is the world in your view?” He replied: “The creation of bodies, the renewal of wishful thinking, the approach of death and the removal of wishful thinking.” Then he was also asked: “What then is the state of its inhabitants?” He replied: “Whoever gets it will be in trouble, and whoever does not get it will be in distress.”

What a beautiful composition by one of the poets:

I see the world for those who have it

As a torment every time it grows more and more for him

The world humiliates those who honor it with shame

And it honors those who despise it

If you do not need something then leave it

Take what you need Hujjatul Islam, Imam Al-Ghazali said in the book Ihya”:

“Amma ba ‘du, verily this world is the enemy of Allah, the enemy of the saints of Allah, and the enemy of the enemies of Allah.

The world is the enemy of Allah. It cuts off the path for the servants of Allah who are going to Him. Therefore, Allah has not looked upon it since He created it.

The world is an enemy to the waliyullah, those whom Allah loves. It adorns itself before them and drowns them in its splendor and luxury, until they taste the bitterness of patience in order to break with it.

As for the world being an enemy to the enemies of Allah, it deceives them with its tricks and lures them into its traps, until they believe in it and rely on it heavily. And it humiliates them beyond what they originally needed, so that they acquire regret that can tear their hearts. Then he deprives them of happiness forever. And they regretted parting with him, and they sought his help by deceit, but they were not helped; rather it was said to them: 

“Dwell abjectly therein, and do not speak with Me.” (QS. Al-Mu’minun: 108)

“These are they who buy the life of this world for the life of the Hereafter; they will not be relieved nor will they be helped.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 86)

Actually, there are countless more verses and hadiths of the Prophet on this subject. However, what I have mentioned I think is sufficient and can serve as a lesson for those who take it and a warning for those who are aware.

THE WILL OF PROPHET ISA AS.

Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) said: “The world is an adornment, so pass through it. Do not prosper in it. O seeker of the world, who wants to gain good by it, your turning away from it is a better and more excellent act. Love of this world and love of the Hereafter will never come together in the heart of a believer, just as water and fire will never come together in one vessel.”

He said: “The world is a tangible thing that both good and bad people eat from. Whereas the Hereafter is a real promise, over which the Almighty King reigns.”

He also said: “Do not make the world your Lord until it makes you its slave. Keep your treasures in a place where they cannot be lost, for the one who has treasures in this world fears calamity, whereas the one who has treasures with Allah does not fear calamity.”

He also said: “My side dish is hunger, my watchword is fear, my clothing is wool, my prayer in winter is sunlight, my lamp is the moon, my vehicle is my two feet, my food and fruits are whatever grows on the earth. I spend the night while I have nothing, and in the morning, I also have nothing. I do not think I have found on earth anyone richer than me.”

He said: “I wonder at the one who is heedless while he is not heedless, at the one who desires the world while death pursues him, and at the one who builds palaces while the grave is his abode. Indeed, fear of Allah and love of paradise can keep a person away from the luxuries of this world and make him patient with trials, and indeed eating wheat and sleeping in the garbage with the dogs is very little for the seekers of paradise.”

He said: “O people of Hawary, I have turned the world upside down before you, so do not raise it up after me.”

They asked him: “Why are you able to walk on water, while we are unable to walk on it?” He replied: “What is the position of the dinar and dirham with you?” They replied: “Good and high.” He said: “Rather, they stand before me like stones and earth.”

He used a stone as a pillow, so the devil came and said to him: “O Jesus, you have leaned on the world, so he threw a stone at him, saying: “I don’t have anything from the world but this.”

One day he was struck by heavy rain and the sound of thunder, so a tent was built for him, and he went to it, but suddenly he found a woman inside and left.

Then he saw a cave and went to it, suddenly he saw a wild animal, then he prayed: “O Allah, You have made a shelter for each of Your creatures while You have not made a shelter for me.” So Allah revealed to him: “Your place is with Me, I will marry you to thousands of angels, and I will entertain the people of heaven on your bridal day for thousands of years.”

He said: “O son of Adam, if you seek from the world something that can fulfill you, then a little of it will suffice you. If you desire from it more than you need, then the whole world will not be enough for you. Do not destroy yourselves by seeking the world. Defeat yourselves by leaving what is in it. You entered it naked and will come out of it in the same state. Ask Allah for sustenance day by day. Know that Allah has made the world in the form of a little and that what remains of it is only a little of a little, of which the juice has been squeezed and the dregs remain. Know that this world is a place of punishment and deceit, so be like the one who is treating a wound: he is patient with the pain of the medicine because he hopes for healing and salvation from the disease. So, do not be deceived by the sight of this world and forget the Hereafter which is not yet visible to your eyes.”

He also said: “You are astonishing. You act for the world while you are given sustenance in it without doing anything. And in the Hereafter, you do not act for it while you will not be provided for in it except by deeds.”

Once the world appeared before him in the form of a woman wearing various kinds of jewelry, he said to her: “Do you have a husband?” She replied: “I have many husbands.” He said: “Did they all divorce you or die, or did you kill them all?” She replied: “I killed them all.” He asked: “Did you ever grieve for any of them?” She answered: “They grieve for me while I do not grieve for them, they weep for me while I never weep for them.” He said: “It is a wonder your husbands are still around, how they have not learned from your former husbands.”

