Ahmad Kutty – Spiritual Ascent Stations On The Path To Ehsan #02

Ahmad Kutty
Share Page

AI: Summary ©

The importance of achieving excellence and achieving forgiveness in Islam is emphasized in a course on Islam. Consistent practices and values are essential for achieving optimal behavior and avoiding harm. The importance of psychological and psychological dimensions in achieving forgiveness and deception is also emphasized. Consistent practices and values are essential for achieving spiritual well-being and avoiding waste of time on social media. Representatives and guidance are emphasized in achieving spiritual well-being and avoiding negative behavior.

AI: Summary ©

00:00:40 --> 00:00:42
			Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.
		
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46
			Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen.
		
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50
			Wassalatu wassalamu ala sayyidil anbiya wal mursaleen.
		
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54
			Muhammadin wa alihi wa sahbihi ajma'een.
		
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57
			Rabbi shrah li sadri wa yassir li yamri
		
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00
			wa ahlil lughdutan min lisani yufqahu qawli.
		
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05
			Once again we ask Allah subhana wa ta
		
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06
			'ala to bless us in this hour.
		
00:01:07 --> 00:01:11
			Allahumma allimna ma yanfa'una wunfa'una bima
		
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13
			allamtana wa zidna alma.
		
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15
			Ya Allah, teach us that which is beneficial
		
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16
			for us.
		
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18
			And bless us in the knowledge you have
		
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21
			granted us and increase our knowledge.
		
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26
			Brothers and sisters, it's my pleasure to welcome
		
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29
			you to another episode in this course on
		
00:01:29 --> 00:01:35
			spiritual ascent, maqamat or stations on the path
		
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38
			to Ihsan, journey to spiritual excellence.
		
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41
			This is the second episode in the series.
		
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46
			It's a great honor for me to welcome
		
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49
			you to this very very important course.
		
00:01:49 --> 00:01:56
			It is all about realizing excellence, attaining excellence
		
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00
			in our practice of Islam so that we
		
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04
			come clearer, closer and closer to Allah subhana
		
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08
			wa ta'ala, our Creator, Lord and Sustainer.
		
00:02:09 --> 00:02:17
			By doing so, we are in for ecstasy,
		
00:02:17 --> 00:02:21
			blissful state and tranquility and peace and joy
		
00:02:21 --> 00:02:27
			beyond any definition, beyond words.
		
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30
			So join me in this course.
		
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33
			This is a reminder for myself.
		
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35
			I am not perfect.
		
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37
			I want to improve myself.
		
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40
			I'm aware of my limitations.
		
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43
			So let's proceed.
		
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47
			But before doing so, I would urge everyone
		
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51
			to continue to pray for our brothers and
		
00:02:51 --> 00:02:55
			sisters who are oppressed, persecuted in Gaza, Palestine,
		
00:02:56 --> 00:03:02
			Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, everywhere, wherever they are persecuted,
		
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04
			whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
		
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07
			May Allah subhana wa ta'ala give them
		
00:03:07 --> 00:03:08
			victory over the oppressors.
		
00:03:09 --> 00:03:13
			May Allah defeat the oppressors and give our
		
00:03:13 --> 00:03:18
			brothers and sisters, allow them to live freely
		
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20
			with dignity and freedom.
		
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24
			Now, all praises to Allah subhana wa ta
		
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27
			'ala and peace and blessings on his chosen
		
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30
			messenger, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and all
		
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35
			the companions, the family, and all those who
		
00:03:35 --> 00:03:39
			strive hard to follow the footsteps of Rasulullah
		
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40
			sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
		
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49
			Now, last time we left off on this
		
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53
			slide, Imam Ghazali's view of Tauba.
		
00:03:53 --> 00:03:58
			We were discussing how the Quran and the
		
00:03:58 --> 00:04:05
			Sunnah and these great Sufi authors, Imam Ghazali,
		
00:04:05 --> 00:04:10
			Qushayri in his Risalah, and Imam Ghazali in
		
00:04:10 --> 00:04:18
			his masterpiece, These are the most outstanding treatises
		
00:04:18 --> 00:04:26
			for books on Tassawuf, spirituality in Islam, and
		
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28
			we should cherish these sources.
		
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32
			Although I warn that Imam Ghazali's Rihya contains
		
00:04:32 --> 00:04:37
			some spurious and doubtful traditions, you can disregard
		
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40
			them, but look at the main thesis of
		
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41
			Imam Ghazali.
		
00:04:41 --> 00:04:46
			He has produced a masterpiece that is very,
		
00:04:46 --> 00:04:46
			very important.
		
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50
			The same way, Risalah of Qushayri is also
		
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52
			available in English translation.
		
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55
			You can download the PDF and you must
		
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57
			study it, and Inshallah, this course will help
		
00:04:57 --> 00:05:03
			you in distilling the wisdom from these sources,
		
00:05:03 --> 00:05:03
			Inshallah.
		
00:05:03 --> 00:05:08
			So Imam Ghazali, in his Rihya, described Tauba
		
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11
			more than an emotional response to sin.
		
00:05:12 --> 00:05:17
			You know, often we think about Tauba as
		
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19
			a response.
		
00:05:19 --> 00:05:25
			We feel that remorse, but Imam Ghazali looks
		
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27
			at it as the first stage.
		
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31
			You know, the journey to Allah subhanahu wa
		
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34
			ta'ala is a journey of different starts
		
00:05:34 --> 00:05:39
			with one step and miles to go in
		
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40
			the first ladder.
		
00:05:41 --> 00:05:46
			First step on that journey is Tauba, repentance.
		
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49
			It is the key to our success.
		
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53
			You know, everything else is dependent on this.
		
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56
			This is the first step and we must,
		
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58
			we cannot skip it.
		
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00
			It's a transformative process.
		
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05
			You know, Tauba should change us from within
		
00:06:05 --> 00:06:05
			and without.
		
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09
			We need to break our ties with sins
		
00:06:09 --> 00:06:13
			and we have to return to the path
		
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14
			of obedience.
		
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19
			And also we need to nurture that deep
		
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21
			love for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the
		
00:06:21 --> 00:06:21
			creator.
		
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26
			Because Tauba is you have gone away from
		
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and you are
		
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31
			now coming back to him.
		
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34
			So in order to do that, in order
		
00:06:34 --> 00:06:39
			to realize the depth of your experience, you
		
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42
			need to have that deep love for Allah
		
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43
			subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49
			There are three stages for Tauba.
		
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51
			First is knowledge.
		
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55
			Knowledge is, you know, this is the principle
		
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57
			Imam Ghazali always emphasizes.
		
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01
			You know, in order to get rid of,
		
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06
			in order to develop a good habit, a
		
00:07:06 --> 00:07:10
			virtue, you need to see the benefits of
		
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10
			it.
		
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14
			And the harm you will do to yourself
		
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17
			by not developing that virtue.
		
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22
			So in the case of Tauba, in order
		
00:07:22 --> 00:07:26
			to practice Tauba, we need to know what
		
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30
			Tauba, the value of Tauba and the benefit
		
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33
			you accrue from it and the harm you
		
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36
			will do to yourself, inflicting upon yourself by
		
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38
			not resorting to Tauba.
		
00:07:39 --> 00:07:46
			So the serious impact of seriousness of sin,
		
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50
			you know, Tauba is repenting from sin.
		
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52
			And so you have to understand the ugly
		
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53
			nature of sin.
		
00:07:54 --> 00:07:58
			Just like you want to quit smoking, you
		
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01
			need to see, you need to visualize, you
		
00:08:01 --> 00:08:05
			know, what smoking does to people even if
		
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07
			you were to try to go to that
		
00:08:07 --> 00:08:12
			cancer ward and see those suffering from various
		
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17
			kinds of complications of cancer because of their
		
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19
			addiction to smoking.
		
00:08:19 --> 00:08:25
			The same way visualize the harmful effects of
		
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25
			sin.
		
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30
			And by indulging in sin, what you are
		
00:08:30 --> 00:08:34
			losing and the pain you are inflicting and
		
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36
			the benefit you are skipping.
		
00:08:37 --> 00:08:42
			And then acknowledge another aspect of it is
		
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44
			knowledge of Allah's majesty and mercy.
		
00:08:44 --> 00:08:48
			Allah is Al-Aziz, He is mighty, He
		
00:08:48 --> 00:08:53
			is watchful, He is just and He is
		
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54
			also merciful.
		
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57
			So know this and then motivate yourself.
		
