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Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, Ar-Rooh, p. 79.
Translated by Ahmed Abu Turaab @ http://wp.me/p23HnI-38

Ibn al-Qayyim said,

‘Avoid those things that necessitate the punishment of the grave.

And from the most beneficial of them is that when a man wants to sleep, he sits for an hour, for the Sake of Allaah, calling himself to account over the things that he has lost and gained during that day of his. Then, between him and his Lord, he renews his sincere repentance over those things that he lost, and sleeps on that repentance, firmly resolving not to return to the sin when he wakes up–and he does this every night.

So if he dies on that night of his, he would have died upon repentance and if he wakes up, he will wake up going towards action, pleased with the postponement of his appointed time so that he can turn to his Lord and set right what he missed out on.

And there is nothing more beneficial for the servant than this sleep, especially when he follows that [i.e., his resolve to renew his repentance] up with the remembrance of Allaah, performing those sunnahs which have been reported from the Prophet of Allaah when going to bed, [doing so] until sleep overtakes him.

So whoever Allaah wishes good for, He will grant him the success to do that. And there is neither movement, nor power except through Allaah.”

Ar-Rooh, p. 79.

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Ad-Daa wad-Dawaa, pp. 91-92, slightly edited.
Translated by Ahmed Abu Turaab

Ibn al-Qayyim said, “So it may become impossible for him to pronounce the shahaadah, as many people have witnessed happen to those on the deathbed, such that it was said to some of them:

“Say Laa ilaaha illallaah.” So he replied, “Aaah! Aaah! I cannot say it!”

And it was said to another, “Say Laa ilaaha illallaah.” So he replied, “King!  Rook!  Checkmate!” and then he passed away.

And it was said to another, “Say Laa ilaaha illallaah.” So he started singing irrationally, saying, ‘Taatinaa tinintaa, [no meaning, just irrational singing]’ and then passed away.

And the same was said to another, so he replied, “And how will what you are saying help me when I left no sin except that I committed it?” and then he passed away without saying it.

And the same was said to another, so he replied, “And how will that benefit me? And I don’t know if I have ever prayed a single time to Allaah?” and then he passed away without saying it.

And the same was said to another, so he replied [talking about himself], “He is a disbeliever in what you say,” and then he passed away.

And the same was said to another, so he replied, “Every time I want to say it my tongue withholds.”

And someone who was present at the death of someone who would beg told me that [they told him to say the shahaadah] so he started saying, “For Allaah’s Sake. A penny for Allaah’s Sake,” until he passed away.

And a trader told me that he was present when one of his relatives was on his deathbed, so they told him to say Laa ilaaha illallaah and he was saying, “This piece is cheap. This is a good buy. This is such and such,” until he passed away.

So if the devil has gained mastery over the servant in the state when his mind is present and his strength [is also present] and he has complete cognizance, and has employed him in committing whichever acts of disobedience to Allaah he wants him to do, and has made him unmindful of the remembrance of Allaah the Most High, and has paralysed his tongue from remembering Him and his limbs from obeying Him–then what does one think will be the case when his strength breaks down and his heart and soul become preoccupied with the death pangs that he is in?

And [all the while] Shaitaan will have gathered all of his strength and determination and assembled everything that he is capable of to avail his opportunity concerning him–for that is the last action.

So the strongest his Shaitaan will be against him will be at that time, and the weakest he [i.e., the person] will be will be at that time.

So who do you think will be safe from that? So it is there that, “Allaah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word [i.e., 'the firm word' is Laa ilaaha illallaah], in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allaah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allaah does what He wills.” Ibraaheem 14:27

So how can someone whose heart Allaah has made heedless from His remembrance and who has followed his desires and whose affair is ever [in] neglect be granted the success to have a good ending?

Thus far away–the one whose heart is distant from Allaah the Most High, heedless of Him, worshipping his own desires, a slave to his lusts, his tongue dry from ever remembering Allaah [i.e., not moist with His remembrance], his limbs incapacitated from obeying Him actively working to disobey Him–far away [is such a person] from being granted the success to have a good ending.”

Ad-Daa wad-Dawaa, pp. 91-92, slightly edited.
http://giftsofknowledge.wordpress.com

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• From The Foundations of Evils (salaf-us-saalih.com)

Bismillahi wal hamdullillah was salaatu was Salaamu ‘Alaa Rasoolillah

Wa B’ad:

It has been authentically narrated upon the messenger (saw) that he said: “Indeed the actions are by ones final action” (Collected by Tabaraani in Mu’jam Al Kabeer 6/143)

The hadeeth deals with a reality, and that is the importance of ones final action and the fact that ones final action is something of an indicator of ones outcome.

