بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
An Advice from the Prophet ﷺ
The time of the person in this life is precious. Everyday you live in this Dunya is a booty for you. Whoever does not maintain his time by spending it in obedience to Allah and in coming close to Allah, will be in great loss. If he does not gain benefit of his days in his life, he is a loser with Allah.
Especially with the Fitan (trials) that are surrounding us in the world and in our lives, we require a great admonition to awaken our hearts from its heedlessness, to bring our souls out of negligence and laziness, and to motivate us to do good deeds. The Prophet ﷺ gave this admonition to the Companions, which has a great effect on those who understand it's meaning:
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اغْتَنِمْ خَمْسًا قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ وَصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِكَ وَغِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ وَفَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغُلِكَ وَحَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.”
[Reported by Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak and Authenticated by Al-Albani]
What prevents people from taking advantage of these 5 before the occurrence of the other 5? التسويف (Procrastination) and التأجيل (Delaying). This is the opposite of taking advantage of what you are in now. How many people procrastinated, and their procrastination destroyed them. And how many people lost the attainment of high ranks and virtues because of their delayance in the performance of good deeds. The mindful person never delays, rather he hastens towards taking advantage of these 5 before the occurrence of the other 5.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
التؤدة في كل شيء إلا في عمل الآخرة
"Deliberateness is required in every matter except for the matter of the Hereafter." [Abu Dawud and Authenticated by Al-Albani]
You have to hasten towards any matter that benefits you with regards to the Hereafter. However, take your time with regards to worldly matters.
Some of these 5 matters, if they pass, will not come back again. If a person is old, he will never become young again. And if a person dies, he will never come back to life again. As for the other matters, a person may get them back again.
#1 - شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ - Your Youth before your Old Age
He ﷺ started with the most important and dangerous stage of life - ones youth. This is the stage of strength, energy, beauty, wellbeing, joy. It is a critical stage in the life of a person. If he did not spend it in good and in obedience and in coming close to Allah, he will be a loser, because he will be asked about it on the Day of Judgement.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
لاَ تَزُولُ قَدَمَا ابْنِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّهِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ خَمْسٍ عَنْ عُمْرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ شَبَابِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلاَهُ وَمَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ وَمَاذَا عَمِلَ فِيمَا عَلِمَ
"The feet of the son of Adam shall not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgement, until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his youth and what he wore it out in, about his wealth and how he earned it and spent it upon, and what he did with what he knew."' [At-Tirmithi]
The Hadith began with youth, and ended with life. Youth is included in our life, but the Prophet ﷺ mentioned it separately because of its importance. We will be asked a general question about our lives from its beginning to end, and we will be asked specifically about this stage in our life and what we spent it in. We have to prepare an answer to the questions.
If the stage of youth goes by and the person does not spend it in good and on what pleases Allah, he will be in great loss. The guided youth who realizes the importance of this stage of his life, maintains his time and life in obeying Allah. This is the guided youth. He does whatever Allah ordered him with, and stays away from what Allah warned him against. With regards to this stage, one is either one of the losers or one of the winners, so be one of the winners. Do not be deceived by this worldly life and be tempted with this Dunya. This Dunya is a vanishing life and a test for us. This does not mean that we cannot enjoy our lives, but enjoy it in a way which is pleasing to Allah.
#2 - وَصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِكَ - Your Good Health before your Sickness
The person who enjoys good health and wellbeing should not think that he will always be in it. Good health is followed by sickness, so take advantage of it in coming closer to Allah. Allah said in Surah ar-Rum [30:54]:
"Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And it is He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful (i.e. Able to do all things)."
This is the Sunnah (way) of Allah in the earth. No matter how much you try to delay the stage of weakness, it will come.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
عُمُرُ أُمَّتِي مِنْ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً إِلَى سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً
The lifespan for my Ummah is from sixty years to seventy [years]. [At-Tirmithi]
One should not be deceived with his health and strength, because it will not remain. The sick regret that they did not spend their good health in obeying Allah. There are many who are strong and have good health and do not pray voluntary, nor get up for the night prayer, nor fast voluntary. If you do not spend your good health in voluntary fasting and prayer, when will you do it? Many people are deceived by their health and wellbeing, so they waste it in committing sins. Allah has given us eyes, ears, strength in body, but people spend their eyes, ears in watching films and in doing wrong. Allah has given us these blessings in order to use it in good.