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02
			Understand how sin harms the heart and soul,
		
00:09:02 --> 00:09:06
			destructive effect of sins.
		
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09
			Emotional response, this is high.
		
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13
			You have to visualize, you have to experience
		
00:09:13 --> 00:09:17
			remorse from within for what you have done,
		
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18
			the sins that you have committed.
		
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23
			And this should come out because you love
		
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27
			When you love somebody, you don't want to
		
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28
			displace him.
		
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31
			You would go out of your way to
		
00:09:31 --> 00:09:35
			do everything to sustain that love, to keep
		
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35
			that love.
		
00:09:35 --> 00:09:39
			So love of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42
			cannot be compared to loving anything or anyone
		
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45
			in this world so imagine that.
		
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49
			Then action, the next step is take immediate
		
00:09:49 --> 00:09:53
			action to stop the sin and seek Allah's
		
00:09:53 --> 00:09:58
			forgiveness and also making amends and corrections.
		
00:09:58 --> 00:10:02
			You have to compensate for the victims, for
		
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04
			those you have harmed.
		
00:10:05 --> 00:10:11
			And then practical methods is rectification, correcting wrongs,
		
00:10:11 --> 00:10:17
			returning stolen goods or apologizing as forgiveness, devotion,
		
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20
			performing acts of worship.
		
00:10:20 --> 00:10:24
			So on top of that we need to,
		
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26
			you know our Rasul sallallahu alaihi wa sallam
		
00:10:26 --> 00:10:33
			said Allah will not remove dirt with dirt,
		
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35
			the sin with sin.
		
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39
			The sin are washed.
		
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43
			Good deeds wipe out the bad deeds.
		
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47
			So follow it up with doing acts of
		
00:10:47 --> 00:10:52
			obedience, acts of worship, extra prayers, fasting and
		
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54
			charity to atone the sins.
		
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58
			Then on top of that you know you
		
00:10:58 --> 00:11:04
			have to avoid situations or companions that led
		
00:11:04 --> 00:11:09
			you, that motivated you, that took you to
		
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11
			sin because often bad company.
		
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14
			You know we may be good but then
		
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17
			we get into bad company and slowly we
		
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18
			take on those habits.
		
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22
			You know Imam Ghazali beautifully says, When you
		
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25
			sit with a bad person you steal from
		
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26
			him, that character.
		
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30
			You take on that bad trait and that's
		
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32
			why Rasul sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said avoid
		
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33
			bad company.
		
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37
			You know it's like if you sit with
		
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40
			a bad company it is like sitting an
		
00:11:40 --> 00:11:47
			ironsmith where he is you know hitting you
		
00:11:47 --> 00:11:51
			know with the iron and the smoke and
		
00:11:51 --> 00:11:55
			the that powder that's all in the pollution
		
00:11:55 --> 00:11:59
			there you get affected by it with the
		
00:11:59 --> 00:12:04
			smoke and the smell that's exactly but on
		
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06
			the other hand if you keep company with
		
00:12:06 --> 00:12:10
			good people it is like keeping company sitting
		
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12
			near a perfume cellar.
		
00:12:12 --> 00:12:16
			You smell that fragrance and he may also
		
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18
			give you something of it rub on your
		
00:12:18 --> 00:12:22
			hand or your cross a little bit, spray
		
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24
			and you will benefit from it.
		
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30
			And of course the next thing is dua
		
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31
			and istighfar.
		
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33
			Rasul sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said in a
		
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37
			beautiful hadith it tells us something about the
		
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40
			nature of Rasul sallallahu alaihi wa sallam as
		
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43
			a person who is always returning to Allah,
		
00:12:43 --> 00:12:48
			always seeking forgiveness of Allah even though he
		
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51
			is masoom, he is protected by Allah subhanahu
		
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51
			wa ta'ala from sins.
		
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55
			He says, ya ayyuhan naas tubu ila Allah
		
00:12:55 --> 00:12:59
			fa inni atubu fi l-yawmi ilaihim ya
		
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02
			tamarra O people repent to Allah and seek
		
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03
			his forgiveness.
		
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06
			I do so hundred times a day.
		
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09
			It's Sahih Bukhari.
		
00:13:09 --> 00:13:13
			Regularly seek forgiveness through prayers like Sayyidul Istighfar.
		
00:13:14 --> 00:13:19
			Sayyidul Istighfar is something I will present it
		
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19
			inshallah.
		
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22
			I did do so last week but I
		
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23
			still need to do it.
		
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27
			And then of course psychological and spiritual dimensions.
		
00:13:28 --> 00:13:34
			Imam Ghazali stresses this aspect that tawbah transforms
		
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35
			the inner self.
		
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38
			So it's not enough to do so saying
		
00:13:38 --> 00:13:42
			Astaghfirullah and then doing some outward actions.
		
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44
			This is the beauty of Ihya.
		
00:13:44 --> 00:13:49
			Ihya is going deeper into these acts of
		
00:13:49 --> 00:13:53
			worship to present us the inward soul.
		
00:13:54 --> 00:13:58
			You can look at this coconut from outside
		
00:13:58 --> 00:14:01
			and layers and layers then inward.
		
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04
			If you miss that flesh inside, the feet
		
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06
			flesh, you miss everything.
		
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09
			If you just get focused on the outward
		
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12
			shell and the layers of shell of that
		
00:14:12 --> 00:14:18
			coconut or a beautiful fruit or sweet fruit
		
00:14:18 --> 00:14:23
			which has layers of outside but inside that
		
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24
			sweet fruit.
		
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27
			So that's why Imam Ghazali want us to
		
00:14:27 --> 00:14:32
			emphasize the spiritual and psychological dimensions of tawbah.
		
00:14:32 --> 00:14:36
			So inward vices we should be avoiding outward
		
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39
			sins and also inward vices.
		
00:14:39 --> 00:14:45
			Like arrogance, pride, envy, jealousy, anger and all
		
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45
			those feelings.
		
00:14:47 --> 00:14:50
			Practical applications then of course there is need
		
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51
			for us.
		
00:14:52 --> 00:14:55
			Daily practice like spend a few minutes before
		
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58
			bed reflecting on actions.
		
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01
			That's why we learned this lesson from Umar
		
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02
			ibn Khattab.
		
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05
			Who was one of those who realized the
		
00:15:05 --> 00:15:10
			ascended, made the spiritual ascent to the peak.
		
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13
			The stage of Ihsan, Abu Bakr and Umar.
		
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18
			But yet how did Umar achieve that?
		
00:15:18 --> 00:15:22
			Because he used to say, حاسبوا أنفسكم قبل
		
00:15:22 --> 00:15:27
			أن تحاسبوا Examine yourself before you are subjected
		
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30
			to examination by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33
			And Umar ibn Khattab used to practice this.
		
00:15:34 --> 00:15:38
			محاسبة النفس Introspection before retiring to bed.
		
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42
			He would go over the activities of the
		
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45
			day and if he made a mistake, He
		
00:15:45 --> 00:15:50
			would cross it and say, Umar you did
		
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51
			that.
		
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54
			Now tomorrow you need to resolve not to
		
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56
			repeat this again.
		
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58
			And of course the thing that he did
		
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59
			good, he is happy.
		
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02
			But the mistake that he made, he is
		
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04
			determined to correct it the next day.
		
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07
			So another thing is regular istighfar.
		
00:16:08 --> 00:16:12
			The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam So of
		
00:16:12 --> 00:16:17
			course we already said it, repeated, so there
		
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18
			is no need to repeat it.
		
00:16:18 --> 00:16:23
			Recite, say the istighfar.
		
00:16:23 --> 00:16:27
			I have already, you know, astaghfirullah alladheem, phrases
		
00:16:27 --> 00:16:32
			like astaghfirullah من كل ذنب وطوب اليه And
		
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35
			say the istighfar is something that everyone of
		
00:16:35 --> 00:16:39
			us must practice it on a daily basis.
		
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42
			In the morning as we wake up, after
		
00:16:42 --> 00:16:47
			fajr salah, when we supplicate, remember to use
		
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48
			say the istighfar.
		
00:16:48 --> 00:16:51
			And then before retiring to bed also, before
		
00:16:51 --> 00:16:54
			dropping to sleep, read say the istighfar.
		
00:16:54 --> 00:16:57
			If you do so, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa
		
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00
			sallam said, Paradise is guaranteed for us.
		
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04
			Now, I want to present, I don't want
		
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07
			to leave without mentioning a beautiful story of
		
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08
			Hassan al-Basri.
		
