Ibn alQayyim: Provisions for the Hereafter Taught by Sheikh Sajid Umar

Notes of a student

Session 6: 11th April 2015

Disclaimer: These notes are not comprehensive; they are only a guideline with which to follow the recording.

Part 1

Assalaamu alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

The Sheikh begins the sixth session of ‘Provisions for the Hereafter’ course by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the final messenger Muhammad (Khutbatul Haajah).

One of the signs of the hour’s coming:

Blessings will be removed (from time, money, etc.)

From the means of Barakah:

- Saying”Bismillah” is one of the means of barakah.The prophet Muhammad (s) said, “Every important matter that doesn’t begin with “Bismillah”, then it is cut off from blessings.”

Waking up early –

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked his Lord to bless his ummah in the mornings, as is reported in the hadeeth of Sakhr al-Ghaamidi, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O Allaah, bless my ummah in the mornings.’ Whenever he sent out troops or an army, he would send them at the beginning of the day.’” Sakhr was a trader, and he used to send out his caravans at the beginning of the day, and he did well as a result and made money.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah, corroborating evidence is to be found in a hadeeth narrated by ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn Mas’ood and others, may Allaah be pleased with them all.)

Utilize the mornings by memorizing Qur’an or reciting it, for this is one of the best times to do so.
Maintaining the ties of kinship – The Prophet (s) said, “Whoever wants to have their life lengthened then they should maintain the bond of kinship.”

Recap: Nature vs Nurture

We don’t agree with what the philosophers say, nor do we agree with the scientists.
By default, we are first products of our pure fitrah. Nature has the ability to pollute the Fitrah.
The Prophet (s) said: “Every child is born in a state of Fitrah (the natural of man, i.e – Islam), then his parents make him into a Jew or a Christian, or a Magian.” (Agreed upon)
There were people that preferred their ‘aql (rationale) over the naql (revelation), through their weak reasoning was why this period of time was termed “Jahiliyyah.”
The books of Seerah mention that although Abu Bakr was not Muslim in this time of Jahiliyyah, he didn’t engross himself in the sorts of evils they practiced.
We have the ability to corrupt the ftrah, thus Allah sent the prophets and books to bring back this concept of perspective.
The concept of Prophethood has come to an end, but the legacy has not. The Ulema continue this legacy and carry on the knowledge.
The Prophet (s) said, “The scholars are inheritors of the Prophets.”
The Prophet (s) was different from his contemporaries before Islam, and his heart was cleaned more than once before Prophethood.
The Prophets were sent to bring us back to pure perspective, our natural dispositions.

Shaytaan attacks the Fitrah:

Deviations from our true nature extends to the physical realm, e.g. – plastic surgery. “And indeed I (shaytaan) will order them to change the[physical] nature created by Allah.” [Nisaa:119]
The outward change can only happen when internally our natural disposition has mutated over time.
It leads to excessive and unnecessary questioning of the Qur’an and Sunnah. “He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.” [Al Anbiya:21]
Ritual acts, fiqh rulings, etc. The lists of concepts open to questioning becomes endless
Something to contemplate on is, how close to our Fitrah are we? Has our thinking warped? Have our actions changed?
When the Fitrah is polluted, morality becomes a blurry, grey area. The concept of “Right” and “Wrong” change frequently in societies everywhere.
The Shariah has constants (thawaabit) and variables (mutaghayyiraat). It is capable of evolving to meet the needs of civilization, but there are red lines we do not cross. What is constant remains constant.
The Shaytaan will take his time to change our natural disposition.

Note:

Thawaabit: established matters that the shari’ah has been clear and explicit about.

Mutaghayyiraat – things the shari’ah has allowed to change due to demographics, geography and other factors.

Shaytaan is a specialist in deception and is very patient. He asked Allah to give him life to the DOJ!
It will take him time to shift the Fitrah but he will be patient in pursuing that. Because once done, its very difficult for a person to change.
Changing revelation is easier, in that it happens quicker, but for Shaytaan that is not good uses of resources.

