Do not be arrogant

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-A'raf (The Heights) - 7:146. From My messages shall I cause to turn away all those who, without any right, behave haughtily on earth: for, though they may see every sign [of the truth], they do not believe in it, and though they may see the path of rectitude, they do not choose to follow it-whereas, if they see a path of error, they take it for their own: this, because they have given the lie to Our messages, and have remained heedless of them,"


Do not be arrogant enough to think you are all-knowledgeable

The representative character of Muslim scholars used to be humility.  And this is something that we need to revisit. There are many proofs of this, but for now, I will only quote this story narrated by Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-‘Arabi in his "عارضة الأحوذي   Aridhat al-Ahwazi'" a commentary on Imam Tirmidhi's hadith collection.

A man was praying in the masjid beside Ibn al-Shihab al-Zuhri who was the leading authority on matters of jurisprudence on behalf of the government at that time.  Observing that the man did two two tasleema at the end of his prayers, Ibn al-Shihab asked him where he was from, as it was the norm to do only one tasleema at that time.

The man replied, "Kufa".

Ibn al-Shihab asked him further:
"Where do you get this second tasleema from?"

The man responded:
"Ibrahīm al-Nakha'ī told me that he heard from  'Alqamah Ibn Qays who learnt from  'Abdullāh Ibn Mas'ūd (رضي الله عنه)."

Ibn al-Shihab said :
"I have never heard of this"

The man responded:
"Are you aware of all the hadith of the Prophet  ﷺ ?"

Ibn al-Shihab replied, humbly :
"No"

The man continued :
"Then perhaps two-thirds of those?"

Ibn al-Shihab replied, again, humbly :
"No"

The man pressed on :
"Then perhaps half?"

Ibn al-Shihab said :
"Yes"

Here the narrator was in doubt that it might have been one-third.

So the man said to Ibn al-Shihab:
"Then you should place this hadith among the two-thirds that you have not seen yet"
 
Hearing this, Ibn-al-Shihab, the leading religious authority of the time (at least in the government), rather than rebuking him or getting angry, simply laughed, and left the man alone.  I am sure that nowadays we have plenty of people who know far less than Ibn al-Shihab al Zuhri, and if faced with such a situation, would have reacted rather harshly, and full of self-righteous condemnation for something different from their understanding.

What goals are you pursuing?

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) - 3:14  Alluring unto man is the enjoyment of worldly desires through women, and children, and heaped-up treasures of gold and silver, and horses of high mark, and cattle, and lands. All this may be enjoyed in the life of this world - but the most beauteous of all goals is with God.


What goals are you pursuing?

Once there was a farmer living in the rural outskirts, and he owned several dogs.  These dogs would laze around by the road side and would only become alert when a car or a motorbike would pass by.  Hearing the sounds of an engine, they would become instantly alert, and pursue the vehicle barking loudly and they would keep chasing it till a certain point on the road, after which they would stop and come back to their original positions and lie in wait for the next one.

A wise woman passing through the village asked the farmer:

"What do these dogs hope to achieve?"

The farmer replied:

"I know, it seems rather futile,  and a waste of time. But they have been like this since as far back as I can remember.  And is it so strange? Don't all dogs do this?"

The woman continued:

"What they do has the potential of harming the dogs themselves, or the riders, especially if it is a motorbike rider. And they do raise quite a din as well"

The farmer apologetically said:

"Is it the noise that is bothering you?"

The woman rather enigmatically quipped:

"Well yes, that, and also what will they do if they actually catch up with a vehicle?"

Do not think of yourself as being better than others

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Part of ayat An-Najm (The Star) - 53:32 He is fully aware of you when He brings you into being out of dust,  and when you are still hidden in your mothers’ wombs: do not, then, consider your­selves pure - [for] He knows best as to who is conscious of Him.


Do not think of yourself as being better than others

Once there was a diligent young man who wanted to learn Islam from the best of the best scholars. Perfect teachers. He came up with the criteria that a great scholar is one who is great in his deeds, so he will only learn from those within whom he does not find any mistakes, let alone sins.

He went up to a scholar, and requested permission to stay with him, and to learn from him with the caveat that if he finds any shortcomings, he will leave without further ado.  And it so happened that after several days he found something in the scholar that he did not like, and so he left.

