"Its branches reaching to the sky..." [Collections from 'Uluww al-Himmah]

[Fajr]

As-salaamu `alaykum

Narrated from Ibn Jad'aan:

'Umar (radhi'Allaahu 'anhu) heard a man say, "O Allaah, make me from amongst the few" so he said "Ya 'Abdallaah! And who are the few?"

He said, "I heard Allaah say 'And none believed in him except a few' , 'And few of my servants are grateful' and he mentioned another verse whereupon 'Umar said, "Everyone is more knowledgeable than Umar!"

['Uluww al-Himmah: Ch.2, pg. 41]

[Fajr]

'Ibaadah and Adherence to the Masjid

al-Hasan al-Basri said, "Whoever competes with you in your Deen, then compete with him, but whoever competes with you in your Dunya, then throw it to him"

It was said to Naafi'. "What did Ibn 'Umar used to do in his house?" He said, "Wudhu for every salaah and the Mus-haf for what was between them both"

Narrated from Wakee' who said: "al-A'mash was almost 70 years old and the first takbeer had never passed him. I was with him for more than 60 years and I never saw him perform qadhaa for a single raka'ah"

Bishr ibn al-Hasan, the strong Muhaddith (ended up being) called 'Saffi' because he had adhered to the first row (saff) in the Masjid of Basra for fifty years.

Katheer ibn 'Ubayd al-Himsi was asked about his lack of Sujood as-Sahw in any (of his) salaah and he had led the people of Hims for sixty complete years! He said, "I have never entered through the door of the masjid whilst my soul was occupied with other than Allaah."

[Ch.4, pg. 209-215]

[Fajr]

Muraaqaba

Narrated from Naafi' also: "If Ibn 'Umar had missed a congregational prayer, he would fast a day, spend a night in prayer and free a slave."

It is narrated from Usaama: "Whoever saw Sufyaan ath-Thawri would see him as if he was on a ship about to sink due to the number of times he would say "Ya Rabb, save me, save me."

In 'Shadhrat adh-Dhahab it is narrated that 'Imaad al-Hanbali used to say, "By Allaah, I have never said a word, nor performed any action except that I have prepared an answer for it in front of Allaah."

Truthfulness in intentions (صدق النية)

One day, 'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar, 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr and 'Abdul-Malik ibn Marwaan gathered in the courtyard of the Ka'bah and Mus'ab said to them "Wish for something". They said 'you begin'

So he said, "To take governship over 'Iraaq, to marry Sukainah bint al-Husayn and 'Aisha bint Talha ibn 'Ubayd'Allaah." And so he achieved that and each one of them (the wives) was given five hundred thousand dirhams in mahr and the like in provision.

'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr wished for Fiqh and that hadeeth be taken from him - and he achieved that.

'Abdul-Malik wished for Khilaafah - and he achieved that.

And 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar wished for Paradise...

[knowrass]

Jazaakillaah for these beautiful quotes. May Allaah swt add them on to your scale of good deeds, aameen.

[Aishah]

wa alaikum as salam warahmatulahi wabarakatuh

He said, "I heard Allaah say 'And none believed in him except a few' , 'And few of my servants are grateful' and he mentioned another verse..



May Allah the exalted make us also among those few ameen..

jazakillahu khair ukhti Fajr

[Fajr]

Ameen, wa iyyaakum

[Junayd]

Salamou alaykoum

Masha Allah, Barakllahu Fiki.

[waziri]

JazakAllah khair,

Yes may we be from among the few ya Allah Aaaaaammeeen.

[Fajr]

They were but youth...

In the tafseer of the ayah, "And We gave him wisdom while yet a child" [19:12], it is narrated from Ma'mar that some children said to Yahya (`alayhisalaam), "Come and play with us." He said, "For play and amusement, I was not created." [Tafseer al-Qurtubi 87/11]

`Abdur-rahman ibn Muhammad, author of Sifat al-Awliyaa' said: Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Naysaburi said that Fath al-Mosili (rahimahullah) said:

"I set out for Hajj and when I was in the middle of the desert I saw a young child not yet of age (to perform Islamic duties), so I said to him, 'Where to?' He said, 'To the House of my Lord.' I said, 'You are young - the Laws (of Hajj) are not binding upon you.' So he said, 'I have indeed seen those younger than me die.' I said, 'Your footsteps are short.' He said, 'Upon me is to take the steps and upon Him (i.e Allah) is the conveyance if He wills. Have you not heard His statement, "As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths."?