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11
			The beauty of istighfar.
		
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15
			It should motivate us to make istighfar as
		
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16
			often as we can.
		
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19
			The man complained to Hassan al-Basri about
		
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19
			drought.
		
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21
			Hassan al-Basri is one of the greatest
		
00:17:21 --> 00:17:26
			of the scholars of the generation after the
		
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26
			Sahaba.
		
00:17:28 --> 00:17:32
			Extremely a Mohsin, one of those saints, friends
		
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33
			of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:17:34 --> 00:17:38
			Recognized for his morals and character and spirituality.
		
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42
			He says, somebody came to him, his disciple
		
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43
			reports about him.
		
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47
			Somebody are complaining about drought.
		
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49
			He said, seek forgiveness from Allah.
		
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53
			Another person comes complaining about poverty.
		
00:17:55 --> 00:17:58
			Again prescription, seek forgiveness from Allah.
		
00:17:59 --> 00:18:03
			A third person comes asking him that he
		
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05
			want Hassan al-Basri to pray for a
		
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05
			child.
		
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10
			He advised the man, seek forgiveness from Allah
		
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10
			subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15
			Another said, there is no rain.
		
00:18:15 --> 00:18:19
			His garden is all, you know, being destroyed
		
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21
			because there is no wetness.
		
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22
			There is no rain.
		
00:18:23 --> 00:18:26
			Hassan again said, seek forgiveness from Allah subhanahu
		
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29
			wa ta'ala.
		
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31
			Then Arabi said to him, the man, his
		
00:18:31 --> 00:18:35
			disciple, many different people came to you complaining
		
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37
			of various issues.
		
00:18:38 --> 00:18:41
			And you just simply instructed them to seek
		
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41
			forgiveness.
		
00:18:43 --> 00:18:46
			Answer of Hassan al-Basri is very, very
		
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46
			interesting.
		
00:18:46 --> 00:18:50
			You see how he is reading the Quran.
		
00:18:51 --> 00:18:56
			You know, وَلَقَدْ نَزَلْنَا الْقُرْآنَ ذِكْرٌ فَهَرْ مِمُ
		
00:18:56 --> 00:19:00
			الدَّكِيرَ أَفَلَأْ يَتَّذَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ Quran has been revealed
		
00:19:00 --> 00:19:03
			for us not just to chant but to
		
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05
			reflect and ponder its lessons.
		
00:19:06 --> 00:19:09
			Because Quran came to give life to those
		
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11
			who are spiritually dead.
		
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16
			So Hassan al-Basri replied, I did not
		
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18
			say anything of my own accord.
		
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19
			I did not make it up.
		
00:19:21 --> 00:19:26
			Allah almighty says in surah Nuh, فَقُلْتُ اصْتَغْفِرُ
		
00:19:26 --> 00:19:31
			رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّرًا يُرْسِلِ السَّمَعَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا
		
00:19:31 --> 00:19:37
			وَيُمْدُدُكُمْ بِأَنْوَالٍ وَمَنِينٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ
		
00:19:37 --> 00:19:42
			لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا Say, ask forgiveness of your Lord.
		
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44
			Nuh al-Islam is preaching and Allah is
		
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45
			courting him.
		
00:19:45 --> 00:19:49
			Allah narrates, ask forgiveness of your Lord.
		
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51
			Indeed, He is ever forgiving.
		
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53
			He will send down rain from the sky
		
00:19:53 --> 00:19:57
			upon you in abundance and give you increase
		
00:19:57 --> 00:20:00
			in wealth and children and make for you
		
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02
			gardens and make for you rivers.
		
00:20:03 --> 00:20:08
			So istighfar is the recipe, the panacea.
		
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14
			Then another person said to Hasan, you know,
		
00:20:15 --> 00:20:18
			he is, you know, surrounded by his disciples.
		
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21
			Then another person stands up and asks, isn't
		
00:20:21 --> 00:20:24
			it shameful for one of us we commit
		
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27
			a sin then seek forgiveness, commit another sin,
		
00:20:28 --> 00:20:31
			seek forgiveness and so on and on.
		
00:20:31 --> 00:20:36
			Hasan Rasulullah replied, you know, the happiest person
		
00:20:36 --> 00:20:39
			to hear this will be none other than
		
00:20:39 --> 00:20:43
			Shaitan because Shaitan want you to give up
		
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44
			istighfar.
		
00:20:46 --> 00:20:50
			The only way we can save ourselves from
		
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53
			Shaitan is make istighfar.
		
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55
			The only way for us to get rid
		
00:20:55 --> 00:20:59
			of our sins is making istighfar and Shaitan
		
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00
			doesn't want us to do that.
		
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02
			He wants to take us to Jahannam with
		
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02
			him.
		
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06
			And of course, Hasan al-Basri made another
		
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06
			statement.
		
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10
			The best people to appear on the Day
		
00:21:10 --> 00:21:14
			of Judgment are not those who have committed
		
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15
			no sin at all.
		
00:21:16 --> 00:21:20
			They are those in whose register there are
		
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21
			loads of istighfar.
		
00:21:22 --> 00:21:27
			So they are always making Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah.
		
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29
			Of course, while saying this, they are following
		
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30
			those steps.
		
00:21:32 --> 00:21:37
			Visualizing and experiencing and remorse and acting upon.
		
00:21:37 --> 00:21:41
			Of course, very, very important insight.
		
00:21:42 --> 00:21:45
			And of course, then Imam Ghazali says, identify
		
00:21:45 --> 00:21:49
			and avoid situations, environments of people that lead
		
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50
			to sinful behavior.
		
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53
			It's already indicated before.
		
00:21:53 --> 00:21:56
			Strengthen your bond with Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta
		
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56
			'ala.
		
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58
			How do we do that?
		
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00
			Engage in acts of devotion.
		
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02
			Quran.
		
00:22:03 --> 00:22:06
			Come closer and closer to Quran.
		
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09
			You may read it and you should listen
		
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11
			to the beautiful recitation.
		
00:22:11 --> 00:22:14
			This is a wonderful spiritual experience.
		
00:22:15 --> 00:22:19
			There is nothing like a beautiful recitation of
		
00:22:19 --> 00:22:22
			the Quran if you open your heart and
		
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23
			listen to it.
		
00:22:24 --> 00:22:27
			You are immediately transferred to a higher level
		
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29
			of spirituality.
		
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30
			Hal.
		
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32
			This is called Hal.
		
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33
			You experience that.
		
00:22:33 --> 00:22:39
			So don't deprive yourself of this great experience.
		
00:22:40 --> 00:22:44
			Of course, attending Islamic gatherings where there is
		
00:22:44 --> 00:22:50
			spiritual uplifting and inspiration and practice Zikr silently
		
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51
			and also in group.
		
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54
			Make amends.
		
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56
			I already mentioned that.
		
00:22:57 --> 00:23:00
			And of course, as for self-improvement goals,
		
00:23:00 --> 00:23:03
			tackle one area of improvement at a time.
		
00:23:04 --> 00:23:07
			So if you are making Tawbah from backbiting,
		
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10
			replace it with kind words.
		
00:23:11 --> 00:23:14
			Because, you know, behavioral scientists say, you cannot
		
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17
			cut off a bad habit unless you take
		
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18
			on a new good habit.
		
00:23:19 --> 00:23:23
			So if you have developed your, you know,
		
00:23:23 --> 00:23:27
			tummy and it's expanding and expanding because you
		
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29
			have been sitting in front of that television
		
00:23:30 --> 00:23:35
			or simply watching the WhatsApp or with social
		
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36
			media.
		
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39
			You know you want to break that habit?
		
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40
			Start walking.
		
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43
			Every time you are motivated to do that,
		
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45
			take a few steps.
		
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49
			And do that consistently.
		
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51
			Simple step.
		
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53
			One area at a time.
		
00:23:54 --> 00:23:57
			Replace backbiting with kind words.
		
00:23:57 --> 00:24:00
			Instead of backbiting someone, say something good about
		
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01
			that person if you know.
		
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05
			And also seek support around yourself.
		
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06
			I already mentioned that.
		
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08
			With righteous companions.
		
00:24:09 --> 00:24:12
			And encourage and hold you accountable.
		
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15
			Of course, as Imam Khattab R.A. said.
		
00:24:16 --> 00:24:19
			Now, summarizing Qushayri and Ghazali.
		
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22
			See Tawbah as a transformative journey.
		
