hadith – Page 4 – My Little Breathing Space – I write for the few, not the many. The few that are left out!

‘Abdullahi Ibn ‘Abdan RH said:

حدثنا عبد الله أن رجلاً كان يتّبع سفيان الثوري فيجده أبداً يُخرج من لبنة – أي: طوب – رقعة ينظر فيها، فأحب أن يعلم ما فيها، فوقعت الرقعة في يده فإذا مكتوب فيها: سفيان ! اذكر وقوفك بين يدي الله عز وجل

“Abdullah told us that there was a man who used to follow Sufyan Ath-Thawri RH. He noticed that time and time again, Sufyan would take out a piece of paper from a small box which he had and gaze into it. This man became curious as per what was on the paper. It so happened that this paper fell into his hand and on it was written:

“Sufyan! Remember that you shall stand before Allah.”

What you just read was in fact common practice of our predecessors.

Many Muslims validate their lack of Islamic commitment by arguing that ‘my environment is full of haram’ or ‘no one is advising me’ This category of people won’t snap out of their sins till a third party comes along and advises them. The earlier generations didn’t wait for other people’s advice, but they would actively speak to themselves.

The companion, Anas Ibn Malik RA says:

سمعت عمر بن الخطاب يومًا، وخرجت معه، حتى دخل حائطًا، فسمعته يقول، وبيني وبينه حائط، وهو في جوف الحائط: “عمر بن الخطاب.. أمير المؤمنين.. بخ بخ، والله لتتقين الله يا ابن الخطاب، أو ليعذبنك!”

“I was once walking with ‘Umar Ibn Khattab till a walk separated us. I heard him saying to himself from the other side of the wall, “Umar Ibn Khattab?! Leader of the believers?! Well, you will either fear Allah, O ‘Umar or He will punish you!!”

It may be something which you hang up in front of your desk, or it may be Islamic lectures which you keep your ears plugged in with on the way to and back from work/school, or righteous friends whom you regularly ask for advice or it may even be a piece of paper which you keep with you, similar to Sufyan Ath-Thawri’s RH piece of paper.

Also, in recent times Muhammad Ali – the famous boxer used to say, “I don’t smoke but I keep a match box in my pocket. When my heart slips towards a sin, I burn a matchstick and heat my palm. Then I say to myself:‘Ali You can’t bear even this heat, how would you bear the unbearable heat of Hell?’

Allah grant us his awareness and consciousness. Ameen Ya Rabb!

Anonymous.

The Best of the Best. . .

The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

“The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” (Muslim)

“The best of people are those with the most excellent character.” (Tabarâni, Sahîh)

“The best of marriages are the easiest ones.” (Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh)

“The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses.”(Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahîh)

“The best of you are those who feed others and return greetings.” (Abu Ya’lâ, Hasan)

“The best of that which you treat yourself with is cupping.” (Hâkim, Sahîh)

“The best of days that you should perform cupping are the 17th, 19th and 21st of the month. I did not pass a single gathering of angels on the night of Isrâ’ except that they would say to me, ‘O Muhammad, perform cupping!’” (Ahmad, Sahîh)

“The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the continuous ones, even if they are little.”(Agreed upon)

“The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: Subhânallah, Alhamdulillâh, Lâ ilâhaillallah and Allahu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with.” (Muslim)

“The best of provision is that which suffices.” (Ahmad in ‘Zuhd’, Hasan)

“The best of dowries are the easiest.” (Hâkim, Sahîh)

“The most beloved word according to me is that which is most truthful.” (Bukhâri)

“The best of dinars are:the dinâr spent by a man upon his dependents, the dinâr spent by a man upon his horse in the path of Allah and the dinâr spent by a man upon his companions in the path of Allah, the Mighty, the Magnificent.”(Muslim)

“The best word of remembrance is: Lâ ilâha illallah and the best supplication is:Alhamdulillâh.” (Tirmidhî, Hasan)

“The best of all martyrs are those who fight in the front line; they do not turn their faces away until they are killed.

“They will be rolling around in the highest rooms of Paradise, their Lord laughing at them – when your Lord laughs at a servant, there is no accounting for him.”(Ahmad, Sahîh)

“The best of all charity is that which is given to the relative that harbours enmity against you.”(Ahmad, Sahîh)

“The best prayer is that with the longest standing.” (Muslim)

“The best of all worship is supplication(dua).” (Hâkim, Sahîh)

“The best deed is the prayer in its right time and Jihâd in the path of Allah.” (Bayhaqi, Sahîh)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: “Which of the believers are the most intelligent?” He (ﷺ) replied, “Those who remember death the most, and are best prepared for what comes after it.Those are the intelligent ones.” (Reported by Tabraani, Ibn Majah, classed as Hasan)