Faraz Rabbani – The Rawha #088 Supplications of the Seeker of Knowledge
AI: Summary ©
The importance of pursuing divine blessings and learning to be early in life is emphasized, along with the need to pursue best practices such as learning to be early and setting up prayer. The speaker also discusses the importance of praiseworthiness in worship and relationship, reciting the sun praising its impact on health and wealth, and pursuing blessedness from narrations. They stress the need to practice manners and act with excellence to achieve the ultimate goal of knowledge, and provide a reference to a book by a sheikhulipping admit that the Prophet gives tools for achieving the ultimate goal. The speaker concludes by encouraging listeners to support the Roess and encourage them to contribute to monthly donations.
AI: Summary ©
You're listening to the Roha, daily guidance for
seekers with Sheikh Farazrabani,
who will be covering Imam Yusuf and Abiheni's
beautiful collection of 40 sets of 40 hadith
of the prophet, peace and blessings be upon
him, as well as Imam Zarnouji's guidance for
seekers of knowledge regarding the ways of seeking
knowledge.
Weekly from Mondays to Thursdays in the evenings,
we have what what we call the the
daily in which we look at some of
the
guidance of the messenger of Allah
And we've also been looking
at one of the great classic works
of Islam,
Imam Zarrnouji's work on the proper way of
seeking
Islamic knowledge. And
we've reached the last section of this book,
and
we thought that we'd read the the the
final section,
at at our at our Friday gathering as
a as a as part of
spreading
this,
blessing because the
completing books is
is is is blessed because this is part
of,
these are of the times when,
divine blessing,
descends.
So Imam al Zarnouji, after looking at the
importance of upholding
the proper manners
of seeking knowledge and having the right purpose
in seeking knowledge
and highlighting
the way of seeking knowledge
in some detail,
he
mentions
some of the things that
that bring blessing to one's life and breath
and bless
one's provision.
So this is what he close closes with.
And he mentioned some of the things that
facilitate
blessing in one's seeking of knowledge and in
one's life and in one's time
from the different hadiths of the prophet
And
so continuing from where we stopped, he says
seek for the descent
of divine provision
through charity.
Seek
for the descent of divine provision
for you
through charity.
Right? Because this is a a fits a
general principle in our religion
that it is the merciful who are shown
mercy by the all merciful.
Be merciful to those on earth and the
Lord of the heavens will be merciful to
you.
So if you're seeking khair,
be a facilitative means for khair for others
and you'll find the khair facilitated.
And
so whether you want the provision so for
example, if you're looking for a job,
one of the tested means is giving charity
to others.
Right? And it facilitates anything that's worth seeking.
1 of the
or the keys for it is charity.
And there's many hadith of the messenger
related to that.
And anything you want a facilitation in, giving
charity.
Imam Al
Nawawi used to do this. Every day before
when he headed out to class,
he used to to give
something
to
his
yes. To the poor
on the way to his classes,
and he used to make many intentions in
that giving.
K. So this is from
the,
from
from the established,
sunnahs that has general application.
And then he the Imam Sanluigi says, well,
Being early is blessed.
Let me repeat
that. Being early is blessed.
Right? You'd think that it's almost like an
innovation,
a communal innovation.
That if you're early, somehow you're doing something
wrong. Right?
But it's not the sunnah. Right?
Being early is blessed.
And this applies in in a general sense.
Being early in general is blessed
and also the early part of the day
is blessed.
Right?
And it increases in all blessings.
And it and you look at the acts
of worship.
It's
highly praiseworthy
to get to get to the prayer early.
Right? It's praiseworthy
to hasten in giving one's charity.
1
one hastens
paying 1 zakat.
Right?
One prepares for the month of Ramadan
early. Right?
All the acts of worship,
there's a praiseworthiness
of hastening
to it.
Right? Hasting and it indicates
avidness and keenness.
And this is praiseworthy
when it comes
to relationships as well.
To the prophet
said, for example, that if you if you
hire someone, you should pay their wages before
their sweat dries.
Would you first say, well, the person I've
hired doesn't sweat.
The point is
pay their wages earlier than anticipated.
Right? And this is a general principle, Arlene,
in everything.
We should get early to events.
Right? Get early to classes.
Right? The early part of the day is
also the also specifically refers to the early
part of the day.
And that's blessed, the prophet
that Allah bless the early part of the
day for his community.
Right?
And then he mentioned some specific things.
Having neat handwriting is from the keys of
provision.