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26
			It's supposed to purify your heart and bring
		
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28
			us closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
		
00:24:29 --> 00:24:32
			In the case of Qushayri, he started emphasizing
		
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33
			the role in spiritual growth.
		
00:24:34 --> 00:24:38
			But in the case of Imam Ghazali, he
		
00:24:38 --> 00:24:43
			considers it as a process involving mind, knowledge.
		
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45
			Intellectual knowledge.
		
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47
			And also psychological knowledge.
		
00:24:48 --> 00:24:51
			Of the benefits and the plus and minus.
		
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53
			The benefits, disadvantages.
		
00:24:54 --> 00:24:58
			And of course, knowledge involving the mind, heart
		
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58
			and actions.
		
00:25:00 --> 00:25:05
			So when we apply these principles, Tawbah becomes
		
00:25:05 --> 00:25:09
			a practical ongoing part of our life.
		
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11
			It's not just something done once.
		
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13
			It's a process.
		
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15
			It stays with us.
		
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17
			And it fosters spiritual growth.
		
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19
			And nearness to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
		
00:25:23 --> 00:25:28
			Now, we covered the maqam of Tawbah.
		
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31
			Of course, there's a lot of discussions you
		
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32
			can make on it.
		
00:25:32 --> 00:25:35
			But because we need to finish this within
		
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36
			4-5 sessions.
		
00:25:37 --> 00:25:39
			So let us go to the next maqam.
		
00:25:39 --> 00:25:42
			The third and the fourth maqam are Warah
		
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43
			and Zuhd.
		
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47
			What is maqam of Warah?
		
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50
			That is the third maqam.
		
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51
			The station of Warah.
		
00:25:52 --> 00:25:56
			Warah means, refers to avoiding doubtful matters in
		
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57
			religion.
		
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59
			To protect faith.
		
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02
			It's avoiding the doubtful.
		
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05
			Consciousness is piety.
		
00:26:06 --> 00:26:10
			Linguistic meaning is pious caution, abstinence, avoidance.
		
00:26:11 --> 00:26:17
			Pious caution because your piety, your mindfulness of
		
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19
			Allah leads you to be cautious.
		
00:26:20 --> 00:26:23
			You don't get caught suddenly.
		
00:26:23 --> 00:26:27
			You don't want to drive the car without
		
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28
			checking the brake.
		
00:26:30 --> 00:26:33
			You have to be very, very cautious.
		
00:26:34 --> 00:26:39
			The navigation through this maze, this rough sea
		
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40
			of life.
		
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43
			You have to be very, very careful.
		
00:26:43 --> 00:26:46
			And so caution and then abstinence for certain
		
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47
			things.
		
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49
			Because if you go on indulging, it will
		
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50
			slip.
		
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52
			It's a slippery slope.
		
00:26:52 --> 00:26:55
			So you have to avoid certain things.
		
00:26:55 --> 00:27:00
			Otherwise, you know, you will get carried away.
		
00:27:00 --> 00:27:03
			Going with the flow is not a good
		
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03
			idea.
		
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06
			So Quranic references.
		
00:27:07 --> 00:27:10
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says, فَكُلُوا مِمَّا
		
00:27:10 --> 00:27:15
			رَرَّقْكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَالًۭا طَيِّبًۭا وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ إِمْ
		
00:27:15 --> 00:27:18
			كُنْتُمْ إِيَّهُ تَعْبُرُونَ Or you have believed.
		
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21
			Eat from the good things which we have
		
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22
			provided for you.
		
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25
			And be grateful to Allah for his blessings.
		
00:27:26 --> 00:27:30
			If indeed you, him that you are worshipping.
		
00:27:31 --> 00:27:34
			So Allah warned us to eat only that
		
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36
			which is pure and wholesome.
		
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38
			Lot of things are there.
		
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40
			Pleasurable, tempting.
		
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42
			But be careful.
		
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45
			Make sure it's purely halal.
		
00:27:45 --> 00:27:49
			As soon as we mention purely halal.
		
00:27:51 --> 00:27:54
			The biggest blunder we make is that it
		
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55
			has to be hand-slaughtered.
		
00:27:56 --> 00:28:01
			Allah is talking about ethical living.
		
00:28:02 --> 00:28:06
			It's not confined to eating hand-slaughtered meat.
		
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07
			Or Zabiha.
		
00:28:08 --> 00:28:11
			It is the way you conduct your transactions.
		
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13
			How you earn your income.
		
00:28:13 --> 00:28:16
			You could be eating the halal meat.
		
00:28:17 --> 00:28:21
			But the money you spend to buy that
		
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21
			meat.
		
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24
			If it is earned through cut of profit.
		
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26
			By lying and cheating.
		
00:28:27 --> 00:28:29
			By exaggerating the price.
		
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31
			And misleading people.
		
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34
			Or betraying your trust.
		
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36
			Or not doing your job properly.
		
00:28:36 --> 00:28:40
			And the income you have earned is impure.
		
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43
			So cautious, be careful.
		
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46
			What you put into your mouth.
		
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48
			Where you get it.
		
00:28:48 --> 00:28:51
			How do you gather your income?
		
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53
			How do you make your income?
		
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56
			And it has to be wholesome and pure.
		
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57
			So this is wara.
		
00:29:08 --> 00:29:11
			And do not pursue that of which you
		
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12
			have no knowledge.
		
00:29:12 --> 00:29:15
			Indeed the hearing, the sight and the heart.
		
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18
			About all of those will be questioned.
		
00:29:19 --> 00:29:22
			So one has to be really treading carefully.
		
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26
			Watch what you hear.
		
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27
			Watch what you see.
		
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29
			Watch what you think.
		
00:29:30 --> 00:29:33
			And then Allah says in another place.
		
00:29:33 --> 00:29:41
			Surah 49 Avoid much suspicion, assumptions.
		
00:29:41 --> 00:29:44
			Because some assumption is sinful.
		
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45
			Not all assumptions.
		
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49
			And then Allah says.
		
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51
			Imam Ghazali says this.
		
00:29:52 --> 00:29:55
			Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities.
		
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00
			And when they are angry they forgive.
		
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03
			So immoralities.
		
00:30:04 --> 00:30:08
			The sins and immoralities cover outward and inward.
		
00:30:09 --> 00:30:11
			And when it comes to prophetic traditions.
		
00:30:11 --> 00:30:14
			Prophet ﷺ is a Mufassir of the Quran
		
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15
			par excellence.
		
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18
			So these concepts in the Quran.
		
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19
			Of course there are other verses.
		
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21
			Which I can bring.
		
00:30:22 --> 00:30:25
			But I limit to a few of them.
		
00:30:25 --> 00:30:29
			Each one of them is worthy of long
		
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30
			reflections.
		
00:30:31 --> 00:30:34
			And Rasul ﷺ explains this.
		
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36
			Leave that which makes you doubt.
		
00:30:36 --> 00:30:39
			In favor of that which is not doubtful.
		
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41
			You know.
		
00:30:41 --> 00:30:45
			So if you think that this fruit is
		
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46
			coming.
		
00:30:47 --> 00:30:50
			From the Zionist.
		
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52
			Who have displaced this.
		
00:30:53 --> 00:30:57
			Taken over that property.
		
00:30:58 --> 00:31:01
			The agricultural field of the Palestinians.
		
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03
			And they have grown this fruit over there.
		
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06
			And that is important here.
		
00:31:06 --> 00:31:08
			Shun it.
		
00:31:09 --> 00:31:12
			So many of these products are in the
		
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12
			market.
		
00:31:14 --> 00:31:17
			If you really fear Allah ﷻ.
		
00:31:18 --> 00:31:22
			You should not be contributing to this aggression.
		
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25
			There will be literalists who would say.
		
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28
			No this is not required.
		
00:31:29 --> 00:31:32
			Because Rasul ﷺ did not boycott.
		
00:31:32 --> 00:31:34
			Astaghfirullah al-Azeem.
		
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36
			Did Rasul ﷺ say.
		
00:31:38 --> 00:31:41
			Don't support the oppressor.
		
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43
			In any way possible.
		
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46
			Is there any worse oppression.
		
00:31:47 --> 00:31:50
			Than them who are continuously.
		
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51
			We are hearing now.
		
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54
			10,000 people.
		
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55
			Their houses.
		
00:31:55 --> 00:31:58
			They are forced to leave their houses in
		
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58
			West Bank.
		
00:32:00 --> 00:32:03
			And of course they take over these properties.
		
00:32:03 --> 00:32:06
			These fields of our brothers.
		