The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) once passed by a group of people who were worshipping Allah, and one of them fell asleep, so he said: “O so-and-so, wake up and worship Allah with your companions.” Then he said to him: “I have worshipped Allah in a way that is superior to their way of worship. I have been zuhud of the world.” He said to him: “Sleep well for you are more honorable than those who worship.”

He also said when asked about the saints of Allah who never worry and never grieve: “They are the ones who look at the inner world when people look at the outer. They are more concerned with the pleasures of the end when people are more concerned with the pleasures of the beginning. They kill off from the world whatever they fear will kill them. They abandon whatever they know will abandon them, no one who possesses the world then offers it to them but they always reject it, and no one who is enticed by the luxuries of the world comes to entice them but they will immediately despise him. The world has worn out before them so they do not renew it, it is seen as corrupt before them and they do not prosper it, it is dead in their hearts so they do not revive it, rather they destroy it and they build their hereafter on it. They sell it and buy with it whatever is eternal for them. They look upon its inhabitants as men who have lost their minds because of a calamity, and they do not look to security but what they hope for, nor to fear but what they fear.”

COVER

Alhamdulillah for the completion of this book (Risalatul Mudzakarah Ma’a Al-Ikhwan Wa Al-Muhibbin min Ahli Al-Khair wa Al-Din), a treatise to remind one another among brothers and lovers of goodness and religion. I did not name it by this name but because I put it on the basis of reminding each other with them. May Allah guide us and keep us safe from the evil of self.

Everything that I have mentioned in this treatise, both hadeeths and atsar, I have quoted from the saheeh books that are commonly used as guidance.

“Praise be to Allah, Who possesses what is in the heavens and what is on earth, and to Him belongs the praise of the Hereafter. And He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. He knows what enters the earth, what comes out of it, what descends from the sky and what ascends to it. And He is the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving. ” (QS. Saba’: 1-1)

May Allah SWT always bestow blessings and peace upon our lord Prophet Muhammad Saw and his family and companions until the day of resurrection, and likewise may prosperity be poured out on the messengers of Allah, and all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He is Al-Imam Al-Alamah Ad-Da’i Ilallah Outhbul Irshad Al-Habib Abdullah bin Alwi bin Muhammad Al-Haddad.

He was born in Shubair at one end of the city of Tarim in the province of Hadramaut on the night of Thursday the 5th of Safar 1044 A.H. He grew up in the city of Tarim and was blind from his childhood, but was replaced by Allah with sharp inner sight. He was a diligent and earnest seeker of useful knowledge.

He studied with the scholars of his time, among his teachers in the forefront were: Al-Habib Umar bin Abdurrahman Al-Atas, Al-Habib Al-Alamah Aqil bin Abdurrahman as-Segaf, Al-Habib Al-Alamah Abdurrahman bin Sheikh Aidid, Al-Habib Al-Alamah Sahl bin Ahmad Bahsin Al-Hudayli Ba’alawi, and among his teachers was also Al-Imam Al-Alamah the great teacher of the city of Mecca Al-Mukarramah Al-Habib Muhammad bin Alwi As-Segaf.

He was a preacher who guided people to the path of Allah with wisdom and good words, so many people welcomed his da’wah and his name rose in various cities so that the benefits of his knowledge spread to both the upper and lower classes, and his da’wah spread in every place and people benefited from his will and his works.

He had many students. Among his senior students were his son Al-Habib Hasan bin Abdullah Al-Haddad, and Al-Habib Ahmad bin Zain Al-Habsyi, Al-Habib Abdurrahman bin Abdullah bil Faqih, and Al-Habib Umar and Habib Muhammad bin Zain bin Smith, Al-Habib Umar bin Ahdurtahman Al-Bar, Al-Habib Ali bin Abdullah bin Abdurrahman As-Segaf Al-Habib Muhammad bin Umar bin Thaha Ash-Shafi As-Segaf, and many more of his students,

He has a variety of written works in which advice and pearls of knowledge are collected which are widespread and favored and benefit many people. Many of his works have been translated into foreign languages such as English, French and Indonesian.

His written works are familiar, including: Nasha’ih Ad-Dinniyah, Ad-Da’wah At-Tammah, Risalat AlMuawwanah, and many more of his wills, treatises and collections of sayings: Tatsbit Al-Fu’ad, a collection of his qasidah: Ad-Durr AlMandhum Al-Jami’ Li Al-Hikam wa Al “Ulum.

Most of his written works have been printed and received great acclaim from various circles. The scholars and the auliya’ were so astonished that they made his books a necessity, and they read them at various times and expressed their opinions about his works. Among their opinions is that these books compile summaries and digests of the works of Hujjatul Islam Imam Al-Ghazali, and a believer cannot be separated from his works.

His works are short and concise. May Allah benefit from the blessings of the author Al-Imamul Haddad. He performed the Hajj pilgrimage and visited Al-Haramain and visited his grandfather the Prophet Muhammad and that was in the year 1079 A.H. He also met the scholars of Makkah and Madinah who missed him very much and really knew his position and praised him.

He always invited people in the way of Allah SWT with wisdom and good words until the end of his life. He died on Tuesday night, the 7th of Dhulqo’dah in 1132 AH, he was buried in Zambal cemetery in Tarim city.

May Allah bless him with the widest mercy and be pleased with him and give us the benefits and blessings of him and his knowledge in this world and the next. Amen.