This affair is discussed in more detail in the following Hadeeth:

Upon the Authority of Abdullah ibn Amr (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhumaa) who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah came out to us (on an occasion) with two books in his hands and said: ”Do you know what these two books are? so we said ‘No Oh messenger of Allah! Unless you inform us! So He said concerning the book in his right hand: “This is a book from the Lord of all the worlds, in it are the names of the people of paradise, their fathers names and their tribes. Their information is then summerised (at the end of the book) and concluded. There will be no increase (to the contents of the book) nor (decrease from it). Then he said concerning the book in his left hand: “This is a book from the lord of all the worlds in it are the names of the people of the hellfire, their fathers and their tribes. Their information is then summerised (at the end of the book) and concluded. There will be no increase (to the book) nor (decrease from it) ever.

(So) do that which is correct (and good) and come as close as possible to being upright and balanced. For indeed the last action that a person of paradise will perform (in the life of this world) will be one of the actions of the people of paradise (ie a good action), regardless of the actions he performs (ie through his life). And indeed the last action a person of the hellfire will perform (in the life of this world), will be one of the actions of the people of hellfire, regardless of the actions he performs (ie through his life). Your lord has concluded (grouping) his servants. (Then he recited) “A party in paradise and a party in Hellfire (Suratush Shuraa Vs “7)“

(collected by Ahmad, At Tirmidhi and Nasaa’ie and declared ‘Saheeh’ By shaikh Al Albaani in Saheehul Jaami’ 88)

And Allah’s Aid is Sought!
Abu Hakeem Bilal Davis @ SP
http://ah-sp.com/2011/09/06/what-will-your-final-deed-be

Rectify what remains of your life
Advice from Fudail ibn Iyaad

Fudail ibn lyaad, may Allah have mercy upon him, encountered a man, so he asked him the following questions:

Fudail ibn Iyaad: “How old are you?”

The man: “Sixty years old.”

Fudail ibn lyaad: “Thus you—for the past sixty years have been upon a journey towards the meeting with your Lord and you have almost reached your destination.’

The man: “Verily from Allah we come and to Him we shall return.”

Fudail ¡bn lyaad: “Do you know the meaning of this statement?”

The man: “Yes. I know that I am a slave of Allah and ¡ am returning to Him.”

Fudail ibn Iyaad: “Oh my brother; whoever knows that he is a slave of Allah and that he is going to rernrn to Him: then let him also know that he is going to stand in front of Him. And whoever knows that he is going to stand in front of Him then let him also know that he is going to be questioned. And whoever knows that he is going to he questioned then let him prepared answers for the questions.”

The man: “What is the solution?”

Fudail ibn Iyaad: “It’s simple.”

The man: “What is it?”

Fudail ibn Iyaad: “Rectify what remains (of your life) and you will be forgiven for what has already passed by; but if you misuse what remains (of your life) then you will be taken to account for that which has passed by and that which remains.”

Translated by Rasheed Barbee
Note: This is not a translation of Shaykh Raslaan’s speech, rather it is a translation of the narration that he is speaking about.
http://mtws.posterous.com/rectify-what-remains-of-your-life-advice-from

The time is the life of the servant, it was said by a poet

“…and the time is the most precious thing that you can have concern for preserving–and I see that it is the easiest thing which can be wasted”

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said:

“The wasting of time is more severe than death. That is because the matter of death cuts you off from the worldly life whereas the wasting of time cuts you off from Allaah”

The time is the capital of your wealth. That is because your life which Allaah has decreed for you, He wants that you attain with it the honor of the Deen and the bliss of the hereafter. Therefore if you waste it, the reality of your worldly life will be wasted as well as your hereafter being plundered. There is no (worldly) loss greater upon the servant than the wasting of his time.

The prophet said (what means):

“Take advantage of 5 things before 5 things overcome you:

1. Take advantage of your youth before your old age.
   
2. Take advantage of your health before your sickness.
   
3. Take advantage of of you life before your death.
   
4. Take advantage of your richness before you poverty, and
5. Take advantage of your free time before becoming preoccupied.”
   [Narrated by al-Haakim on the authority of Ibn Abbaas.]

So the question stands,

is the wasting of these prize possessions to be considered from the happiness of the Muslim? Therefore with the time the Muslim has the ability to capitalize off of everything that has been mentioned in the hadeeth….

This was taken from “Tahdheerul-Bashar min Usoolish-Sharr” of The Noble Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdillaah al-Imaam (may Allaah preserve him) Page #57-58, Daarul-Aathaar.

May Allaah benefit you all with that which has been mentioned, Aameen.

Abu Yusuf Khaleefah.
http://31097.multiply.com/journal/item/2/From_The_Foundations_of_Evils

How will I answer my Rabb about my sins on the day of gathering?

Source : http://www.dusunnah.com/

In the name of Allaah, The Most Beneficent, Bestower of Mercy.