Now, of course, we type, say, what's the
big deal about that?
Well, they said, what neat handwriting indicated concern
to do things right.
Right?
And and there's a wisdom in it because
it neat writing and there's merits in writing
by the hand.
And it's not an accident. Allah swore by
it in the first revelation.
The one who's taught by the pen.
But more generally,
the concern to do things right. So if
you write an email, there's ways to
write emails properly.
There's, you know, this idea of upholding in
anything
blesses your endeavors.
And that's a general principle of life.
Right? That if you want to do anything
right, everything life has
standards and best practices.
What are proper manners except standards of right
con conduct,
standards of sound conduct,
and best practices of conduct.
If anything, you want to do it properly
in life,
there's 2 steps.
Uphold
the acceptable
standards and then strive to adopt best practices.
Now that's adab.
Right? There's worldly adab and there's religious adab.
And if you do that,
what you do and you do that with
the higher motive
of seeking the pleasure of Allah,
you will find
the subtle reality of barakah.
And he says,
and having a cheerful countenance
and
speaking good words
facilitates
both memory and provision.
Why?
Because if you have good relations with people,
you'll have less trouble with people and will
be less troubled
by people.
And that helps
one spiritually and also
in one's emotional well-being. Once you're always picking
fights with people, how can you find peace
of mind?
Said,
some of the things that facilitate
provision,
he
said,
he said,
to to
to to
to to sweep
the courtyard
and to wash
one's containers
facilitates
wealth.
Again, this idea of the concern for doing
things right.
And also, very often, people wouldn't do this
themselves, they'd get servants to do it. But
also having the humility to do these things
facilitates
blessedness.
And it's the sunnah of the prophet.
He used to do these things in his
own home even though he had family members
and those serving him who could take care
of it, but he used to assist in
it.
Of the strongest of means that facilitate provision
is establishing the prayer with with
veneration.
So don't just pray, but pray
Allah
establish the prayer out of my remembrance.
And humbleness.
And to give each of the integrals
of the prayer their due
so that you're you're still in each of
the positions.
You fulfill the sunnahs in them.
And all the necessary actions of the prayer,
and all the sunnahs
and all its adab
that you pray
because in a way that's expressive of your
care.
And
the
mid morning prayer
is known
and famous regarding this. And hadith,
you know, the duha prayer, which is performed
after the sun has risen, ideally in the
middle of the morning,
anytime though before Duhr.
The Duha prayer is a recommended sunnah, but
the prophet performed it habitually,
consistently.
And it's come regarding it that, oh my
servant,
take care of 2 rakas for me at
in the beginning of your day, and I'll
take care of the rest of your day.
Right? And and this is something that anyone
serious about their deen should adopt as one
of the first
that they take on. That after anytime after
sunrise, just peg it to a critical moment
critical thing that you do in before heading
out, pray 2 rakas. Or as soon as
you get to work, pray 2 rakas. But
make this a
an established
habit.
And he says,
and right likewise, reciting particularly
at night
before sleeping
is one of the things that facilitates provision.
And there's
there's narrations that have come regarding this.
And likewise, of the Surah that have been
encouraged at night,
are Surat Al Mulk,
regarding which hadiths have come about reciting it
at night. And Surat Al Muzambil and Surat
Walayli Dayyarsha.
Like likewise.
And getting to the masjid before the adhan.
And remaining on purity,
which the prophet
strongly encouraged.
Right, and which expresses
this caring.
And perform the sunnah fajr and the witter
prayer
at home.
And that we'll not engage in worldly speech
after the wittr prayer.
There's a time of of either rest or
devotion
unless there's
need for it.
And one does not keep the company
of the opposite * except when there's need.
This does not talk about one's own family.
Right? But rather, that one does one avoids
unnecessary interaction with the with the opposite *
unless there's a need or a benefit.
Right? But to the extent of the need
or benefit.
Right?
And I will not speak about useless matters
that are not of benefit for one's religion
or one's worldly life.
Right? Why?
Because it is said, whoever busies themselves with
things that are not of concern to them
will miss what is of concern to them.
And we've looked at that, like how do
you make the most of your time?
And,
and we looked at
the breakdown of of how you do that
in previous sessions.
And it's
related
One of the early Muslims said
that if you see a person
speaking a lot, then be sure that they're
crazy.
Speaking a lot meaning, speaking a lot without
benefit or purpose.
That they're kinda out of it.
Of
course, it's hyperbole. It's not meant literally. Right?