ROCE (Return on capital employed):

Shaytaan is a professional on this!
Allah sends a reviver every 100 years, someone who will come and speak out the truth even though everyone is speaking about something else.
Allah has promised to preserve revelation
Shaytaan is not going to invest his resources in that which can be reversed but that which can barely be reversed. For one whose Fitrah has been shifted, will begin shifting revelation. So Shaytaan is strategic!

Preservation of Quran and Sunnah:

The Sunnah is preserved, but people try changing it, today they come with warped principles that they build their argument upon. They come with structure and trick the layperson.
You cannot change the wordings of the Qu’ran, but people can change the perception of the meanings of the wordings of the Qur’an.

The Prophet (s) said:

“A time will come on the people when the patient among them on his religion will be like one who holds live coal (in his hand).” [Tirmidhi]

Modesty is an element of Fitrah…

Today, if you are modest you are classified as a backward person. Yet modesty is from the core principles of the Fitrah.
When the Prophet (s) was sending messages to the different rulers and the non-Muslims were trying to counteract the Dawah, in one incident in the Seerah, the leader asked the people of the Quraysh regarding the Messenger of Allah. So they replied that he calls to the worship of Allah alone and modesty.
When modesty is seen as one of the worst things for the female, then this is a sign that the Fitrah has been changed.
Islam encourages modesty. The testimony of this is in our father, Adam (as). When he and Hawwa ate from the tree, they became exposed! In Surah A’raaf, Allah mentions that the first thing Adam and his wife did after being exposed was of grabbing leaves in an attempt to cover up their nakedness with them.
Love for exposure can allude to a person having this love to be sinful.
Love for obedience will nurture a love to cover.
We shouldn’t let shaytaan put us in a position where we are exposed.

Last week recap:

Allah inspired the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s grandfather to name him Muhammad.
Muhammad wasn’t a very common name at that time.
Abu Taalib was good to the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). That’s why he took Ali into his care after he married to reciprocate his favors and gifts.

Back to the Seerah:

The fact that Ali is not related to Khadijah was not an issue for Khadija (r), when the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) brought him into his home.
This teaches us that marriage is about responsibility. So many marriages today become quantified score-cards, where spouses account each other for the good and bad they’ve done to each other.
Marriage is built upon, love, mercy and responsibility. You only live upon rights when a marriage is on the edge.
When the Prophet (s) married Khadija, she had already had a child named, ‘Hind’ – and his sense of responsibility caused him to deal with her like a father treats a daughter.
We need to be people that touch hearts more often.

BREAK

Part 2

At the age of 12 (some say 9). The Prophet (s) went on a trade journey with his uncle, Abu Taalib. He met a monk named “Buhaira” who saw the signs of prophethood and advised Abu Taalib to discontinue the journey, or send the Prophet (s) back.

There is an acceptable narration in Tirmidhi’s collection that he (s) was sent back with Bilal, Ibn alQayyim disagrees with this view.

The Prophet (s) was a shepherd, and mentioned that: “All the Prophet were shepherds, including myself.” Sheep have similarities to human beings as they take confidence and strength by being together. It requires patience to take care of them, and shepherds develop these characteristics.

Our organisations should have visions and should be self-sufficient and reliable after Allah of course. This is part of making organizations more stable. orFor example: creating business projects, or by striking the business as a Waqf (endowment).

The Prophet (s) taught us that the more able believer is better than the less able one

The Prophet (s) went to Syria when he was 25 (others say he was 30, and 21), to a place called Basra, the South East of Damascus. On his return, he married Khadijah (r), when she was 40, while there is another strong narration that she was 28.

The Prophet (s) credibility was rock solid, as he married noble women and had children that represented him well.

His legacy was far in place and in motion even before he was born.