Diligence upon the Reasons that bring about Happiness and Avoid the Reasons that bring about Misery by Sheikh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.

Source: http://sahab.net/home/index.php?Site=News&Show=857
Translator: Abu Fouzaan Qaasim

Beware! Oh my brother of this horrified spectacle (The Day of Resurrection)!
Beware that your scale will be lightened (due to your lack of good deeds)!
Beware that you will be given your book in your left hand!
For indeed, that is a terrible affliction.

Be diligent upon attaining the means that bring about happiness and safety; that your scale be heavy (with good deeds), that you receive your book in your right hand and be amidst the successful and happy people (on that day).

This abode (i.e. The Dunya), is the abode of reckoning (i.e. of the self). So call yourself to account! Look at your actions day, night and forever until you expire.

Thus, if you are upright and steadfast then praise Allaah and thank Him and be patient and persevere and ask your Lord for success and stability.

However, if you have been disregardful and lethargic in many affairs then you must check yourself! Repent to Allaah, be upright, and repair that which you have been sluggish in, be steadfast upon the commandments of Allaah and stay away from the prohibitions of Allaah with a sincere intention solely for Him, yearning for what He possesses with Him accompanied with truthfulness.

Allaah says: [Oh you who believe! Have taqwah of Allaah and be with those who are truthful]. 9: 119
Therefore there must be truthfulness found in the individual.

(Again) Allaah says: [Oh you who believe! Have taqwah of Allaah and be with those who are truthful]. 9: 119
And He says: [Then if they had been true to Allaah, it would have been better for them]. 47: 21

Allaah also says at the end of Surah al-Maaidah:

[This is the Day on which the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness; they will have Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) they shall abide therein forever. Allaah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise)]. 5: 119

This is the state of the truthful ones, those who are truthful with Allaah in implementing the haqq (truth), leaving off what Allaah has forbade, striving against the soul with good, racing towards the good, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, encouraging one another with the truth and good advise to Allaah and to His slaves.

Whoever strives against his own self will find a praiseworthy outcome and he will reap the benefit of that in the Dunya and Aakhirah. But whosoever is careless and negligent of this affair (i.e. striving against one’s self) then he will regret the outcome.

So, it is a must to be cautious (of this matter). And you must examine yourself day and night asking: “What have I done”? “What have I been neglectful in”?! In order for you to know what is for you and what is against you.

Furthermore, beware of accompanying the wretched ones! Those who hinder you from doing good and aid you in doing evil. It is upon you to accompany the upright persons, those who when you recollect about an affair they assist you, when you forget they remind you with the good, those who strive with you, who are patient with you and they help and support you upon the good.

(Again) it is mandatory that you befriend the best of the people. Because a person is on the deen of his companion. He is going to be upon what his companion is upon. Thus, be eager in befriending the righteous and decent people. Those who help you upon the good and remind you when you forget and goad you when you become lazy.

You must accompany the honorable and avoid accompanying the wicked; those who impede you from what is correct and lead you to falsehood. Be cautious of associating with them. Because the believer, according to his condition, if he advises for Allaah and for His slaves and sticks with the upright persons he will achieve the utmost happiness and success. But if he abandons and neglects (what was just mentioned) he will have the utmost remorse.

Thus, oh you slave of Allaah; you must adorn yourself with the mannerisms of the Believers and abide by them. Allaah He says: [The Believers, men and women, are Auliyaa' (helpers, supporters, friends etc.) of one another, they enjoin the good and forbid the evil, they perform the Salat and give the Zakat and obey Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah will have mercy upon them. Surely Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise]. 9: 71

And the Messenger, sallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: “All of my nation will enter Paradise except those who refuse. It was said: Oh Messenger of Allaah! Who will refuse?! He, sallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me then he has refused.” [1]

Hence, whoever obeys Allaah and His messenger, sallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, enters Paradise and achieves the greatest success. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His messenger, sallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, then he has refused and exposed himself to the anger of Allah and His punishment.

So, it is imperative to be alert and to fight against the soul.

Allaah, The Most High, says:

[As for those who strive in Us (for Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (Allaah's Religion). And verily, Allaah is with the gooddoers]. 29: 69

And He says:

[And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the cause of Allaah) and the patient ones, and We shall test your facts (i.e. the one who is a liar and the one who is truthful]. 47: 31

Hence, striving is incumbent and bearing patiently is also incumbent.

Allaah, The Most High, says:

[And whosoever strives he only strives for himself. Verily Allaah is free of all wants from the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists]. 29: 6

Therefore strive against yourself! So that perhaps you will be saved. Because you are in danger, this abode is an abode of danger, an abode of deception, an abode of tribulations.