Then he went looking for another scholar, and after several weeks, he found one, and repeated the process. After a few days, he left dejected due to something similar.  Finally, after several years of seeking, and spending time in the company of scholars, it is said that the number of scholars rejected by him reached ninety nine. So he was hoping against hope that the next one, that is, the hundredth one will rise up to his standard, so that he learns from him.

So, he told this hundredth fellow, a pious old wise man, the terms of his search. The old saint arranged for him to be well fed and rested, and said he will reply the next morning. Here is what he had to say:

"Son, do not wait to find one defect/flaw in me, for rest assured, I have many. You will be wasting your time. So, I have asked my family to prepare provisions for your return journey. However, since you have traveled far and wide to get here, let me offer you an idea, or an advice, if you so wish it."

The young man was open to listening to the advice. So the old man went on:

"Based on what you said, you have traveled thousands of miles and spend years in seeking out a perfect teacher or scholar, and yet, all you have to show for it is ninety-nine flaws that you found in others. Had you decided, instead, to pick one good trait from each of them, as of now, you would have been richer by ninety nine good character traits, and who knows, maybe had become a teacher in your own right. How wonderful would it have been?"

Hearing this, the youth was shocked, and was awakened to his folly and at the same time was hit with the realization that this hundredth teacher is the teacher that he was looking for.

Know your messenger peace be upon him

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

At-Taubah 9:128 Now has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful.


Know your Messenger, and Honor him(ﷺ)


Abū Bakr Ibn Mujāhid was a scholar of Islamic studies and famous reciter, used to get up to greet Shibli, which was contrary to his usual habit for anyone else.  Once his companions protested, "You rise for ash-Shibli and you do not rise for Ibn 'Isa, even though he is the wazir?"

He replied "Shall I not rise for the one whom the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) told me to respect? I saw the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) in a dream and he said to me, 'Abu Bakr, tomorrow a man of the people of Paradise will come to you, so honour him.'"  And this was the reason that Shibli received this honorable treatment from him.

A couple of nights after this, Ibn Mujahid dreamt of the Prophet (ﷺ) again who told him, "Abu Bakr, Allah has honoured you for honouring a man of the people of Paradise."

I asked, "Messenger of Allah(ﷺ), what did he do to merit this from you?' To which the Messenger(ﷺ) replied, "Every Thursday whenever he was done with each of his five daily prayers, he would remember me after every prayer and would do salwat after reciting the verse: "A Messenger has come to you from among yourselves........" (9:128)'"

Tartib al-Madarik by Qadi 'Iyad https://bewley.virtualave.net/mad8.html 

Ibn 'Isa himself was a generous and kind person, who once was approached by a person, saying "Ibn 'Isa, I am in need and the Prophet ﷺ came to me in a dream and told me to tell you that you used to recite 4000 salawat to the Prophet ﷺ every Thursday night, but last week you did not. As a recompense, you should help settle my debt." Hearing this, Ibn 'Isa wept for this was a secret not known to anybody. He generously helped the person and gave him extra, just for bringing the blessed news to him that that the Prophet ﷺ had noticed Ibn 'Isa's salutations.

Seize the day

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

"Eat and drink with good cheer in return for all [the good deeds] that you have sent ahead in days gone by!" (Al-Haqqah (The Reality) - 69:24 )


Seize the day. Or take advantage of the time that you have.

'Abdullah Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما was once on a journey out of Medīna with some of his companions.  They stopped to eat, as the weather was rather hot. When they had spread out their tablecloth, a shepherd passed by, so they invited him to eat with them. He politely declined, stating that “I am fasting.” Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said, “You are fasting on a hot day like this, while you are between these valleys walking behind these sheep?”

The shepherd replied, “I am taking advantage of these free days of mine.”

For if you read the ayat above, only those will eat and drink in the Hereafter, who have used their time wisely, to send good deeds up ahead.

Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما was impressed by this reply and said, “Can you sell one of your sheep to us? We will share some of it with you, with which you can break your fast and we will pay you for it.” The shepherd said, “They do not belong to me; they belong to my master.” Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما (wanting to test him) said, “What will your master say to you if you tell him it was eaten by a wolf?” The shepherd said that his master would believe if he said so, but said in a loud voice, “What about Allāh?” Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما was so struck by this that he kept repeating this phrase of his till they reached home. When he arrived in Medīna, he went to the shepherd’s master, bought the sheep and secured the shepherd's freedom. He then gifted all the sheep to the shepherd, who was now a free man.

What is it worth?