It's related from
If the the if
once in if the intellect becomes more com
more complete,
speech diminishes.
Said if a person's intellect becomes
complete,
there's their words become few. And be sure
regarding the foolishness of a person who speaks
excessively.
Another said,
speech
is adornment
and silence is safety. So if you speak,
do not be excessive because you don't adorn
yourself excessively.
K. So that speech
is chosen and purposeful.
Otherwise,
the default is silence.
Right?
It says, I have never ever
been regretful of my silence, not even once.
And I have been regretful about my speech
continually.
And
there's different duas that are recommended
or encourage or praiseworthy
to recite for provision, and he mentioned some
of them.
After Fajr time enters
It's come in the sunnah to repeat these
dikrs.
After Fajr time to say
glory be to Allah the tremendous. Glory be
to Allah
with praise.
I seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to him
a 100 times. It's come in the sunnah.
There's no god but but Allah, the king,
the real,
the manifest.
Every
Every day,
morning and night, a 100 times. It's come
in the sunnah, and if you can't is
doesn't find ability to do a 100, to
do 10.
When And that one say after
the Fajr prayer everyday,
Alhamdulillah and SubhanAllah and La ilaha illallah at
least 33 times.
And after Maghrib as well. And it's a
sunnah to say this after every prayer as
we know.
And one seeks forgiveness of Allah
40 times after Fajr prayer, and narrations come
regarding that.
And to say, there's no ability nor power
except
by Allah, the mighty and majestic,
after Maghrib prayer. And to
and to send a lot of blessings on
the prophet
And to say particularly on Fridays, 70 times,
oh Allah grant me freedom of need
by what you have made lawful
from what you have made unlawful.
And grant me sufficiency in your bounty from
all besides
from all besides you.
And one says the following praise every day
and night.
Referring to the verses from Surat Al Hashir.
Right? And these are duas that call upon
Allah
by
the sunnah duas and dhikrs
daily
and weekly,
and call upon Allah by his most beautiful
names, which Allah has commanded us to call
upon him by. Right? So that if you
want blessing in your time,
bless your time with with dhikr and with
dua. Because that that will increase
the meaning of seeking Allah in your work.
And then he says,
and of the things that
increase in one's life,
not just necessarily quantitatively, but qualitatively in the
blessedness of one's life is bir, is virtue.
Right? In general, particularly to parents, but
in general.
And leaving, harming, or hurting.
And to be respectful
and differential to elders.
And maintaining family ties.
And to say every morning and night three
times
Right? And these are all
zikrs that are encouraged in the sunnah. Right?
And you don't have to recite these particular
ones and some of these are derivative of
the zikrs mentioned in the sunnah, is commit
yourself
to
reciting the sunnah and
remind yourself of them by morning and by
night. Everyone should have at least one brief
book of prophetic
adkar.
And there's a number of good ones in
English amongst them.
What's called the the one by Sheikh Abdulman,
please?
Reflections of Pearls published by White Thread Press.
It's a nice
mid sized work,
and there's a number of these.
Now we have Kitabul Athkar of Iam Nawi,
which is a midsized
relatively comprehensive collection of
prophetic Athkar,
and that's translated the book of remembrance by
Imam Nawi, which has over a 1,000
prophetic Athkar and Dua. And these are things
that one should always be referring to to
refresh
and renew
and keep alive one's connection with the prophetic
practice of of remembering his and calling upon
his Lord.
And he says,
and from the things that bless one's life
is don't cut living trees
unless there's a need
because they are glorifying their Lord and they
have rights
as well.
Right?
Except where there's a genuine need.
Right?
And to make one's
fully
And this is something he's mentioned, like, 4
or 5 times in the final chapter. Right?
And praying with veneration.
Why? Because the prophet emphasized
the prayer the prayer. Right? So so important.
And to perform
the Hajj and Umrah together.
And and there that's the matter where there's
lengthy discussion.
And to guard one's health
will bless your life. Right? Take care of
it early
and
you'll find more
it, you know, it'll help you in your
goals longer term.
And it's necessary for everyone to learn something
of medicine.
And to seek blessing
and blessedness
from the narration that have come from the
prophet
and the early Muslims with respect to medicine,
alatijima,
in general. Right? That the prophet sallallahu alaihi
wa sallam and these are not we're not
commanded to follow the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam specifically in these matters, but if you
do, you'll find nothing but benefit. Just today
at Jum'ah,
I met someone I've known since I was
early in university
and uncle is now 81 years old. If
you talk to him, shake his hands, you'd
think he's like 60.
