In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Al-Istiqaamah

Safar 1417H / July 1996

Issue No.2

THE MASTER OF SUPPLICATIONS

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
"The master of supplications for seeking Allaah's forgiveness is when a servant says: O Allaah! You are my Lord and none has the right to be worshipped except You. Indeed You created me and I am Your slave. I abide by my promise and covenant to You as best as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evils that I have done. I acknowledge Your favours upon me and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me. Indeed none can forgive sin except You. [Allaahumma anta Rabbee, laa ilaaha illaa anta, khalaqtanee, wa anaa 'abduka, wa anaa 'alaa abdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, a'oodhu bika min sharri maa sana'tu, aboo'u laka bi ni'matika 'alayaa, wa aboo'u bi dhanbee, faghfirlee, fa innahu laa yaghfirudh-dhanooba illaa anta] Whosoever enters upon the evening saying this, then dies that night, would enter Paradise. And whosoever enters upon the morning saying this, then dies that day, will enter Paradise." [Related by al-Bukhaaree (11/97-98) and Ahmad (5/356), from the narration of Shaddaad ibn Aws and Buraydah ibn al-Haseeb radiallaahu 'anhumaa.]

A POINT OF BENEFIT
Ibn al-Qayyim (d.751H) - rahimahullaah - said in al-Waabilus-Sayyib (pp.16-17):
"Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) said: "Knowing the path to Allaah lies in recognising Allaah's favours and considering the sins and shortcomings of one's self." This is the meaning of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam's saying - as occurs in the authentic narration from Shaddaad and Buraydah radiallaahu 'anhumaa - that he said: "The master of supplications in seeking the forgiveness of Allaah is when a savant says: O Allaah! You are my Lord... " So recognition of Allaah's favours and consideration of one's own sins and shortcomings have both been collectively mentioned in the (above) supplication, since he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "I acknowledge Your favours upon me and I acknowledge my sins." So recognition of Allaah's Favours necessitates praising and thanking Him for His favours and bounties, which in turn necessitates love for Him. Whilst consideration of one's own sins and shortcomings necessitates humility to Allaah and a feeling of lowliness and humbleness to Him. This in turn necessitates repenting to Allaah continuously, and that one considers himself as being poor and in need of Allaah."

Spreading Mischief Through
THE ART OF LYING
Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
"Indeed truthfulness leads to piety and obedience and piety and obedience lead to Paradise. And a person continues to be truthful until he is recorded with Allaah as a truthful person. And indeed lying leads to wickedness and wickedness lead to the Fire. And a person continues to lie until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar." [Related by al-Bukhaaree (3/30) and Muslim (no.2607), from Ibn Mas'ood radiallaabu 'anhu.]

DESTROYING COMPREHENSIVE BROTHERHOOD
Shaykh al-Albaanee - hafidhahullaah - said in Fiqhul-Waaqi' (pp.13-14), whilst speaking about certain trials that have afflicted the Muslims, destroying their unity, weakening their resolve and splitting their ranks: "Part of this trial has struck at the root of the hearts of a great number of daa'ees (callers to Islaam) and students of knowledge, so that they have - regretfully - become divided between themselves. Some of them speaking ill of others, and the others criticising the remainder and refuting them. These rebuttals on their own, or these criticisms alone will neither harm the one refuting, nor the one refuted, since - with the people of justice - the truth is recognised by its light and its proofs, which is not the case with the people of blind-sectarianism and deviation. However, what will harm them is speech without knowledge, talking without restraint and speaking falsely about the servants of Allaah!"

 
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