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08
			And planned.
		
00:32:08 --> 00:32:11
			And they export those producers here.
		
00:32:11 --> 00:32:13
			And you are intervening in it.
		
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14
			Astaghfirullah al-Azeem.
		
00:32:15 --> 00:32:18
			Leave the doubtful.
		
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20
			And go for the pure.
		
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22
			There are products coming.
		
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25
			Which is free of this kind of oppression.
		
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26
			This kind of injustice.
		
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27
			Go for it.
		
00:32:27 --> 00:32:30
			Al-halal bayyinum wal-haram bayyin.
		
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32
			Bayyinahum wa mushtabihaat.
		
00:32:33 --> 00:32:35
			Mushabbahaat la ya'alamuha kaseerum min al-naas.
		
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37
			Mushtabihaat.
		
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38
			Here is mushabbahaat.
		
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41
			La ya'alamuha kaseerum min al-naas.
		
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44
			Faman ittaqal mushabbahaat.
		
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46
			Istabra li deenihi wa lihi.
		
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48
			The halal is clear and the haram is
		
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48
			clear.
		
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51
			And between the two are doubtful matters.
		
00:32:52 --> 00:32:54
			So Allah saves himself from those doubtful matters.
		
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56
			Saves his religion and honour.
		
00:32:56 --> 00:32:58
			So leave the doubtful.
		
00:32:58 --> 00:33:01
			Not just the meat.
		
00:33:02 --> 00:33:05
			Many people just get caught up on the
		
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05
			meat.
		
00:33:07 --> 00:33:10
			Now, wara is the key to piety.
		
00:33:10 --> 00:33:13
			Now, let's explain this by looking at the
		
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14
			quotes.
		
00:33:14 --> 00:33:17
			How our Salaf as-Saleh has internalised this
		
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17
			thing.
		
00:33:18 --> 00:33:20
			You know, fattaqullah wa yu'allimukumullah.
		
00:33:21 --> 00:33:24
			Allah says, when you practice, Man a'alim
		
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26
			a'mila bima a'alim.
		
00:33:26 --> 00:33:28
			Allamuhullahum ala min alam.
		
00:33:28 --> 00:33:31
			If you act on what you know, Allah
		
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32
			will teach you wisdom.
		
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34
			So these are great scholars.
		
00:33:34 --> 00:33:37
			They acted upon what they learned, so they
		
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38
			are speaking wisdom.
		
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40
			Wara is the key to piety.
		
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43
			And the zuhud is the door to paradise.
		
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45
			Who is saying that?
		
00:33:46 --> 00:33:50
			Imam Shafi, the greatest, third of the greatest
		
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50
			Imams.
		
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52
			We have four Imams.
		
00:33:52 --> 00:33:54
			We have Imam Jafar al-Sadiq as well.
		
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56
			We consider him as the fifth Imam.
		
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59
			So Imam Shafi says, wara is the key
		
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00
			to piety.
		
00:34:01 --> 00:34:04
			And zuhud, asceticism is the door to paradise.
		
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08
			Imam Muhammad ibn Hanbal, Wara is to abandon
		
00:34:08 --> 00:34:11
			that which is doubtful, for that which is
		
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12
			not doubtful.
		
00:34:13 --> 00:34:16
			Essence of wara is to leave what is
		
00:34:16 --> 00:34:19
			doubtful and turn towards what is certain.
		
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20
			Of course, the same thing.
		
00:34:21 --> 00:34:24
			Imam Sufyan al-Sawri says, Wara is the
		
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25
			shield of the believer.
		
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27
			It protects him.
		
00:34:28 --> 00:34:30
			The one who practices wara will have a
		
00:34:30 --> 00:34:32
			pure heart and a clear conscience.
		
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34
			Some beautiful sayings.
		
00:34:38 --> 00:34:42
			Now, coming to the way Imam Qushayri deals
		
00:34:42 --> 00:34:44
			with wara categories.
		
00:34:45 --> 00:34:48
			Wara applies to aqid, beliefs.
		
00:34:48 --> 00:34:52
			So when it comes to wara in aqid,
		
00:34:52 --> 00:34:56
			hold on to sound Islamic beliefs.
		
00:34:56 --> 00:34:59
			This is a very, very important insight he
		
00:34:59 --> 00:35:02
			has given us because a lot of deviant
		
00:35:02 --> 00:35:07
			beliefs and interpretations out there in regards to
		
00:35:07 --> 00:35:12
			aqidah stick to what is established and avoid
		
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14
			innovations and doubts.
		
00:35:15 --> 00:35:19
			And in matters of worship, perform acts of
		
00:35:19 --> 00:35:24
			worship sincerely following the ways of the Prophet
		
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24
			ﷺ.
		
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26
			The Prophet ﷺ said, Pray as you have
		
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27
			seen me praying.
		
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30
			Fast as you have seen me praying.
		
00:35:30 --> 00:35:32
			He didn't say it, but it's implied.
		
00:35:33 --> 00:35:36
			And do hajj as you have seen me
		
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37
			doing hajj.
		
00:35:37 --> 00:35:42
			So, stick with the form, format provided for
		
00:35:42 --> 00:35:45
			us by Rasulullah ﷺ and avoiding actions that
		
00:35:45 --> 00:35:47
			invalidate our acts of worship.
		
00:35:48 --> 00:35:53
			Because if you laa yuubadu illa bimashara Allah
		
00:35:53 --> 00:35:56
			ﷻ should not be worshipped or cannot be
		
00:35:56 --> 00:35:59
			worshipped except by the means and methods He
		
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00
			has established for us.
		
00:36:01 --> 00:36:04
			As Imam Ibrahim said, it's a very important
		
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04
			insight.
		
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07
			And when it comes to transactions, you have
		
00:36:07 --> 00:36:11
			to make sure that it's ethical, free from
		
00:36:11 --> 00:36:13
			all kinds of suspicion and doubtful.
		
00:36:14 --> 00:36:17
			Of course, our great scholars always were practicing
		
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18
			this kind of warah.
		
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20
			Food and drink.
		
00:36:21 --> 00:36:25
			Consuming only halal, pure foods, avoiding doubtful and
		
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25
			harmful items.
		
00:36:26 --> 00:36:29
			Not just rabiha, but earn through lawful means.
		
00:36:30 --> 00:36:32
			Where there is a doubt about the source
		
00:36:32 --> 00:36:34
			of the income you are getting, shun it.
		
00:36:35 --> 00:36:40
			Speaking truthfully when it comes to speech, speak
		
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40
			truthfully.
		
00:36:41 --> 00:36:43
			Avoid backbiting, gossip and idle talk.
		
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46
			Social interactions.
		
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47
			Good character.
		
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50
			Avoid harmful or evil company.
		
00:36:51 --> 00:36:54
			And treat others with kindness and respect.
		
00:36:55 --> 00:36:57
			These are the methods of warah.
		
00:36:58 --> 00:37:01
			Now, fourth maqam is zuhud.
		
00:37:02 --> 00:37:04
			What is the definition of zuhud?
		
00:37:05 --> 00:37:09
			A detachment from worldly pleasures and possessions to
		
00:37:09 --> 00:37:12
			focus on pursuing the afterlife.
		
00:37:13 --> 00:37:15
			Just understand.
		
00:37:16 --> 00:37:20
			You know we are now surrounded by materialism
		
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21
			and consumerism.
		
00:37:22 --> 00:37:25
			All of us, from top to bottom, we
		
00:37:25 --> 00:37:27
			are virtually drowned in it.
		
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29
			So I am ashamed.
		
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31
			Actually, I cannot preach this.
		
00:37:32 --> 00:37:34
			I am myself surrounded by it.
		
00:37:35 --> 00:37:37
			But I must remind myself.
		
00:37:37 --> 00:37:39
			It's a reminder for me first.
		
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40
			Before I remind you.
		
00:37:40 --> 00:37:45
			So we must not be engrossed, obsessed with
		
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45
			pleasures.
		
00:37:47 --> 00:37:51
			We need to take a look and focus
		
00:37:51 --> 00:37:54
			on pursuing the afterlife because we can get
		
00:37:54 --> 00:37:56
			carried away by this obsession.
		
00:37:57 --> 00:38:01
			Al haakumut taqasu hatta zuhudtumul maqabir You won't
		
00:38:01 --> 00:38:04
			be obsessed with the greed to have more
		
00:38:04 --> 00:38:08
			and more until you hit your grave.
		
00:38:08 --> 00:38:10
			So put a break.
		