GOD GRANTS abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whomever He wills; and they [who are given abundance] rejoice in the life of this world - even though, as compared with the life to come, the life of this world is nought but -a fleeting pleasure

What is it worth?

One day a boy deferentially approached Dhul-Nun al-Misri with the desire forsake his life of comfort, and to spend his entire wealth (worth about a hundred thousand dirhams) on him and his entourage of dervishes. However, Dhul-Nun turned him down as he was not mature enough to take that decision, and asked him to come back when he is of age.

When the boy came of age he returned with the same request, and this time, he was permitted to do so. Soon the money was gone and the youth started keeping company of the dervishes.

Some time had passed, and it happened that there arose somewhat of an emergency, but there was no money around to help the dervishes. The youth exclaimed that if only he could have had the wealth to spend on them again, upon which Dhul-Nun realized that he had not yet reached the inner truth of the mystic life, for worldly things still seemed important to him.

Dhul-Nun summoned the young man and assigned him to buy some items from an apothecary, for maybe a dirham, mix them into a paste, and make the paste into a rock shaped pellet and bring it to him. Dhul-Nun recited something on the pellet and it transformed into a red crystal.

“Now take this to different types of businesses around the marketplace and have it valued,” said Dhul-Nun. “But do not sell it.”

The youth took the stone to a beggar, who scolded him for asking for money for colored glass, then a merry fruit seller blithely offered him a few kilos of the choicest fruits in exchange for it. The vegetable and meat sellers were no different, wishing to trade it for some of their respective wares.

Each time the youth declined the offer.

Upon reaching a jeweler's store, he was offered a considerable sum of money. The jeweler tried to cajole him into selling, giving several counter offers, each higher than the previous one upon finding the youth adamant on not selling, was left disappointed.

Heading back home he dropped by a dealer in precious stones, and he asked her the value of this stone. She was flabbergasted, and kept on asking about the source of this stone. When pressed for an offer, she extolled: "No one in this country can afford to buy this, as this is a highest quality ruby of a value that surpasses everything that she has known her entire life. I really cannot put a price on it."

The youth could not fathom this discrepancy, and upon relating this story to Dhul-Nun, he was told to pound the stone back to powder and throw the powder into the wind.

“My child,” chided Dhul-Nun gently, “these dervishes do not lack wealth. Their state is due their own choice.  A trade-off for something better in the life to come. And the worth of this stone was decided by each of the businessmen based on their limitations of knowledge as well as resources.  What worth will you assign?”

This stirred his soul, and from then on the world had no longer any worth in his eyes.

What lures you away?

82:6 O MAN! What is it that lures you away from your bountiful Sustainer?

What lures you away?

Once a man pleaded with Ibrahim ibn Adham, "O Abu Ishaq, I am unable to control myself from sinning. Please help in anyway that you can!"

"If you are able to fulfill any one of five conditions," said Ibrahim, "then your mistakes, sins or disobedience will not have any adverse consequences for you."

The man was more than eager to hear what the conditions were,  and I have paraphrased them here.

1. When you want to disobey Allah, prepare for it by not eating or drinking anything Allah provides.
2. If we cannot do that, then at least let us move away from His Dominion whenever we want to sin.
3. If both of the above conditions are beyond our abilities, then at least let us make sure Allah does not see us during our acts of disobedience.

The man complained (and so do I), that it is impossible to to fulfill the above conditions, however, Ibrahim had a couple more ideas left up his sleeve, conditions that could do the trick:

4. When it is time to die, ask for reprieve so that we have time to repent and mend our ways.

However, if we are unable to get reprieve, and time to undo the damage that we have done to ourselves, then surely we will be packed off to face the consequences of our actions, in which case there is only one more thing left to do:
5. We must refuse to enter Hell-fire.

If we cannot do that, well, then what lures us away towards the path of disobedience of our Generous Lord?

Prepare for the Hereafter 2

19:39  hence, warn them of [the coming of] the Day of Regrets, when everything will have been decided-for as yet they are heedless, and they do not believe [in it].

Prepare for the Hereafter

A story is narrated of a country which would annually elect a ruler granting him or her absolute powers, with the caveat that at the end of the annual tenure, they would have to be exiled to a chosen deserted island.  Upon completion of their tenure, they would be dressed up in the finest raiment made of silk and brocade, made to tour the kingdom to bid farewell, however sorrowfully, and embark in a boat journey to be marooned at that island to fend for themselves, never to return.  Despite the obvious brevity of the tenure, the allure of absolute powers made sure that there was never any shortage of applicants.