Only when people's eyesight become weak do they wish they can read the Quran. How many wish to put their face on the ground to make Sujood and they cannot, and yet we are enjoying good health and not prostrating and praying voluntary prayers. Do not wait until you become old and sick.
Note: If an old person who cannot prostrate because of a knee problem or weakness, used to obey Allah in his youth, then this stage he is in will not harm him. Rather, the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِذَا مَرِضَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ سَافَرَ، كُتِبَ لَهُ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ مُقِيمًا صَحِيحًا
"When a slave falls ill or travels, then he will get reward similar to that he gets for good deeds practiced at home when in good health." [Bukhari]
If he obeyed Allah in good health, even though he cannot prostrate to Allah now, then the reward of what he used to do in good health will be written for him. This is out of the mercy of Allah. But the problem is not in the guided one nor in the person who was obedient, the problem is in the one who was not prostrating to Allah.
#3 - وَغِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ - Your Richness before your Poverty
If a person finds abundance in his wealth and provision, he should understand that this stage he is in will not remain until the end. The Prophet ﷺ said,
حق على الله أن لا يرتفع شئ من الدنيا إلا وضعه
"It is Allah's Way that he lowers whatever raises itself in the world." [Al-Bukhari]
This is a law of Allah with regards to worldly matters. There is nothing that goes up, but Allah will bring it down. The person will never remain in the same state throughout his life.
If a person is abundant in his wealth and provision, he should take advantage of it by spending it in obligatory acts of worship (e.g. in Zakat, on his family, on his parents) and in voluntary acts of worship (e.g. in charity, in religious projects, etc.) before he is in a state where he cannot spend.
There was a lady who was so rich who said that she never expected that now, one day she would be the one extending her hand to receive the Zakat.
Many people who enjoy good health, abundant wealth, and are in wellbeing, transgress the bounds with Allah. Allah said in Surah al-Alaq [96:6-7]:
"Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds (in disbelief and evil deed, etc.)."
Why?
"Because he considers himself self-sufficient."
He feels him self sufficient - he has everything so he does not need anybody. This makes him transgress the bounds with Allah, except the ones whom Allah saves from that.
If Allah extends your provision for you, take advantage of it because you do not know what will happen after.
#4 - وَفَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغُلِكَ - Your Free Time before Preoccupation
Time is a precious thing. Take advantage of every moment that passes you to come closer to Allah. Spend your time in doing anything you can do to come closer to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس: الصحة، والفراغ
"There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good)" [Bukhari]
Most people who have good health and abundant wealth hardly behave correctly, except those whom Allah has mercy on. It is tempting when one is in good health and have abundant wealth, so the person does whatever he wants without thinking of the Hereafter. The Hereafter seems something far away.
#5 - وَحَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ - and Your Life before your Death
The life of a person has an appointed term. In Surah Ar-Ra'd [13:38]:
"(For) each and every matter there is a Decree"
If the appointed term of a person reaches its due time, he can neither delay nor postpone it. At that exact time, the Angels will take the soul of the person. Therefore, the mindful person is he who is keen to take advantage of his life in obedience to Allah and in what brings him closer to Allah. Every hour of his life should increase him in goodness and closeness to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ used to invoke Allah with the following dua:
You are asking Allah for the صلاح (reformation) of your Religion, your worldly life, and your Hereafter, and to make this worldly life an increase for you in every good, and to make death a rest for you from every evil. This is a comprehensive Dua which a person should ask Allah with.
This worldly life is a passing abode and not the abode of eternity. Ali رضي الله عنه used to say: "The Dunya is departing and the Hereafter is approaching, and each of them have children. So be the children of the Hereafter and do not be the children of the Dunya. Today there is work and no recompense, and tomorrow is recompense and no work." [Al-Bukhari]
The wise man is the one who takes account of himself and works for what is after death, and the incapable person is the one who follows his desires and wishes false hopes. This is a great admonition from the Prophet ﷺ for his companions and for us.