I said, 'But I don't see any provisions with you.' He said, 'My provision is yaqeen (certainty) in my heart - wherever I may be, I am certain that Allaah will provide for me.' I said, 'I meant that you take provisions of bread and water.' He said, 'what's your name?' I said 'Fath.' He said, 'O Fath, I'll ask you something.' I said, 'Ask.' He said, 'Do you see that if a brother of yours from the people of this world was to invite you to his house, would you not be shy from taking food with you to eat at his house?' I said, 'Of course!' He said, 'Indeed my master has called me to His House so He will provide me with food and drink.'

Fath said, 'I became amazed at his matter, his clarity and asceticism at his young age.'

[Fajr]

Shaykh Yaseen al-Murraakshi:

"I saw the Shaykh (al-Nawawi) in Nawa when he was 10 years old and the children used to force him to play with them. He would flee from them and cry because of their persistence and he would recite Qur'an in that state. He said, 'So love for him entered my heart.' His father made him work in a shop but the buying and selling didn't busy him from the Qur'aan.

He said, 'So I came to the one who used to teach him Qur'aan in order to advice him & I said to him, "This child, it is hoped that he will become the most knowledgeable in his time and the most ascetic, and that the people will benefit from him." So he said to me, 'Are you a fortune-teller?' I said, 'No, but Allaah has made me say this.' So he mentioned that to his father and he encouraged him (al-Nawawi) & persisted until he memorised the Qur'aan whilst not having reached puberty.
[Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah: 396/8-397]

Shaykh Ibn Dhafr al-Makki narrates:

When Abu Yazeed Tayfoor 'Isa al-Bstaami (rahimahullah) memorised "O you wrapped in garments! Stand (to pray) all night, except a little." He said to his father, 'O father, who is it that Allaah says this to?' He said, 'O son, that is the Prophet.' He then said, 'O father, why is it that you don't do what the Prophet (s) did?' He said, 'O son! The night prayer is exclusive to him and not his nation.' So he (the young boy) remained silent.

Then when he memorised "Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray at night) a little less than two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so do a party of those with you", he said, 'O father, I hear that a group used to stand (in prayer) in the night. Who is this group?' He said, 'O son! They are the companions (radhiallahu 'anhum).' So he said, 'O father, what good can there be in abandoning what the Prophet (s) and the companions used to do?' He said, 'You are correct, O son.' So his father thereafter stood to pray by night.

Abu Yazeed woke one night when his father was praying and he said, 'O father, teach me how to wash and pray with you.' His father said, 'Lie down O son, for you are still young.' He said, 'O father if on the Day that mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds, I say to my Lord 'I said to my father how do I wash so that I may pray with you and he refused saying 'Lie down O son, for you are still young.' - Would you like that?' His father said, 'No my son, by Allaah I would not like that.' So he taught him and he used to pray with him thereafter.

[Muntasir]

Sister could you please share who wrote this book Uluuw al Himmah. JAK

[Fajr]

It's written by Shaykh Muhammad Isma'eel

[Muntasir]

JZK sis. One more thing, do you have a bio of him

[Fajr]

He's one of the scholars in Egypt, studied with the likes of Shaykh Muhammad al-Shanqeeti from who he received ijaaza, Muhammad Shawqi, al-Saawi etc. His bio says he used to attend lessons (and majalis) of Shuyookh such as Abu Bakr al-Jazaa'ir, Ibn 'Uthaymeen, Ibn Baz, Sayyid Saabiq, al-Albani and many more.

He has many works/books to his name & also audio duroos of tafseer (al-Shanqeeti's 'Adhwaa al-Bayaan), explanations of 'Manaar al-sabeel' (hanbali fiqh), the aqeedah collection by al-Ashqar etc.

His bio on Wikipedia: Shaykh Muhammad Isma'eel Muqaddam (http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF_%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7% D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D 9%85)

On Islamway: http://www.islamway.com/?iw_s=Scholar&iw_a=info&scholar_id=33

[Fajr]

Persistence in talab al-'ilm

The fact that 'ilm (knowledge) is the most honourable of things means that it is not attained except with hardship, staying up at night, repetition and abandoning pleasures and comfort - to the extent that some of the fuqahaa' said "I remained for years desiring al-hareesa (meat dish with wheat), unable to get it because the time it was sold clashed with the lessons/classes..."

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salaam (the shaykh of al-Bukhari - rahimahumullah) during his years of seeking knowledge was once sitting in an imlaa' gathering (dictation). His shaykh was speaking and dictating when his pen broke. He demanded that it be announced "A pen for a Dinaar!" - and the pens were scattered in his direction.

Al-Shafi'ee (rahimahullah) said: "I memorised the Qur'aan at age 7 and memorised al-Muwatta' at age 10. When I had memorised the Qur'aan, I entered the masjid and used to sit with the scholars, listening to a hadeeth or a mas'ala until I memorised it. My mother did not have anything to give me that I may buy some paper, so if I saw a bone that I could write on, I would take it and write on it, then if it filled up I would throw it into a rut that belonged to us from before."