Once it happened that the one nominated was a bright young fellow, who was curious and thoughtful by nature. Few days after coronation, he requested to be taken to the island for a visit. Although it was taboo for the people, they could not turn down the request of their absolute monarch.

No sooner that he had started exploring the island, he saw the place strewn with skeletons, possibly former rulers, some showing signs of having been savagely devoured by wild beasts.  He saw the former king on the brink of starvation, struggling with whatever the island had to offer. The former king told him of attacks by wild beasts and the inhospitable terrain of the island. The new king gave all his provisions to the erstwhile king and returned, remaining silent for most of the journey back, thoughtful, contemplating.

Upon his return he asked for hundreds of able bodied men, together with tools, provisions, saplings etc to accompany him for another visit to the island. He instructed them to clear the terrain, plant fruit bearing trees, make gardens and in other ways make it more hospitable. Also, he instructed them to create a beautiful palace. He would regularly visit this island whenever he would get a break from his busy schedule to monitor the progress. Since he led a simple life, whatever was bestowed upon him as a king, he would set aside and hence all his savings he invested in the island also, making a dock and some sailboats and trading boats, all in a span of a year.

At the end of the year, unlike other kings who were full of grief while touring the country, he embraced this farewell and was truly happy to be leaving, for he knew he was going to a comfortable place. And so he went joyfully, without any regrets, never to come back.

Surrender

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا
    

Al-Ahzab (The Confederates) - 33:36

Now whenever God and His Apostle have decided a matter,  it is not for a believing man or a believing woman to claim freedom of choice insofar as they themselves are concerned:  for he who [thus] rebels against God and His Apostle has already, most obviously, gone astray.

Surrender yourself to God and His Apostle(ﷺ)

Julaybib (رضي الله عنه‎‎) was companion of the Prophet(ﷺ) who, unfortunately, is not as well known as he deserves to be. Same goes for his wife.  Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal mentions him in his masnad as being one from the Ansar, but not from a noble family. On top of that he was of short stature, and is described in books of history as being “damim” which means ugly, deformed, or of repulsive appearance. Even in the Medinan period of so many pious people, Julaybib was often ridiculed due to his appearance, as well as his lineage.

Once, with Julaybib(رضي الله عنه‎‎) in mind, the Prophet (ﷺ) went to one of the Ansar and said: “Give me your daughter's hand in marriage”

“How wonderful and blessed, O Messenger of Allah and what a delight to the eye (this would be),” replied the Ansari man with obvious joy and happiness.

“I do not want her for myself,” added the Prophet (ﷺ) .

“Then for whom, O Messenger of Allah?” asked the man, obviously somewhat let down.

“For Julaybib,” said the Prophet(ﷺ).

The Ansari was visibly perturbed at this, and could only muster a feeble reply: “Let me consult with her mother.”

He began with his wife like this:  “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wants to ask for your daughter's hand.”

She replied happily, “What a wonderful idea and what a delight to the eye (this would be).”

“Not for himself, but for Julaybib,” he added. She was dumbstruck, and then dismayed.

“To Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by the Living Allah, we shall not marry (her) to him,” she protested.

His daughter, overhearing this conversation, was greatly perturbed:

“Do you refuse the request of the Messenger of Allah? Send me to him for he shall certainly not bring harm to me.”

Then she quoted Al-Ahzab (33:36), and insisted that she will marry Julaybib (رضي الله عنه‎‎) .

“I am satisfied and submit myself to whatever the Messenger of Allah deems good for me.”

The Prophet(ﷺ) upon hearing her response prayed for her a prayer that he (ﷺ) never prayed for anyone else:

 
 اللهُمَّ صُبَّ عَلَيْهَا الْخَيْرَ صَبًّا، وَلَا تَجْعَلْ عَيْشَهَا كَدًّا كَدًّا 

 “O Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her life one of toil and trouble.” 

And they lived a blessed life, good fortune greeting them at every turn, until her husband was martyred, after valiantly fighting alongside the Prophet(ﷺ).

The expedition in which Julaybib (رضي الله عنه‎‎) was martyred was not compulsory for everyone.

On the day of the expedition his father in law, pleaded with him: "'O Julaybib this is not a compulsory jihad, it is voluntary. You are newly wed, stay at home with your wife."