There was an old man whose death everyone was expecting. In that same family, a youth was struck with death before him. No one knows when death will come. You do not know what your name will be tomorrow - dead or alive.
Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to say, "If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death." [Al-Bukhari]
This is how we should live in the Dunya, by living for the Hereafter. And the best thing we should spend our lives and time in doing is acquiring knowledge. Acquiring knowledge is the most virtuous deed after the obligatory acts of worship.
عن النووي وَقَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ النَّافِلَةِ وَقَالَ لَيْسَ بَعْدَ الْفَرَائِضِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ وَقَالَ مَنْ أَرَادَ الدُّنْيَا فَعَلَيْهِ بِالْعِلْمِ وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالْعِلْمِ
An-Nawawi reported: Ash-Shafi’ee, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Seeking knowledge is better than voluntary prayers.” And he said, “Nothing after the obligations is better than seeking knowledge.” And he said, “Whoever desires the world should seek knowledge, and whoever desires the Hereafter should seek knowledge.” [Majmu’ Sharh Al-Muhadhab 1/42]
Be keen to acquire knowledge. Spend your free time, good health, and youth in acquiring knowledge. This is one of the most important عبادات (acts of worship) one should spend his life and time in acquiring. And the noblest, most important knowledge that one should seek is the knowledge about Allah:
The Importance of Learning the Names of Allah
#1 - The Topic of the Names of Allah form the Core of our Belief
The foundation of our Eeman is belief in the unseen. The first description of the believers in Surah al-Baqarah [2:3] is يؤمنون بالغيب (They believe in the unseen). And Allah is Ghaib. The cornerstone of الإيمان بالغيب (belief in the unseen) is belief in Allah.
#2 - Allah commanded us to Believe in Him
We are commanded to believe in Him through the tongues of the Prophets and Messengers. How can you believe in Him when you do not know His Names and Attributes? We have to believe in what Allah has mentioned about His noble self through the tongue of the Messengers and Prophets.
Allah commanded us in Surat Al-Hadid [57:7]:
"Believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allah's Way), theirs will be a great reward."
We should know Allah and believe in Him with certainty; without any doubt. And this knowledge and belief should have an effect on our actions.
E.g. One of the greatest Names which people always repeat is the Name of Allah الرزاق (Ar-Razzaq - The Provider). But the believer recalls this Name through the situations he goes through. If he sees people loving him, he will say that this is a رزق (Rizq - Provision) from Allah. If he sees people turning away from him, he will say that this was not written as a رزق (Rizq - Provision) for him by Allah. If he has a good neighbour or companion, he will say it is a رزق from Allah. This is the believer, whom belief in the name of Allah الرزاق (Ar-Razzaq) has reached the level of certainty, such that he sees everything as a رزق from Allah. He will not say, "People like me because I am good.". He uses the Names of Allah in every situation he goes through.
When the knowledge of Allah dominates the thoughts of the person, it means that his belief has reached the degree of certainty. And this increases through situations. Allah will make the person go through situations after situations to increase him in certainty.
#3 - Belief in Allah is the Foundation of Your Belief in the Other Pillars of Faith
The Connection between Belief in Allah and Belief in the Day of Judgement: Allah has appointed a day to account all of mankind and Jinn.
The Connection between Belief in Allah and Belief in the Angels: Allah is the One who created the Angels in order to carry out His orders. He does not need them. He created them from light and they are great in creation, to indicate the greatness of the Creator.
The Connection between Belief in Allah and Belief in the Qadar: Allah decreed everything before the creation of the heavens and the earth by 50,000 years.
The Connection between Belief in Allah and Belief in the Messengers and Books: Allah chose and sent Messengers from among mankind and sent Books in order to guide the people to Tawheed. The universal message of the Prophets was Tawheed; to know Allah and worship Him alone.
The rest of the articles of faith are based on Belief in Allah. If your belief in Allah is weak, your belief in the Day of Judgement, and your belief in the Angels and the rest of the pillars of faith will also be weak.
Who is the believer? The believer is the person who received news about the unseen from the Qur'an and Sunnah and believed in it with certainty. Then, this belief motivated him to take the correct action.
E.g. The believer hears that Allah will grasp the earth on the Day of Judgement, and that He will roll the heavens like a scroll, and he receives this news with certainty. He looks to the sky and thinks that one day Allah will roll the heavens like a scroll. His thoughts are full of belief in the news he received in the Qur'an.