Abu Nu'aim narrates that he said: "There is no deed after performing the faraa'idh (obligations) better than seeking knowledge. We will never stop seeking knowledge so long as we find someone to teach us."

And Tha'labah said: "I never saw Ibrahim al-Harbi missing from a gathering (learning) language or grammar for 50 years"!

[Fajr]

It was said to al-Sha'bi (rahimahullah): "How did you get all this knowledge?"

He said: "By independency, by travelling through cities, by having patience like that of a donkey and by rising early like the rising of crows."

And regarding Imam Sulaim ibn Ayyub al-Razi, it was narrated that he used to account himself even for the no. of his breaths. He never let a moment pass by him without benefit - he would either write, teach or read. One of his students said that one day he (the shaykh) went down to his house and then returned. He said: "I've read a Juz on my way"!

Imam al-Dhahabi mentions in the biography of Abu Hatim al-Razi (rahimahumullah) that Abu Zur'ah said to him: "I have never seen anyone pursuing knowledge as much as you do!" He said, "Indeed, Abdur-Rahman my son pursues (it much)." So he said, "Whoever imitates his father, then he has done no wrong."

Al-Rammaam (Ahmad ibn 'Ali) said, "So I asked Abdur-Rahman how was he able to get so much samaa'* (his narrations listened to) and questions answered by his father. He replied, "Perhaps he would be sitting and I'd recite/narrate to him, he would be walking and I'd recite to him, he'd be in the bathroom and I'd recite to him or he'd enter the house looking for something and I'd be reciting to him" (subhan'Allah)

* Transmission & means of 'ilm was very much dependent on samaa' and qiraa'ah. The student would listen from his shaykh (samaa') and then relate/narrate back to him (qiraa'ah) whereby confirmation from the shaykh was attained.

[adila w. mirza]

SubhanAllah! Beautiful. Whenever I read such inspiring quotes my body shivers and my eyes get watery. How greatly people loved Allah subhana wata'ala in those days.How much effort they have put or they would not mind taking upon themselves any hardship for the pleasure of Allah, SubhanAllah! Or I would rather say they never considered anything hardship which involved pleasing Allah, they found a spiritual pleasure in that.

JazakAllah khair ukhti.

[Fajr]

Seeking to be in the presence of the learned ones

Ja'far ibn Durstawayh: "We used to take our seats in the majlis of 'Ali ibn Madini at 'Asr time for the class happening the day after. We would sit for the whole night for fear of not finding a place tomorrow from where we could hear properly..."

Yahya ibn Hassan: "We were with Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah whilst he was narrating when a group of people crowded in the place of an old weak man (due to lack of space). They alerted him and crushed his hand so the old man screamed "Sufyan! I haven't made you one to do what you please with me!" But Sufyan didn't hear until he looked to one of the men that did what they did to the old man man and he said, 'What did he say?' The man said, "He says, 'Increase us in narrations!'"

[Fajr]

When Zaid ibn Thabit (radhiallahu `anhu) passed away, Ibn 'Abbas (radhiallahu `anhu) said:

"To those people who wish to know how knowledge passes by, then that is indeed how knowledge passes by.
By Allah, today much knowledge has departed.

A man has died who knew what no-one else has known, and what was with him has also gone."

He pointed to the grave of Zaid and said, "Indeed today, much knowledge has been buried."

[Fajr]

Hisham al-Kalbi:

“I memorised what no-one has memorised and I forgot what no-one has forgotten.

I had an uncle who used to admonish me with regards to memorisation of the Qur’aan. So I entered the house and made an oath to never come out until I memorised the Qur’aan. So I memorised it in 3 days…

And one day I looked into the mirror to cut what was below a fistful (of my beard) but I cut what was above the fistful!”

[Fajr]

When it comes to difficulties in seeking knowledge

Yahya ibn Abi Kathir said, "Knowledge can never be attained by relaxing." And it is often said, "Whoever seeks comfort, will have to abandon comfort." (i.e. if you seek comfort of Paradise, you must work hard for it)

Imam al-Shafi'i (rahimahullah) said,

"It's a must for the student of knowledge to reach the furthest extent in their effort and struggle in increasing their knowledge, he must have patience with every opponent, sincerity to Allah in attaining 'ilm - both in text and deriving rulings - and persistance in seeking aid from Allah Ta'ala."