00:38:12 --> 00:38:14
			So the linguistic meaning of zuhud is disinterest,
		
00:38:15 --> 00:38:17
			renunciation or asceticism.
		
00:38:17 --> 00:38:20
			But of course, Islam doesn't want us to
		
00:38:20 --> 00:38:22
			renounce the world altogether.
		
00:38:23 --> 00:38:26
			So we possess the world but the world
		
00:38:26 --> 00:38:28
			is not getting into our heart.
		
00:38:28 --> 00:38:32
			We possess wealth but it doesn't get...
		
00:38:32 --> 00:38:36
			So this is what Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa
		
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36
			sallam did.
		
00:38:36 --> 00:38:40
			This is what Islam taught our Qibarians and
		
00:38:40 --> 00:38:42
			all those Muhsineen did.
		
00:38:42 --> 00:38:45
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says Umma haadhi
		
00:38:45 --> 00:38:47
			al hayat al dunya When you look at
		
00:38:47 --> 00:38:51
			the real nature of this life, transient life,
		
00:38:52 --> 00:38:57
			we will not become obsessed, overwhelmed by this.
		
00:38:59 --> 00:39:02
			The worldly life is not but amusement and
		
00:39:02 --> 00:39:05
			diversion but the home of the hereafter is
		
00:39:05 --> 00:39:07
			best for those who fear Allah.
		
00:39:07 --> 00:39:09
			So you will not want to reason.
		
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says The enjoyment
		
00:39:12 --> 00:39:14
			of worldly desires The
		
00:39:14 --> 00:39:32
			enjoyment
		
00:39:32 --> 00:39:36
			of worldly desires women, children, treasures of gold
		
00:39:36 --> 00:39:39
			and silk, fine horses, cattle and fertile land
		
00:39:39 --> 00:39:43
			has been made appealing to people.
		
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44
			They covet it.
		
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45
			They desire it.
		
00:39:45 --> 00:39:48
			These are the pleasures of this worldly life.
		
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50
			It is not lasting.
		
00:39:50 --> 00:39:52
			But what with Allah?
		
00:39:53 --> 00:39:55
			But Allah is there in store for us.
		
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56
			He is the finest.
		
00:39:57 --> 00:39:59
			That is the one you should be coveting.
		
00:40:00 --> 00:40:10
			Allah says in surah 86 that you people
		
00:40:10 --> 00:40:13
			prefer the life of this world even though
		
00:40:13 --> 00:40:16
			the hereafter is better and abiding actually.
		
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18
			It's not just more abiding.
		
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20
			It's the only thing abiding.
		
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23
			And when it comes to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi
		
00:40:23 --> 00:40:25
			wa sallam he has warned us.
		
00:40:25 --> 00:40:29
			He has explained this concept, Quranic messages in
		
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30
			greater detail for us.
		
00:40:31 --> 00:40:34
			How do we conduct ourselves in this world?
		
00:40:34 --> 00:40:36
			We are here travelers.
		
00:40:37 --> 00:40:39
			How often do you check into a bottle
		
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40
			or a hotel?
		
00:40:41 --> 00:40:44
			You check in and you check out.
		
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46
			We have checked in now.
		
00:40:47 --> 00:40:47
			This is a motel.
		
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49
			This is a hotel.
		
00:40:50 --> 00:40:52
			We are going to soon check out of
		
00:40:52 --> 00:40:52
			it.
		
00:40:52 --> 00:40:54
			Whether we like it or not.
		
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56
			We will check out.
		
00:40:56 --> 00:41:02
			Be in this world as if you were
		
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03
			a stranger or a traveler.
		
00:41:04 --> 00:41:08
			Don't become just completely occupied with that room
		
00:41:08 --> 00:41:11
			inside that hotel and motel.
		
00:41:11 --> 00:41:13
			Furnishing it more and more.
		
00:41:14 --> 00:41:16
			All your attention on that.
		
00:41:16 --> 00:41:18
			You forget that you are going to leave
		
00:41:18 --> 00:41:18
			it all behind.
		
00:41:20 --> 00:41:25
			Another hadith The world is a prison for
		
00:41:25 --> 00:41:28
			the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.
		
00:41:28 --> 00:41:33
			Disbeliever meaning a believer has to restrain himself.
		
00:41:34 --> 00:41:37
			That doesn't mean it is you cannot enjoy.
		
00:41:38 --> 00:41:41
			Of course Allah wants us to enjoy that
		
00:41:41 --> 00:41:44
			which is lawful and halal or some things
		
00:41:44 --> 00:41:47
			but don't get carried away.
		
00:41:52 --> 00:41:56
			Very very insightful tradition.
		
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57
			It's a warning for us.
		
00:41:58 --> 00:42:00
			* is surrounded by temptations.
		
00:42:00 --> 00:42:03
			You know people say it's my life.
		
00:42:03 --> 00:42:05
			I can choose what to do with it.
		
00:42:06 --> 00:42:08
			No, it's not your life.
		
00:42:08 --> 00:42:10
			We are servants of Allah.
		
00:42:11 --> 00:42:14
			We cannot be independent of him.
		
00:42:15 --> 00:42:18
			So we have to the temptations and the
		
00:42:18 --> 00:42:20
			desires we have to watch out.
		
00:42:22 --> 00:42:25
			If we give in to the temptations we
		
00:42:25 --> 00:42:27
			are heading straight to * fire.
		
00:42:28 --> 00:42:32
			But if we restrain ourselves while living modestly
		
00:42:32 --> 00:42:36
			within the guidelines given by the creator of
		
00:42:36 --> 00:42:39
			course we can hope for Jannah.
		
00:42:42 --> 00:42:43
			A course from Salaf on Zuhud.
		
00:42:43 --> 00:42:46
			Zuhud is not to prohibit what is lawful
		
00:42:46 --> 00:42:49
			not to waste wealth but to prefer the
		
00:42:49 --> 00:42:50
			hereafter to this world.
		
00:42:51 --> 00:42:58
			So you live always realizing the hereafter is
		
00:42:58 --> 00:42:58
			better.
		
00:42:59 --> 00:43:01
			So this is a brief station.
		
00:43:01 --> 00:43:03
			Of course you have to go through it.
		
00:43:04 --> 00:43:05
			You have to cultivate.
		
00:43:06 --> 00:43:06
			You have to work.
		
00:43:08 --> 00:43:11
			But don't forget our feet should be grounded
		
00:43:11 --> 00:43:16
			on the earth but our vision should be
		
00:43:16 --> 00:43:18
			beyond the horizons.
		
00:43:18 --> 00:43:21
			Beyond the confines of the world.
		
00:43:22 --> 00:43:24
			Look beyond to the hereafter.
		
00:43:24 --> 00:43:28
			Truth is to renounce what distracts you from
		
00:43:28 --> 00:43:28
			Allah.
		
00:43:28 --> 00:43:34
			Everything that distracts you from Allah is Zuhud.
		
00:43:34 --> 00:43:36
			So leave that which is a distraction.
		
00:43:37 --> 00:43:39
			So of course not what is in your
		
00:43:39 --> 00:43:40
			hand.
		
00:43:41 --> 00:43:43
			You don't need to leave what is in
		
00:43:43 --> 00:43:45
			your hand unless it is distracting you from
		
00:43:45 --> 00:43:45
			Allah.
		
00:43:46 --> 00:43:49
			So all those things that distract you from
		
00:43:49 --> 00:43:52
			Allah remembrance of Allah, from prayer and all
		
00:43:52 --> 00:43:54
			these things, you should shun it.
		
00:43:54 --> 00:43:56
			Zuhud is to be condemned with what suffices
		
00:43:56 --> 00:44:00
			you and to feel independent of that which
		
00:44:00 --> 00:44:01
			you do not possess.
		
00:44:05 --> 00:44:07
			Importance of Wara' and Zuhud these are the
		
00:44:07 --> 00:44:09
			two maqams we have mentioned now.
		
00:44:09 --> 00:44:10
			Purification of heart.
		
00:44:11 --> 00:44:13
			Both Wara' and Zuhud cleanse the heart.
		
00:44:14 --> 00:44:18
			This undue attachment, this obsession with the world
		
00:44:18 --> 00:44:21
			and it will make us receptive to the
		
00:44:21 --> 00:44:21
			Divine Light.
		