Just got a very gray beard. He's 81,
stands straighter than probably any of us and
is in really good health.
Why he said beta?
There's no
nothing that the prophet
encouraged
of
of medic medical matters of food except that
you find complete benefit in it. He says,
in any sunnah, if you do it
properly though,
you'll find nothing but benefit.
Right? For you not just spiritually, but for
your health as well. Every sunnah, if you
do it properly. Even the way you pray,
if you do it properly, there's spiritual benefit
but there's incredible worldly benefits in it. Though
there it's not done for the worldly benefits,
but just has certitude.
And from that is the book gathered by
a sheikhul imam
Abu Abbas al Mustaqfiri who gathered one of
the works on, you know, the prophetic,
that
that's called
Kitabul Musama Bitub Bin Nabi. His book named,
the medicine of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
Whoever seeks it will find it. And there's
other similar books. Imam Ibn Qaym Al Jawziah's
work
on
the medicine of the Prophet taken from his
work Zaid Al Ma'ad is translated into English.
I believe it's published by Islamic Text Society.
And there's a number of other such works.
And then
he
says,
All praises due to Allah for completion.
And
the blessings
of Allah
be upon our master Muhammad,
the best of messengers
of the noble messengers.
And upon his
folk and companions
who are the distinguished
leaders of the community.
As ages pass
and days come and go.
Amin. Amin.
So we've completed the the reading of this
work.
Instruction of the student on the ways of
learning. So this was the closing session. And
we saw the emphasis that anyone who's serious
about their religion needs to take a path
of seeking knowledge of their religion because you
cannot act on something unless you know it.
And anything that you pursue, you pursue
with proper manners
and
and you pursue with high intention and purpose.
But intent and purpose can only be
realized if you
have a right
road map
for that pursuit.
Right? So anything you want to do, you
ask someone what what do you plan to
do in life? I said med I want
to become a doctor. So what are you
gonna do about it? I don't know.
Let's see what happens.
No. Like you need to find out how
you
get to your goal. It's important to have
a goal, we also have to plan of
how you will get there.
And in that, you require teachers.
So you choose
the teachers who you could most benefit from
and
defer to their experience and expertise, but choose
your teachers carefully.
Don't be self directed in the pursuit of
of knowledge, but be
genuinely differential.
Learn the proper
the the proper toolkit
of a successful student of knowledge,
and learn how to use the tools of
knowledge
soundly.
And he gave many of these tools. And
take
and take care to act on what you
know,
take care to uphold good conduct
and sincere concern
with your companions in seeking knowledge, with your
teachers,
and with all people. Because ultimately,
the purpose of knowledge
is to to gain
that good that the messenger
has come with and to embody that good
and to spread that good.
But if in the pursuit of that good,
you don't act in a manner that's good,
then your action
is contradicting
your presumed intention.
And that is a type of latent
lack of trueness. We won't call it hypocrisy.
So we ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala to
grant us these qualities and he gave many
of things that place blessing
in one's
life which return to uphold,
take the sunnah
seriously.
Uphold proper manners
carefully.
Strive to do everything with excellence because Allah
loves
excellence and loves the people of excellence.
Truly Allah is with those who are excellent.
And we'll close with the words of Allah
most high
who tells us
And those who strive in us,
we shall surely guide to the pathways to
us.
And truly Allah indeed is with the people,
of excellence.
So the Al Mana explained what is mean
and those who strive in us literally,
they say
Those who strive literally in us, meaning for
our sake,
reliant upon us,
with presence of heart with us.
Right. That's why this interesting term,
Right.
That very simplicity means for our sake.
But it's very careful Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
every letter of the Quran
indicates clear meaning. And here,
those strive
literally in us meanings, those who strive
those strive for us. Their intention is seeking
Allah.
By us meaning
relying upon Allah thereby.
In a state of consciousness
with Allah
with presence of heart. If you can if
you join these qualities, those who strive your
utmost,
seeking Allah, relying upon Allah,
striving for presence with Allah
Allah has guaranteed.
Surely, we will indeed,
undoubtedly,
guide to the many paths to us
in the plural.
K?
And then Allah
gives the concept.
And truly Allah is indeed with the people
of excellence.
So may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make us
uphold that in our seeking of knowledge,
in our spiritual path to him, in our
service,
in our to our own family and to
society and in all that we do.
Thank you for listening to the RoHa, daily
guidance for seekers with Sheikh Farazrabani.
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