Do not think that glory is like a date which you can eat
You'll never attain glory until you taste of the required patience

Ibn Hisham, the grammarian and author of al-Qatr, al-Mughni and other works used to advice the students of knowledge with patience over the difficulties in seeking knowledge as it's a condition in attaining this precious and honourable objective. He used to say,

And whoever is patient in seeking knowledge, triumphs with its attainment
And whoever seeks to marry the noble women, is patient in his efforts
Whoever does not humble his soul in seeking the high objectives
Will forever live as the companion of disgrace and humility

"Were it not for the people's ignorance of the sweetness of this delight ('ilm) and the magnificence of its worth, they would have fought over it with swords! But it has been hidden with a cloak of hardship and it has been hidden from them with a cloak of ignorance - so that Allah may choose for it whomsoever He wishes from His slaves, and indeed Allah is full of great bounty."

So it is upon you Ya Talib al-'Ilm, to strive hard in gaining 'ilm, truly the matter is as al-Junayd said:

"No-one has ever sought something with seriousness and in truth except that he attained it, and even if he does not attain it all, he surely attains some of it."

[pg. 144]

[hearandobey]

BarakAllahu feeki sis! Which tab'a have you got of the book?

[Fajr]

Poverty and Talab al-'ilm

The books of literature, biographies, history and statements of the scholars are filled with information on their poverty, their strangeness in the lands and their patience over the hardships...

The poet said,

I said to poverty 'Where do you take residence?'
It said to me 'In the turbans of the fuqahaa!
Between me and them is a brotherhood
And difficult is it upon me to abandon that brotherhood'

And another would see Fiqh to be Faqr (poverty) in its true form as he says the letter 'ra' ر has been rounded up to become the letter 'ha' ه !
He said,

Indeed the Faqeeh is the Faqeer
For the 'ر ' in Faqeer has only gathered up its edges!

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) used to say, 'No-one can succeed in this matter (talab al-'ilm) until he tastes poverty therein.'

Ibn al-Qasim said, 'The seeking of hadeeth lead Malik to tear down his roof and sell its wood.'

And Yahya ibn al-Ma'een (rahimahullah) was given a million dirhams as inheritance from his father, but he spent it all in seeking 'ilm and hadeeth until nothing remained with which he could buy himself some sandals to wear.

[Fajr]

BarakAllahu feeki sis! Which tab'a have you got of the book?Wa feek ukhti. It's a 4th edition from Dar al-'Aqidah (Cairo/Alex), print is ok and it has excellent footnotes and readable text alhamdulillah :)

[Fajr]

Subhanallah, Ibn al-Qayyim's words to those engulfed by ghafla:

Ibn al-Qayyim :-

"Nothing brings more disgrace to a person than him being heedless of Islamic virtues, of beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. Whoever is such, then he is from the barbaric hooligans who pullute the waters and raise the prices.

If he lives, he lives without honour and if he dies, he dies without being missed. The absence (of such a person) brings comfort to the lands and to the worshippers. The skies do not weep for them and the ghurabaa' (strangers) do not miss them"

[Miftah Dar al-Sa'ada, 1/134]

[Fajr]

He (rahimahullah) also said of those who've been deprived of knowledge, insight, aspiration and set determination:

"They're the ones who are described as:

أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً
"Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path." [al-Furqan: 44]

This group are the worst of creation. They are a sight for sore eyes, they bring fever to the souls and illness to the hearts. They constrain upon homes, raise the prices and none benefit from their companionship except the deprived and disgraced.

They know, but they know only the outward appearance of this life whilst of the Hereafter, they are heedless. They know, but they only know that which harms them and benefits them not. They're articulate, but out of desire do they articulate. They speak, but only in ignorance do they speak.

They believe, but only in 'Jibt' and 'Taghut'. They worship, but they worship other than Allah that which harms and does not benefit them. They argue but only in falsehood so they may condemn the truth. They ponder and spend the night but only in displeasing speech. They call, but they call upon other gods along with Allah. They judge, but the judgement of jahiliyyah do they seek. They say 'We are peacemakers!' Indeed they are those who bring corruption but they do not know.

This is the sort of creation they are: Humans in appearance but devils in reality."

[Miftah Dar al-Sa'ada]

[Fajr]

Reality of lineage

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said to Mu'adh as he turned towards Madinah "Those people think that the ones most closest to me are the people of the household. Indeed those most closest to me are the pious and righteous, whoever they are, wherever they are." [Ahmad & Tabarani]

It was said to Salman al-Farisi, 'Give yourself a lineage O Salman!' He said, 'I do not know of a father (for me) in Islam, but I am Salman Ibn Islam.' [Siyar]

And the poet said,

It is enough of an honour for you that you are His slave
And it is enough of a boast for you that He is your Lord

* i.e. Allah, `azza wa jall