00:44:22 --> 00:44:25
			It will help us to come closer to
		
00:44:25 --> 00:44:28
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala because detachment from
		
00:44:28 --> 00:44:31
			the world, adhering to piety brings us closer
		
00:44:31 --> 00:44:32
			to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:44:33 --> 00:44:36
			Of course these are essential for spiritual enlightenment
		
00:44:37 --> 00:44:39
			and self-realization.
		
00:44:41 --> 00:44:44
			How do we apply this practically?
		
00:44:45 --> 00:44:49
			In the workplace we have to be honest
		
00:44:49 --> 00:44:54
			in our dealings we should shun gossip and
		
00:44:54 --> 00:44:57
			work to serve Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:44:58 --> 00:45:02
			So when you are in the office this
		
00:45:02 --> 00:45:05
			work that you are doing should be something
		
00:45:05 --> 00:45:07
			approved by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala should
		
00:45:07 --> 00:45:10
			not be an unethical thing.
		
00:45:11 --> 00:45:13
			You should not just expect Allah subhanahu wa
		
00:45:13 --> 00:45:16
			ta'ala to forgive you if you are
		
00:45:16 --> 00:45:19
			doing a haram work and then making dua.
		
00:45:20 --> 00:45:25
			Personal habits eat healthily, avoid excessive sleep be
		
00:45:25 --> 00:45:30
			mindful of time and resources family life, treat
		
00:45:30 --> 00:45:36
			family kindly fulfill your responsibilities avoid wastage, wasteful
		
00:45:36 --> 00:45:39
			living this is something we are all of
		
00:45:39 --> 00:45:42
			us conditioned of surrounded as we are with
		
00:45:42 --> 00:45:46
			this materialism look at the way Muslims waste
		
00:45:46 --> 00:45:51
			the resources how much food is wasted how
		
00:45:51 --> 00:45:54
			much is in front of us when we
		
00:45:54 --> 00:45:58
			know there are millions out there our brothers
		
00:45:58 --> 00:46:02
			and sisters cannot have even one morsel of
		
00:46:02 --> 00:46:06
			food and yet we throw out so much
		
00:46:07 --> 00:46:11
			more than half of the food in the
		
00:46:11 --> 00:46:15
			Middle East, in the Muslim world of course
		
00:46:15 --> 00:46:17
			many parts of the Muslim world thrown to
		
00:46:17 --> 00:46:22
			trash cans so how would we stand before
		
00:46:22 --> 00:46:25
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala financial matters spend
		
00:46:25 --> 00:46:29
			wisely, avoid debt and give charity, you know
		
00:46:29 --> 00:46:32
			not just spending money where do you get
		
00:46:32 --> 00:46:34
			your money, where do you get your income
		
00:46:34 --> 00:46:39
			social media this is the age of social
		
00:46:39 --> 00:46:43
			media we become caught up with it be
		
00:46:43 --> 00:46:46
			careful, use it for good, avoid harmful content
		
00:46:46 --> 00:46:52
			and be mindful of online interactions what you
		
00:46:52 --> 00:46:56
			see, what you do with that now practical
		
00:46:56 --> 00:47:01
			tips we must start small this is a
		
00:47:01 --> 00:47:08
			point we have mentioned before consistency in building
		
00:47:08 --> 00:47:12
			the character the habit, what is habit habit
		
00:47:12 --> 00:47:15
			is actions repeated over a course of time
		
00:47:15 --> 00:47:18
			so if you sit in front of that
		
00:47:18 --> 00:47:20
			television day in and day out, this is
		
00:47:20 --> 00:47:26
			a habit it will endanger your health the
		
00:47:26 --> 00:47:29
			same way if you are on social media,
		
00:47:29 --> 00:47:32
			whatsapp day in and day out, this is
		
00:47:32 --> 00:47:36
			a habit and this habit builds a character
		
00:47:36 --> 00:47:40
			so you become addicted to it you become
		
00:47:40 --> 00:47:48
			so much occupied with this and develop bad
		
00:47:48 --> 00:47:52
			habits and of course what you see is
		
00:47:52 --> 00:47:57
			going to affect your soul your mind there
		
00:47:57 --> 00:48:03
			is a connection between our limbs, our thinking,
		
00:48:03 --> 00:48:08
			our actions and our visualization what you see,
		
00:48:08 --> 00:48:12
			what you hear what you do, what you
		
00:48:12 --> 00:48:16
			think are interconnected so it has an effect
		
00:48:16 --> 00:48:21
			on our soul and the soul becomes corrupt
		
00:48:21 --> 00:48:26
			and then we become dead spiritually reflect on
		
00:48:26 --> 00:48:29
			the hereafter remind yourself of the temporary nature
		
00:48:29 --> 00:48:31
			look at this world as if you have
		
00:48:31 --> 00:48:35
			chakrin and you are going to soon check
		
00:48:35 --> 00:48:40
			out you came to this world the time
		
00:48:40 --> 00:48:43
			and place is determined by Allah and you
		
00:48:43 --> 00:48:46
			will be taken out of this world at
		
00:48:46 --> 00:48:49
			a time and place only known to Allah
		
00:48:49 --> 00:48:53
			we have no control over that so we
		
00:48:53 --> 00:48:57
			must go, we must leave this world and
		
00:48:57 --> 00:49:01
			seek knowledge, beneficial knowledge Islamic teachings on warah
		
00:49:01 --> 00:49:09
			and zuhr keep good company, repent sincerely practice
		
00:49:09 --> 00:49:15
			gratitude mind your intentions these are all of
		
00:49:15 --> 00:49:19
			course good company company is very very important
		
00:49:20 --> 00:49:23
			people you are associated with so it is
		
00:49:23 --> 00:49:26
			very important for us to work towards building
		
00:49:26 --> 00:49:30
			a righteous community be part of that community
		
00:49:30 --> 00:49:35
			get together with the righteous people and sincerely
		
00:49:35 --> 00:49:40
			depend let dependence be a habit and character
		
00:49:41 --> 00:49:46
			trait, practice that gratitude thank Allah for the
		
00:49:46 --> 00:49:53
			blessings and always introspect examine your intentions why
		
00:49:53 --> 00:49:56
			are you doing this are you doing this
		
00:49:56 --> 00:50:00
			to please Allah to gain fame and name,
		
00:50:01 --> 00:50:10
			reputation ask yourself, engage in dhikr regular remembrance
		
00:50:10 --> 00:50:14
			of Allah you can do so walking, talking
		
00:50:14 --> 00:50:23
			sitting, lying down driving, walking, going for a
		
00:50:23 --> 00:50:28
			walk the whole walking can be a spiritual
		
00:50:28 --> 00:50:32
			experience of dhikr if you do so everything
		
00:50:32 --> 00:50:37
			you pass by is greeting you because saying
		
00:50:37 --> 00:50:41
			salam to you because the whole creation of
		
00:50:41 --> 00:50:47
			Allah is engaged in that we cannot hear
		
00:50:47 --> 00:50:50
			it they are engaged in glorifying Allah so
		
00:50:50 --> 00:50:54
			when you join that chorus of singers of
		
00:50:54 --> 00:50:58
			praise of Allah your heart will be at
		
00:50:58 --> 00:51:01
			ease you will enjoy that communion with nature
		
00:51:02 --> 00:51:09
			communion with Allah self-discipline, control desires avoid
		
00:51:09 --> 00:51:14
			excessive indulgence in worldly pleasures and be patient
		
00:51:19 --> 00:51:22
			general principles, of course that we should have
		
00:51:22 --> 00:51:28
			sincerity of course everything we do make sure
		
00:51:28 --> 00:51:32
			sincere consistency we already mentioned that continuous practices
		
00:51:32 --> 00:51:37
			little by little every day that will make
		
00:51:37 --> 00:51:42
			a difference in our life gradualism take small
		
00:51:42 --> 00:51:48
			steps maintain a balanced approach to worldly matters
		
00:51:53 --> 00:51:58
			Ibn Qayyim has given further insights so of
		
00:51:58 --> 00:52:01
			course we saw what Qushayri and Ghazali have
		
00:52:01 --> 00:52:06
			done, we just overviewed glimpses provide outlines now
		
00:52:06 --> 00:52:09
			in the case of Ibn Qayyim he said
		
00:52:09 --> 00:52:12
			knowledge and reflection, understand the harms of doubtful
		
00:52:12 --> 00:52:16
			matters and reflect on their impact very very
		
00:52:16 --> 00:52:21
			important, spiritual practices grace voluntary acts of worship
		
