Provision for the Hereafter

Class: 3rd March 2015

Notes of a student

Part: 1

Sheikh Sajid Umar begins the sessions by praising Allah and sending peace and blessings upon the Messengerﷺ. He then thanks the Du’aat and students of knowledge for attending the class and reminds them of the blessing of technology and how it can be used as a means to seek knowledge and earn the pleasure of Allah.

He also expressed how this class is especially for the workers in the various Islamic organizations and projects because:

1) He is inspired by them, especially given that they have not graduated from Islamic programs but dedicate their free time in the service of Islam and the Muslims.

2) Working for Islam is a great responsibility irrespective of one’s level of involvement.

3) Because knowledge should proceed all speech and all actions.

He reminds us of sincerity and to purify our intentions for the sake of Allah.

Sheikh Sajid then asked Allah Almighty to bless these sessions, grant us sincerity and accept it from us. May He preserve us in His obedience and bless us to be neighbours of the Prophet ﷺ in Jannah.

 What makes this book unique?

Here Sheikh Sajid shared several points to help exacerbate our understanding of the text and appreciate the positioning of the book within Islamic literature.

Some of the points shared were:

• It covers several dimensions of the life of the Messenger ﷺ
• It is Fiqh book yet not a Fiqh book
• It is a book which covers Islamic belief yet not an Aqeedah book.
• It delves into intricate areas of Arabic grammar and shares many nuances related to the language.
• It covers Adaab (Islamic Morals, Manners and Etiquettes)
• It covers Raqaaiq (Heart softners)
• It covers Mawaa’ith (General lessons and reminders)
• There is a lot of analysis in this particular book.
• It helps us understand reasons why scholars differ.

• Remember, reading the English will not allow us to fully appreciate the linguistic abilities of the Imaam, however will give us to appreciate his amazing and eloquent work.

• The structure in the book is incredible. There is line of sight between every area of discussion on a particular page and chapter.

• Ibn alQayyim wrote the entire book from memory during a journey.

We learn the following pearls from this unique fact:

1. The first thing that comes into mind when you read this point is, where was his Library? Surely he must have had an amazing library with him! However he committed it all by memory. SubhanAllah.

2. The Imaam’s vast knowledge and understanding of the Seerah and the other Islamic and linguistic sciences.

3. Patience in the amount of knowledge you seek will bring blessings from Allah.If you learn in bucket loads you will forget in bucket loads! Remember, burn yourself in, don’t burn yourself out. Start slowly and small and then increase.

4. Patience is also required in the process of seeking knowledge. The reality is, this knowledge we seek is from the inheritance of the Prophet ﷺ. It is far more valuable of any amount of gold or treasures.

• Knowledge is more precious than wealth. When we spend wealth it decreases (unless spend for the sake of Allah) but when we spend knowledge it increases.
• Knowledge protects us and looks after us. It makes our worship free from mistakes and so forth.
• If something is valuable, then it is worth it! So we must be patient when seeking knowledge even if the teacher doesn’t teach you to your exact preference.

Imagine if you were told to travel to get a million gold bricks from a place called Timbuktu! You would do all you can to get it due to its worth and value. A similar analogy applies to knowledge… it’s worth it!

Even if the speaker speaks in a low voice, or not very captivating… then you must still apply yourself because of the value of the this knowledge.

~*~*~*~

Part: 2

The teachings of Rasoolullah ﷺ  need us we need them. Allah doesn’t need our worship we need Him.

When teacher so and so is not good enough for you, the reality is that you are not good enough for the teacher. When we point a finger at someone, we have three fingers pointing back at us. Hence, it is a weakness when we criticize our teachers.

Sheikh Sajid shared a personal story to express why he is passionate about this point. Available on the audio recording of class.

 If you really intend Allah, nothing will take you away from your journey. It won’t be all roses and petals, there might be a few errands to climb and that you may slip down on, but Allah is testing you too see if you really will stick to the path of seeking knowledge and if you are sincere in doing so.

Seeking knowledge shouldn’t be painful, but if the situation is as it is, perhaps the teacher’s style doesn’t bring in thousands of people, perhaps you need to adjust, but always remember the ultimate focus is knowledge, and not just any knowledge, but the inheritance of the Prophet ﷺ.

The Book (Original):

• 5/6 volumes long depending on print.
• Each volume around 600 pages.
• Was written whilst enduring the difficulties of travel
• Summarized by Sh Muhammad Ibn Al Wahhab (he removed extra evidences and stuck to main evidences, removed some differing opinions and many Arabic language nuances). This is the version we are studying.
• Was copied by many and existed in several manuscripts which were copied from the main manuscript by people from different places. They travelled to hand write their versions as there were no printing press establishments before. This is a sign of a book’s acceptance.
• Allah allowed book to be summarized so that it could be available to wider audience and could be translated into different languages.

Who was Imaam Ibn Qayyim?

