The Prophet ﷺ said, "If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much"
What knowledge should we have in order for our perspective and behaviour to change?
1) Knowledge about the reality of this life.
2) Knowledge about the unseen
3) Knowledge about the future (I.e. Death, The Day of Judgement, etc.)
If we perfect our knowledge regarding these three matters, we would laugh little and weep much.
Knowledge about the Reality of this Life
This life isn't the abode of settlement, rest, and enjoyment, as many people falsely believe. This life is the abode of test - from the moment we were born to the moment we'll die. We are in continuous trials. Allah says in (67:2):
Allah is العزيز, He subdued us with death; no one can escape it. And He created life and death to test who would perform their deeds with sincerity + according to the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
Whatever Allah has granted us of blessings are considered a test for us.
E.g. Strength. The ability of doing things is a test for me - Will I use my strength in obedience to Allah, or will I use it to covet after the Dunya?
E.g. Allah gave me the ability to speak. Did I use it in coming close to Allah or did I use it to talk vainly, backbiting, etc?
E.g. My intellect and power of understanding. Did I use it to understand the Qur'an, or am I directing it all to seek this life?
We should count every blessing around us. They're all a test for us in what we're using it.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Temptations and trials will be presented to men’s hearts like the way a reed mat is woven, stick by stick. And any heart which is filled by them will have a black mark put into it. But any heart which rejects them will have a white mark put into it.
The result will be that there are two types of hearts: one white like a white stone that will not be harmed by any turmoil and temptation so long as the heavens and earth endure; and the heart black and dust-colored like a vessel which is overturned, not recognizing what is good or rejecting what is evil but only being impregnated with passion.” [Muslim]
The result will be that there are two types of hearts: one white like a white stone that will not be harmed by any turmoil and temptation so long as the heavens and earth endure; and the heart black and dust-colored like a vessel which is overturned, not recognizing what is good or rejecting what is evil but only being impregnated with passion.” [Muslim]
With any trial comes, the person with the white heart, won't follow his desires, and he'll pass with Allah. The second heart is the opposite. A test comes, he fails and commits the sin. This happens repeatedly until his heart becomes like a turned over heart, which never enjoins good or forbids evil, just following its desires. It doesn't know what is pleasing to Allah or not; it just covets after the Dunya.
We should be aware of the tests we are going through. We need to tell ourselves that this is a test with every situation we go through. Ask yourself before you react or take any action - What is pleasing to Allah?
People around us are all فتنة for us. If they love us, it's a فتنة. If they hate us, it's a فتنة. If they help us, it's a فتنة. As Allah says in (25:20):
We constantly go through tests with people, but do we pause and check if we've passed or failed with Allah? We go on in life with heedless hearts.
E.g. You are helping people and doing good. Someone comes and oppresses you. Here you have to remind yourself that this is test.
What should I do in this situation? What action will Allah be pleased with? I have to pause for a while. If I hold my tongue, don't reply, and show patience, I've passed the test with Allah.
If I argue back, or withhold the good I've been doing to them, I've failed with Allah.
E.g. I'm sad. Allah sends someone to console me. Will my heart get attached to her, and not see Allah's action behind her, or will I thank Allah for sending her?
Don't prolong the test for yourself. Allah tests us to see how we will behave, think, react. As soon as you answer correctly, the test will be removed.
Bear in mind that every one us has a different test, according to who he or she is. So don't interfere in other people's tests, focus on your own affairs. We have a limited time, just like any exam paper in this world. The time span of our test is our lifetime. So leave the people with their tests, and focus on your own.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلاَمِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ مَا لاَ يَعْنِيهِ"
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed among the excellence of a person's Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him." [Tirmithi]
E.g. You have a neighbor who has an oppressive husband. Don't go interfere in their lives and cause more trouble, unless the lady comes and asks you for advice herself. Advise her, but know that even your advice and responsibility has a limit. Everything has a limit. Focus on yourself.
Don ask about people's private affairs and things which aren't related to you. This is حرام - if you do it you'll be sinful.