00:52:21 --> 00:52:24
			engage in dhikr and of course we have
		
00:52:24 --> 00:52:28
			mentioned it be cautious in financial dealings same
		
00:52:28 --> 00:52:30
			thing in a different way he is putting
		
00:52:30 --> 00:52:35
			it and then cognitive reframing for Dhul recognize
		
00:52:35 --> 00:52:39
			the deceptive nature of worldly pleasures it's really
		
00:52:39 --> 00:52:44
			deceptive as Imam Ghazali put it the world
		
00:52:44 --> 00:52:47
			is like someone the wealth and the world
		
00:52:47 --> 00:52:52
			and the treasures someone catching a deadly cobra
		
00:52:54 --> 00:52:58
			very very poisonous snake you can have it
		
00:52:58 --> 00:53:01
			if you don't know how to handle it
		
00:53:01 --> 00:53:05
			it's going to kill you but a person
		
00:53:05 --> 00:53:10
			can catch that snake to get that, to
		
00:53:10 --> 00:53:14
			make a medicine out of that so of
		
00:53:14 --> 00:53:16
			course he is doing it, he knows how
		
00:53:16 --> 00:53:20
			to handle it it's different so the world
		
00:53:20 --> 00:53:24
			is like a poison it's elixir for those
		
00:53:25 --> 00:53:28
			who know how to handle it look at
		
00:53:28 --> 00:53:32
			Sulaiman A.S. look at Yusuf A.S.
		
00:53:32 --> 00:53:35
			look at Abdul Rahman A.S. look at
		
00:53:35 --> 00:53:40
			Abu Bakr A.S. look at Rasul A
		
00:53:40 --> 00:53:45
			.S. they possess dunya, they possess wealth but
		
00:53:45 --> 00:53:48
			they put it, they use it to get
		
00:53:48 --> 00:53:53
			to the next world so if you don't
		
00:53:53 --> 00:53:55
			handle it there are a lot of other
		
00:53:55 --> 00:53:57
			examples in front of us the rich and
		
00:53:57 --> 00:54:00
			famous it's right in front of you, how
		
00:54:00 --> 00:54:03
			they are using Elon Musk and Trump and
		
00:54:03 --> 00:54:05
			all those people how they are using their
		
00:54:05 --> 00:54:10
			wealth and influence our actions, look they are
		
00:54:10 --> 00:54:14
			heading to self-destruction like Qarun and Firaun
		
00:54:14 --> 00:54:18
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala cited what happened
		
00:54:18 --> 00:54:24
			to Qarun so much they thought that this
		
00:54:24 --> 00:54:29
			wealth is endless because I deserve it I
		
00:54:29 --> 00:54:33
			earned it no, no, no, you got it
		
00:54:33 --> 00:54:36
			Allah gave it to you, it's a test
		
00:54:37 --> 00:54:39
			so you can pass the test but you
		
00:54:39 --> 00:54:42
			can fail it and when you fail it,
		
00:54:42 --> 00:54:46
			it's really a real fall so simplify life,
		
00:54:47 --> 00:54:52
			practice generosity avoid excessive worldly ambitions and of
		
00:54:52 --> 00:54:56
			course engage in fasting night prayers and reflection
		
00:55:00 --> 00:55:03
			conclusion, Vara and Zuhud are essential for spiritual
		
00:55:03 --> 00:55:09
			purification and growth continuous effort, it's not something
		
00:55:09 --> 00:55:12
			you do today and forget it, no continuously
		
00:55:12 --> 00:55:18
			we must engage and take the steps, actions
		
00:55:18 --> 00:55:23
			and self-reflection, introspection and we have to
		
00:55:23 --> 00:55:27
			motivate ourselves with that desire to come closer
		
00:55:27 --> 00:55:29
			and closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
00:55:30 --> 00:55:34
			when we apply these principles we move closer
		
00:55:34 --> 00:55:38
			to attaining Allah's pleasure and we get spiritual
		
00:55:38 --> 00:55:45
			enlightenment Marifatullah we have that blessed honour with
		
00:55:45 --> 00:55:46
			the knowledge of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
00:55:46 --> 00:55:50
			the real love of Allah subhanahu wa ta
		
00:55:50 --> 00:55:56
			'ala Imam Shafi has captured the essence of
		
00:55:56 --> 00:56:24
			this path beautiful verses beautiful
		
00:56:25 --> 00:56:29
			Allah has some wise servants who turn away
		
00:56:29 --> 00:56:35
			from the fleeting pleasures of this world mindful
		
00:56:35 --> 00:56:40
			of his temptations because they know it's not
		
00:56:40 --> 00:56:43
			going to be like somebody who wants to
		
00:56:43 --> 00:56:47
			quench his thirst by drinking salt water the
		
00:56:47 --> 00:56:49
			more you drink the more you are thirsty,
		
00:56:49 --> 00:56:53
			so don't become obsessed with the pleasures, the
		
00:56:53 --> 00:56:55
			more you indulge the more you want to
		
00:56:55 --> 00:56:59
			eat Rasulullah s.a.w. said if the
		
00:56:59 --> 00:57:01
			son of Adam had two valleys of gold,
		
00:57:01 --> 00:57:03
			he would still crave for a third one
		
00:57:03 --> 00:57:06
			and it will not stop until he hits
		
00:57:06 --> 00:57:08
			the grave so we have to be careful
		
00:57:10 --> 00:57:12
			so Imam Shafi said they reflect deeply on
		
00:57:12 --> 00:57:15
			the nature of the world and they know
		
00:57:17 --> 00:57:21
			anyone who has come into this world they
		
00:57:21 --> 00:57:25
			are not going to live here forever they
		
00:57:25 --> 00:57:28
			will leave it all behind look at all
		
00:57:28 --> 00:57:38
			those tyrants, heroes big kings and rulers scholars,
		
00:57:38 --> 00:57:44
			scientists every one of them who came, they
		
00:57:44 --> 00:57:48
			went their way and you will do that,
		
00:57:49 --> 00:57:51
			you will go you are here today, you
		
00:57:51 --> 00:57:54
			will go, I will go so they know
		
00:57:54 --> 00:57:58
			this world is not a final abode or
		
00:57:58 --> 00:58:01
			resting place for anyone so they look at
		
00:58:01 --> 00:58:04
			it in fact it is like a river
		
00:58:04 --> 00:58:08
			that we must cross and we need a
		
00:58:08 --> 00:58:13
			vessel so they made a craft, a boat
		
00:58:13 --> 00:58:17
			or ship out of good deeds to get
		
00:58:17 --> 00:58:20
			them ashore, so that they can get across
		
00:58:20 --> 00:58:26
			to the next life hereafter so may Allah
		
00:58:26 --> 00:58:32
			help us to imbibe these lessons, embody these
		
00:58:32 --> 00:58:38
			virtues and practice these beautiful lessons that Imam
		
00:58:38 --> 00:58:42
			Qushayri and Imam Wazali and Ibn Qayyim have
		
00:58:42 --> 00:58:45
			shared us, their reflections of the Quran and
		
00:58:45 --> 00:58:48
			the Sunnah and the wise sayings of the
		
00:58:48 --> 00:58:51
			Salaf as-Saleh, surely if we do so,
		
00:58:52 --> 00:58:54
			we will enjoy that peace within and we
		
00:58:54 --> 00:58:59
			will share the fragrance of that peace with
		
00:58:59 --> 00:59:04
			others, let us share this wisdom, let us
		
00:59:04 --> 00:59:07
			act upon it and share it with our
		
00:59:07 --> 00:59:11
			children, our spouses and the community and the
		
00:59:11 --> 00:59:21
			humankind Subhanak Allahumma wa
		
00:59:21 --> 00:59:25
			bihamdik nashhadu wa la ilaha illa anta astaghfiru
		
00:59:25 --> 00:59:27
			qawwana tubu ilayk glory and praise be to
		
00:59:27 --> 00:59:29
			Allah when we are with us there is
		
00:59:29 --> 00:59:32
			no one but you we ask forgiveness of
		
00:59:32 --> 00:59:36
			you and return to independence Assalamu alaykum wa
		
00:59:36 --> 00:59:38
			rahmatullahi wa barakatuh I will see you next
		
00:59:38 --> 00:59:41
			time inshallah it is a pleasure to be
		
00:59:41 --> 00:59:43
			with you may Allah bless all of us
		
00:59:43 --> 00:59:46
			and forgive us and uplift us and inspire
		
00:59:46 --> 00:59:48
			us to act on this wisdom Assalamu alaykum
		
00:59:48 --> 00:59:51
			once again, see you next week inshallah