• Full Name: Muhammed ibn Abu Bakr bin Ayyub bin Sa’d bin Hareez azZar’iy (an ascription to Azra’ which is in the south of Syria) adDamishqiyy alHanbali
• His Kunya: Abu Abdullah
• Famously known as Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah (Al Jawziyyah made him stand out from the rest). He was called Jawziyyah because his father was principle of a school in Damascus known as ‘Al Jawziyyah.’
• Born in 7^th Safar 1691 after Hijrah, 292 CE
• Raised in a household of knowledge.
• Studied under Abu Bakr Ibn Daaim and others. He had female teachers such as Fatima Ibn Jawhar – teaches us that female scholarship is from Islam!
• Imam Ibn alQayyim (r) has countless books. If he wrote this book in his travels imagine what he did at home?
• One of his most popular books: Madaarij As Salikeen. Knowledge International University teach this course and have translated a large portion of this book. Contact KIU if you want to register (www.kiu.org/english). Runs over 4 months taught by Sh Sa’ad Ash Shitri and Sheikh Sajid Umar.

Timetable of the class:

• Class begins: From now till around 20^th May
• Summer break: 20th May till September
• Class resumes: September till Hajj
• September: Hajj break
• Class resumes: Post Hajj – January
• January: Mid-term break
• Class reumes: February-May

 Etiquette’s:

Sheikh Sajid shared the following towards the end of the introductory class:

Over and above the etiquette of being punctual, please ensure the following is taken care of:

1. Ikhlaas – a) do it for Allah, not for fun or any reason other than Allah.
2. Feel the special nature of our journey and how special we are because a) we are paving our way to Jannah by attending these classes and classes similar, and b) Angels lower their wing for the student of knowledge, and c) Allah mentions us proudly to his angels.
3. Patience. The sheikh asks that we be patient with him and bare with him and adjust accordingly if need be. He reminded us that the inheritance of Rasoolullah ﷺ is worth our effort.

He also asked that we be patient with regards to our attendance. Shaitaan will make it hard for us. We will find agendas cropping up at the time of this lesson or shaitaan reminding us about the recording being available J = conquer those thoughts by remembering that Allah praises this group of people, the group that attends live. So be patient and endeavor to be part of the live group weekly.

4. Revise our lessons and benchmark ourselves against the lessons shared, and try and identify the level of our ability and inability with the ideals, and produce a plan that will help improve improve. This requires patience as well.
5. Burn in and not burn out. Rome was not built in a day and the Qur’an was not revealed overnight, but over 23 years. Start slow, but start sure! This book is about reviving the Sunnah. We must ensure we revive it, but- GRADUALLY.
6. Learn to teach – for this is the most complete way of learning. If you follow the sheikh with the intention to teach the lesson to others, you will immediately conduct your way and approach differently and become a more robust learner, through highlighting questions more often and bringing up queries that you may have not had you not intended to teach.

Miscellaneous Points

1. Try and have healthy sugars during the lesson and consume them every 15-20 minutes, in small quantities. It will help you concentrate better.
2. Sheikh said: Also brothers and sisters – the majority of you here are those who are involved in the da’wah, and Alhamdulillah this program is especially for you….

…Being involved in the da’wah comes with great responsibility

…The responsibility of being a role model – as soon as you assume a role calling to Allah, a role related to the upliftment of this deen, as soon as you do this – people will look up to you. It does not matter if you not learned enough. People will immediately give value and importance to that which you do.

…We have to learn the basics of this deen and know it well and not just know it well but implement it well. It should never be a case where someone practices wrong and cites you as the reason why they do it. YES we are a result of our own choices and it is oppressive for someone to blame you for their wrong…BUT… at the end of it all and given the age we live in, we have a greater responsibility. People in reality take guidance from us, look up to us and that is why Imaam Shaatibi (RA) in his division of Makrooh – he cites a type a Makrooh which is Makrooh for the masses, but close to haram if not Haraam for certain people of that society- as if these people do it, the practice will become wide spread.

…It is important that you learn well and implement well, and for the sake of Allah- not for the sake of name and fame…

…It is important that we conduct ourselves well on social media and avoid speaking with people of the opposite gender without permissible means.

…It is also important for our married sisters to have the permission of their husbands before leaving the home for any da’wah work or joining any da’wah program.

…It is important that we are dutiful to our parents and the coolness of our societies eyes.

…The reality is that doing this work makes you one that inspires all, may Allah Almighty make all easy for us. Ameen…

Sheikh Sajid ended by saying:

He who does not thank the people cannot thank Allah. From the outset I would love to thank my beloved team and set of students that Allah Almighty blessed me with and people I am proud of, MashaAllah- and they are the turbines behind this program…

1. Brother Jahed UK
2. Brother Tawhid UK
3. Brother Khoyes (UK)
4. Brother Idris (Melbourne Australia)
5. Brother Hisham (Dubai)
6. Brother Abdul Mateen (Dubai)
7. Sister Shaaista (Durban, SA)
8. Sister Roshanara (UK)
9. Sister Thaakira (Colombo SL)
10. Sister Aisha (Colombo, SL)
11. Sister Madiyah (UK)
12. Sister Safaa (UK)
13. Sister Farzana (Melbourne, Australia)

I also would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to Daarul Ilm for arranging this virtual classroom for us to conduct our sessions and sister Rubina for running the classroom logistics.