E.g. The believer hears that Allah created Adam عليه السلام with His two Hands. He will have no doubt that Allah created Adam عليه السلام from dust and with His two Hands, in the best form, and then taught Him the name of everything. Whoever believes in this with certainty will not accept it if someone tries to convince him of the theory of evolution and that we evolved from apes. His certain belief will reject that.
#4 - The First Question in our Graves is: Who is Your Lord?
In order to be able to answer this question, you should be able to know who Allah is. Our belief is not inherited from our forefathers. Belief is something that is attained with time and effort. People are not created hypocrites and believers; when they do actions they become either believers or hypocrites. Just because you are born a Muslim does not mean that you will die a Muslim.
#5 - Knowing Allah by His Names, Attributes, and Actions affect the Attentivity of our Hearts During Acts of Worship
When you know Allah, your heart will be more attentive when you perform acts of worship.
E.g. You say سمع الله لمن حمده (Sami' Allah Liman Hamidah - Allah Hears who praises Him) in Salaat.
Your belief in the Name of Allah السميع (The All-Hearer) is required from you in this position. Allah Hears and Responds. Because you believe that Allah Hears and Responds, you will say:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ
"Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal-hamd, mil'as-samawati wa mil'al-ardi wa mil'ama shi'ta min shai'in ba'd"
(O Allah, our Lord, to You be the Praise, filling the heavens, filling the Earth, and filling whatever else You will.)
[An-Nasaa'i]
And you say it expecting reward from Allah. Allah Hears what you said, so you expect reward. Your firm belief in that Allah hears you makes you say these words.
There are many acts of worships that are neglected or performed weakly because of lack of knowledge about Allah.
E.g. الإستعاذة (Istiaadhah - Seeking Refuge with Allah) is an act of worship which we all practice, but what Names of Allah should we bring in front of us when saying it? Seeking refuge means that there is something you are scared of. You are running away from something which is chasing you - the Waswaas of the Shaytan, fear of the future, etc. You are taking shelter in Allah, who is العزيز (Al-Aziz), الحفيظ (Al-Hafeeth), القوي (Al-Qawiyy), القهار (Al-Qahhar). When you are afraid you do not seek shelter in one who is weak, but in one who is strong. You are seeking refuge with the one who is All-Strong, the Almighty, whom no one can overpower or repel His commands. If you are in His shelter and protection, no one can harm you. No one can escape from the power of Allah, everything is within His dominion. If this is your belief, your Istiaadhah will be strong. Nothing will be able to scare you anymore.
Knowing Allah by His Names and Attributes affects our acts of worships. Our acts of worships are weak and have no effect because our belief in Allah is weak. The believer seeks refuge with Allah while having full trust and confidence in Allah. He does not doubt in Allah. If you are seeking refuge with Allah and there is no effect, it means that your belief is weak.
In all the verses where Allah commands us to seek refuge from the Shaytan, Allah concluded it with the Name العليم (Al-'Aleem). Allah knows how much you have trust and confidence in Him, and He will be for you as you think of Him.
Examine your Khushoo' in your prayer, your Tawakkul in your affairs, etc.
#6 - Psychological and Mental Health
Nowadays, many are not concerned with taking the means for their mental health, for rest and peace of mind. In Arabic this is called صلاح البال - where the heart and mind is peaceful and at rest. In Surah Muhammad [47:2]:
"But those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad, for it is the truth from their Lord, He will expiate from them their sins, and will make good their state."
As-Sa'di رحمه الله said:
أي: أصلح دينهم ودنياهم، وقلوبهم وأعمالهم، وأصلح ثوابهم، بتنميته وتزكيته، وأصلح جميع أحوالهم،
Meaning: He will reform their Religion and their worldly affairs, their hearts and deeds, and He will reform their reward, by cultivating and purifying it, and He will reform all of their affairs.
Why did Allah do all that for them? In Verse 3:
"That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah set forth their parables for mankind."
والسبب في ذلك أنهم: ﴿اتبعوا الْحَقُّ﴾
And the reason for that is because they (اتبعوا الحق - Follow the Truth)
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