Julaybib (رضي الله عنه‎‎), replied: "O my father you say a strange thing, my Rasulullah is in the battlefield facing the enemies of Islam and you want me to sit at home with my wife, nay I will sacrifice my blood and my soul rather than bear to see my Rasul facing hardships while I sit at home in comfort".

 It is reported that the Prophet(ﷺ) said of him:

“He is of me and I am of him.”

Pardon Others

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُوْلُوا الْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوا أُوْلِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 
 

Al-Nour (The Light) - 24:22

Hence, [even if they have been wronged by slander,] let not those of you who have been graced with God’s favour and ease of life ever become remiss in helping [the erring ones among] their near of kin, and the needy, and those who have forsaken the domain of evil for the sake of God,  but let them pardon and forbear. [For,] do you not desire that God should forgive you your sins, seeing that God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace?

 

Have forbearance and be quick to pardon others

Ali ibn Husayn (عليه السلا), the son of Husayn (عليه السلا), and one of the most pious scholars of Islam, was not only renowned for his 'ibadah (hence the title "Sajjad", and Zayn Al-Abideen), but was well-known for his excellent conduct.

Once someone insulted him in public, causing outrage and some angry people surrounded the person. He stopped them, saying,  “Let him go. What is hidden is far more than what he is saying about me.” And he gave him a gift of his garment and a thousand dirhams.

 Another story describes an incident in which the imam's neighbor was slandering him in front of someone he knew.  That person, upon leaving the neighbor's house, rushed to the house of Zayn Al-Abideen(عليه السلا) in order to convey the import of this slander to him. Upon hearing it, he visibly perturbed, and told the person:

"A person who supposedly said horrible things about me was as one who had shot an arrow but missed the target. You, on the other hand, picked up the arrow and ensured it pierced the target."

So then he decided to go to visit the neighbor, accompanied by the man.

“It is Ali, and I have come to see you.” he called out to his neighbor, who upon hearing it, came out, looking upset and prepared for an argument.

"O neighbor, this man is saying that you said such and such about me. Is this true?"

 "Yes", he replied, "I said that and I do not repent it for I think what I said about you is correct."

The imam, full of love and in all humility, said:

“If you have said that which truly lies in me, bear witness that I seek forgiveness from Allah, and I repent from it; and if you have accused me of that which I am innocent, I ask Allah to forgive you!”

When the man heard the words, he kissed his forehead and wept:

“Indeed I accused you of that which you are innocent of. These words in all reality describe me.”

And he repented from his actions, becoming a better person.

Shun Arrogance

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْاْ كُلَّ آيَةٍ لاَّ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْاْ سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لاَ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلاً وَإِن يَرَوْاْ سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلاً ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ 
 

Al-A'raf (The Heights) - 7:146  

From My messages shall I cause to turn away all those who, without any right, behave haughtily on earth: for, though they may see every sign [of the truth], they do not believe in it, and though they may see the path of rectitude, they do not choose to follow it-whereas, if they see a path of error, they take it for their own: this, because they have given the lie to Our messages, and have remained heedless of them,"

 

Arrogance is a barrier to guidance - shun it

Bayazid Bestami, one of the greatest Sufi saints, is an example of one who shunned arrogance. Once while walking to the masjid for prayer, he saw a dog approaching him.  He thought of stepping out of the way, as if his clothes might come in contact with the dog, they might become impure.  Bayazid said that he heard the dog rebuke him which went something like this:

"O Bayazid, I hope your stepping away from me is not due to ignorance, for my fur is dry, and your clothes are dry, so coming in contact will not in any way disturb you or make your clothes impure. I really hope that it is not due to arrogance, for it has so happened that God put me in a dog’s body and you in a human body, and He could have easily chosen the opposite to happen!"

Bayazid, getting chided and guided at the same time, said that after this he had great reverence for dogs.

Some years later, he was walking with his students (all dressed up, on the way to Friday prayers) when they came to a ditch across which a log had been thrown to help people cross. When they were about halfway across,  a dog got on this log from the other side, upon seeing which Bayazid immediately got off in the ditch allowing the dog to cross.

His students protested:
"Shaykh, your clothes have become all dirty. Why did you do so? You could easily have chosen to shoo the dog away, or we could have done it for you."

He responded:
"These clothes can be easily washed with a little soap and water. Had I kept moving on, thinking myself superior to the dog, arrogance would stain my heart. How would I wash that?"