Allaah He says: [And what is the worldly life except a deceiving enjoyment]. 3: 185

And He says: [Your wealth and your children are only trials, whereas Allaah! With Him is a great reward (Paradise]. 64:15

You are in an abode of deceptions, trials, lusts, and an abode of allurement to commit what Allaah has prohibited. You have to be heedful as long as you are present in this life. Fight against your soul, be forbearing upon the obedience of your Lord and be mindful of His disobedience. Cling to those who are upright and watch out for the evil ones.

This is the path to success. This is the path to salvation and the road to good.

The Prophet, sallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: “Whoever Allaah wants good for He gives him understanding of the Religion.” [2]

So it is upon you to learn and seek understanding and insight of the Religion.

Footnotes:

[1] Collected by Bukhaari: Hadeeth of Abee Hurayrah.
[2] Collected by Bukhaari and Muslim: Hadeeth of Mu’aawiyah

Recieved in mail from sister UmmSalsabeel via SalafiEducation Yahoo group

Guarding Asr and Fajr prayers and seeing Allah – by Sheikh Bin Baz

The following is a summary translation taken from sahab.net

http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=361083

Question:

I want from the Noble Sheikh an answer to this question. The Messenger of Allah ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ said, as has been narrated by the two Sheikhs, ‎Verily you shall see your Lord with your eyes as you are able to see this moon, you will have no difficulty in seeing Him; therefore if you have the ability to be diligent in the prayer before the sun rises and before it sets then do so.
The question is, why does this Hadith make a connection between seeing Allah ‎‎ ‎‎‎ with the Asr and Fajr prayers? Is guarding the prayer at these two times a reason for seeing Allah ‎‎ ‎‎‎?

Sheikh Bin Baz:

Seeing Allah ‎‎‎‎‎‎ in paradise and on the Day of Judgment is the truth, the believers will see Him, and this will be the greatest bliss for the people of paradise. When He removes the veil from His Face and they see Him, they would not have seen anything more beloved to them than looking at His Face ‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎.

And the Prophet ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ informed us that the believers will see Him on the Day of Judgment with their eyes just as they are able to see the clear sun when there are no clouds and like they are able to see the moon when the moon is full, and they will have no difficulty in seeing Him; this is a confirmed truth with Ahlus Sunnah wa Jamah.

Then the Prophet ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ said, ‎Therefore if you have the ability to be diligent in the prayer before the sun rises and before it sets then do so‎,; and what is intended here is the Asr prayer and Fajr prayer.

The people of knowledge mentioned that the secret in this is that the one who guards these two prayers will be from those who see Allah morning and evening. They will see Allah morning and evening in paradise, meaning the time that will be regarded as morning and evening because in paradise there is no night rather it is only continuation day. Therefore what is intended is that which will be regarded as morning and evening, as Allah the Exalted says, ‎And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening‎. (Chapter 19 verse 62) Meaning that which is regarded as morning and evening in this world, and like this shall be the viewing of Allah during that time which is regarded as morning and evening.

Meaning the exclusive people of paradise, for them will be the viewing of Allah during the time between morning and evening, meaning they will see Him a lot due to their good actions and their truthfulness in faith. And from the reasons (for this blessing) are their guarding the Asr prayer and the Fajr prayer these two prayers are special. And guarding these two prayers is from the evidences of a person‎s strong faith and completeness in faith, along with guarding the other prayers.

Therefore it is obligatory to guard all the prayers but the Asr prayer and Fajr prayer are particularized with extra care and caution, because this is the opposite of what is done by the hypocrites and those who are lazy.

وَكَانَ الْفُضَيْل بْن عِيَاض يَقُول : يَا كَذَّاب يَا مُفْتَرٍ , اِتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَلَا تَسُبَّ الشَّيْطَان فِي الْعَلَانِيَة وَأَنْتَ صَدِيقُهُ فِي السِّرّ
Source

Related Links:

• Excellence of the Morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr Prayers – Riyadh ul saaliheen

It is reported that Wahb b. Munabbih – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

A scholar once asked another greater than him in knowledge,

“How much should I build?”

He replied,

“As much as shelters you from the sun and the rain.”

He asked,

“How much food should I eat?”

He replied,

“More than what keeps you hungry and less than what makes you full.”

He asked,

“How much should I wear?”

He replied,

“As the Messiah (Jesus) did.”

He asked,

“How much should I laugh?”

He replied,

“As much as appears on your face but does not make audible your voice.”

He asked,

“How much should I cry?”

He replied,

“Never tire from crying out of the fear of Allâh.”

He asked,

“How much should I hide my deeds?”

He replied,

“Until people think you had not done a good deed.”

He asked,

“How much should I make public my deeds?”

He replied,

“As much as will let the keen follow your example but not have the people talk about you.”

Wahb said.

“Everything has two ends and a middle. If you grab one end, the other will slant, but if you take the middle, both ends will balance. Stick to the balanced middle in all affairs.”

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ` 4:45.

Source: http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/