Khadija (r) was mature and affluent and was the first Muslim. This shows Islam doesn’t discriminate between men and women. It gives both genders a chance.

Allah has placed everything upon a platform of true justice Each one of us has the ability to build the Jannah we aspire to build.

In terms of physical matters, Islam has put anything in its place. It hasn’t made the male female and vice versa.

[Surah Layl: 3-4] – Just as the night and day are different so are men and women. It is natural that we will have differences in how we conduct our lives in our physical make up.

Khadija comforted the Prophet (s) when he first encountered revelation in the Cave of Hira. She was supportive of her husband and told him words that should be written in gold.

A wonderful team member doesn’t bring you the problem, but the solution that will help you get out of the storm.

When he was married to her, he didn’t marry any other female.

Aisha (r) was the only virgin the Prophet (s) married.

How beautiful it is that a husband can speak such good words of his wife even after she had passed away?

40 years of age was a norm with regards to Allah giving prophethood. Physical and mental maturity happens at this age.

After the age of 40, one does not become unable. The Prophet (s) himself began Prophethood only at 40. Certain Masha’ikh of Sheikh Sajid are in their eighties and can mention specifics of Islamic law from their memory.

When did revelation arrive?

Majority say the Prophet (s) became a prophet in the month of Rabi’ul Awwal (41st year after year of elephant)
Others say he had true dreams from Rabbiul Awwal for 6 months, and jibraeel visited him in Ramadhan with revelation.

Two stages of revelation:

A complete revelation from Lawh Al Mahfudh (the tablet which contains the writings of the Qur’an) to Al Bait Al Izzah (‘house of honour ‘ on the night of power, in Ramadhan)
Qur’an revealed to the Prophet (s) in piece-meal of a period of 23 years

Allah knows best.

7 ways in which revelation was passed down:

Dreams

- True dreams (Ar Ru’ya As Saadiqah) He would not see a dream except that he would see the real version of the dream whilst he was awake. ‘Falaq as Subh’ – concept that constitutes coming true
- Good dreams that make us happy (not to relay them to just anybody)
- Human thought (days played back to you at night)

Dreams inspired by Shaytaan

Jibraeel came in the form of a man on two instances

References: Surah Najm, ayah 7 and 13

Came as the ringing of a bell??

Footnote:

RTU: Real Time Updates – Keep yourself current and gaining as much as possible from our investment.

ROCE: Return on Capital employed

Life is capital. The Prophet (s) advised to make the most of 5 before 5. How have we used these for betterment of our hereafter? How much time have we invested?
To use our limited resources to crank out the largest outcome requires focus and hard work
The Qa’idah of Sheikh Sajid’s father is, “One full cup is better than three half cups.”
The concept of social media has made us constantly update people. Let us use this resource efficiently for the sake of Allah, and benefit people.

Allah can communicate to the Ummah through true and good dreams
One of the way to have true dreams is to be an honest person

The Sunnah of the Prophet (s) is not to reveal good dreams except to those that are trustworthy to us, the evidence for this being that the Prophet Yaqub (as) told Yusuf (as) not to inform his brothers of this dream.

He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy. [12:5]

- If going to use Facebook then be a beacon of light and post that which is beneficial to others
- Evil eye is real! Informing others of your blessings may cause harm to you, if you are affected by the evil eye

The Prophet (s) said, “Assist yourself in the completion of your needs by keeping them in secrecy, for everybody has someone envious of him.”

Back to the ways revelation came:

During the ascension to the heavens (Israa wal Miraj)

Jibreel is hidden and with the permission of Allah gets revelation into the self of the Prophet (s)

Evidence: The Prophet(s) said“Jibreel informed me that no soul shall die until it finishes it set provisions and term limit. Therefore, have Taqwa of Allah and seek your sustenance in the most suitable way.” [Abu Dawud]

Point of benefit: We should not be afraid to spend in the path of Allah