Why do you want to know about other people's lives? You hear someone got married and ask who she got married to, where is he from, what's his job, etc, etc.
We have countless of sins already - why would you add more to yourself? Focus on your own test.
The Prophet ﷺ informed us that this life has no value with Allah.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا تَعْدِلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَنَاحَ بَعُوضَةٍ مَا سَقَى كَافِرًا مِنْهَا شَرْبَةَ مَاءٍ "
Sahl bin Sa'd narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "If the world to Allah was equal to a mosquito's wing, then He would not allow the disbeliever to have a sip of water from it." [Tirmithi]
Imagine - all the jewellery, the money, the cars, - everything you see in this life, weighs absolutely nothing with Allah. We should feel shy towards Allah, loving and coveting over something which has no value. It's nothing.
In (57:20):
These Dunya is only made up of these 5 descriptions. And yet we are still concerned about it.
When you know the reality of this life, whenever a worldly blessing comes to you, you won't rejoice excessively. And when you lose something, you wouldn't grieve or lose hope in the mercy of Allah. You would be moderate. You know that this is the reality of life - one day you have, one day you don't. One day you win, one day you lose. One day you go up, one day you go down. The believer has inner stability and peace of mind.
Knowledge about the Unseen
E.g. Allah
We need to spend our lives learning about Allah, His names and attributes. The more we know about Allah, the better our lives will be, the more our hearts and manners will be reformed. We'll deal with life differently.
E.g. I know that Allah hears me. When this knowledge reaches the state of certainty, I'll talk to Allah more, I won't say bad words, etc.
E.g. I defamed and criticized someone. I said she's ugly, short, etc. Days will pass and I may forget - but Allah never forgets.
He will make you go through a situation where someone says the same thing to you. كما تدين تدان, because Allah is الديّان - The One who recompenses people for their deeds. How you deal with the people, you'll be dealt with.
We are nurtured by Allah to teach us who He is.
E.g. When Allah bestows a blessing upon someone else and you feel envious, you have lack of belief in the name of Allah الرزاق. You aren't pleased with Allah - as if you're saying, "Why did Allah give her and not me? How come she has and I don't?", questioning and accusing the wisdom of Allah.
E.g. The Angels
This is the article of faith we are perhaps most unaware of, although the Prophet ﷺ said that they accompany us day and night. They don't leave us; they're with us all the time.
When my belief regarding this reaches certainty I would show shyness to the Angels. I wouldn't do shameful actions or go to disgraceful places. I'll take care of my hygiene, I'll speak good words, etc.
a)
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ:”إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الشِّمَالِ لِيَرْفَعُ الْقَلَمَ سِتَّ سَاعَاتٍ عَنِ الْعَبْدِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْمُخْطِئِ أَوِ الْمُسِيءِ، فَإِنْ نَدِمَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ اللَّهَ مِنْهَا أَلْقَاهَا، وَإِلا كُتِبَتْ وَاحِدَ
When this information reaches the level of certainty I'll immediately ask Allah to forgive me when I commit a sin.
b) Allah said in (50:18):
The Angels write my good and bad deeds. When my knowledge reaches the level of certainty, I won't waste my time and life, I'd always be doing good - because I want my angel to always be writing good deeds for me.
If you are writing the lecture or typing it, as long as your intention is for Allah, the Angel is writing it for you. Nothing will be wasted with Allah.
c)
" مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ يُصْبِحُ الْعِبَادُ فِيهِ إِلاَّ مَلَكَانِ يَنْزِلاَنِ فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا، وَيَقُولُ الآخَرُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا "
Narrated Abu Huraira that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser.' "
A person who believes this with certainty would spend of his knowledge, money, etc. for the benefit of the people.
We should strengthen our knowledge regarding the unseen - Starting with Allah until the Qadar. This will prevent a person form being negligent, lazy, always relaxing. This person would always be diligent and keen to fill his record of good deeds.
If we knew this all, we would laugh little and weep much. We'd weep with sorrow and regret over all the chances and opportunities that came to us which we didn't take advantage of.
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